In 1983, North Branch School in Nelson County opened its doors to only a few students, initially holding classes in a living room. In 2023, the established academic institution, nestled on over 11 acres in Afton, celebrated its 40th anniversary and welcomed 120 students enrolled in preschool through 8th grade.
With a student-centered approach that focuses on building a love of learning through engaging, project-based activities and lessons, North Branch School is equally committed to supporting students’ academic development as well as social development. The school also focuses on developing relationships with the community, underscoring the importance of volunteerism and positive contributions to society.
“For over 20 years, North Branch students have volunteered monthly at the Nelson County Pantry, helping to stock shelves and box groceries and supplies for families in Nelson County. Since many of the other volunteers are retirees, they are very happy to have youthful energy and muscles arrive,” said Bonnie Holliday, Development Director at North Branch School.
In addition, middle school students at the school organize fundraisers to benefit the Rockville-based non-profit Comfort Cases, an organization that provides backpacks of supplies to children who are newly placed into foster care. At the third and fourth grade levels, students raise money by performing extra chores in order to make contributions to Heifer International, a non-profit committed to ending hunger and poverty. Locally, North Branch School volunteers also work at concession stands near Ting Pavilion during the concert season and paint faces at the Lovingston Street Festival. The school also has upcoming plans to further show students how they can make a difference.
North Branch School in the Community
“[In 2023], we applied for a grant for our fifth through eighth-grade students to host non-profit founders who shared their journey—from idea to reality—to show our students that they can make real the changes and improvements they choose to make in the world. [In 2024], we intend to host inventors and dig into their journey, again, showing students how dreams can be realized,” said Head of School, Smith Coleman.
The dedication to community service doesn’t stop with the students. Former North Branch parent, Sharon Stone, created the Free Book Bus, a mobile free book program that aims to make books available for children and teens who would not otherwise have access to them.
“When [she] decided to create the Free Book Bus, she shared her inspiration and ideas with North Branch students before she ever purchased a book or put one mile on the bus! Since then, she has returned several times to the delight of students and teachers, who get to choose a book of their very own to keep,” said Holliday.
North Branch School Celebrates 40 Years
Throughout the 2023–2024 school year, North Branch School welcomed community members to join them in their celebrations of the school’s 40th anniversary at both traditional annually held events as well as activities planned specifically to honor the anniversary.
The school hosted several additional activities, including “an alumni performance of ‘St. George and the Dragon,’ a family dance, a schoolwide art installation, cards and treats for our neighbors of 40 years, and ‘Going the extra mile for our 40th’, [where we] collected a mile of coins as a math project/fundraiser,” said Holliday.
The school hosted numerous events during the school year that families were able to attend, including weekly Friday assembly times from 2:45–3:15 p.m., a Stone Soup celebration in November, the annual production of “St. George and the Dragon” in mid-December, a special Martin Luther King Day assembly in January, a Middle School play in March at Rapunzel’s in Lovingston, and an Earth Day celebration in mid-April. There was also a special 40th-anniversary all-school, end-of-year celebration, along with eighth-grade graduation on the last day of school.
Additionally, the school hosted several fundraisers for community participation. In April, the 31st Annual North Branch Golf Classic took place at Stoney Creek Golf Course at Wintergreen Resort. The proceeds from the event were used to support school programs and the Naomi Scherr Memorial Scholarship, named for a former North Branch School student who, along with her father, were victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Naomi’s mother created the scholarship in her name with funds that Naomi had been saving to use for high school. The scholarship provides need-based tuition assistance to students at North Branch School.
In May, the school held another fundraiser, BandFair 2024, at Cardinal Point Winery in Afton. The event featured music, lip syncing, a cake walk, silent auction, and children’s activities. The proceeds went towards the school’s programs as well as The Founder’s Fund, another needs-based tuition assistance program. The fund was started in 2019 and pays homage to founder Charlotte Zinsser Booth’s 36-year legacy of accessibility for all families.
Holliday always encourages members of the community to visit the school, as well.
“Visitors often remark on how happy North Branch students seem; a quick listen in the classrooms, or a look at the work on the walls, shows that teachers are not sacrificing rigor in order to achieve that happiness. The school might be filled with shouts of delight from the playground or songs being practiced, or [a] visitor might experience the quietude of Independent Reading Time with each student engrossed by the book in his or her hands,” Holliday said.
“Visitors often remark on how happy North Branch students seem; a quick listen in the classrooms, or a look at the work on the walls, shows that teachers are not sacrificing rigor in order to achieve that happiness…” Holliday said
North Branch School has left such an indelible mark on some that they’ve returned to serve at the school. Genevieve Hoover graduated in 2001 from the school and is now an Early Primary Teacher. Autum Fish graduated in 1996 and is now the school’s administrator as well as a mother of two North Branch students.
“I have no memory of life without North Branch School. North Branch is home,” said Fish. “It’s where my smile is widest and where my kids laugh the loudest. I want every child to learn while smiling and laughing. I want every child to have a spark for learning, and North Branch School creates that spark.”
For more information about area schools, see our content in the Education section. You’ll also find more articles with parenting tips and advice on topics like Reducing First Day of School Jitters, Raising a Polite Child, healthy eating, family fun, home & garden, summer camps and Tips on Being a Great Homework Parent. ~
