Dear TRA Families,
You may have noticed that we are growing. I know, I know, the parking lot (better known as 2:45 traffic jam) sort of gives it away. But our bulging class sizes—with many of them filling to maximum capacity—also speaks to the growing desire in our community for the kind of education we offer here at TRA. This is an exciting time to be part of The River Academy. It is also a critical time for our school as growth presents unique challenges. We thought you might be interested to learn more about some of the ways we are both accommodating the increased demand, while simultaneously maintaining our academic and cultural standards.
When I first came to TRA back in 2004, there were 87 students. Everyone knew each other, and the 2:45 parking lot looked more like a family reunion than Seattle stop-and-go traffic.
Now we have 300 students and a number of new families interested for next year. While there is no way we can go back to the family reunion days of 2004, I do believe we can accommodate the increased demand while also maintaining and growing our academics and school culture.
Here are a few ways we are aiming to do so:
Gradually reducing our class sizes to no more than 18. We have long desired to have two sections per grade here at TRA. Gratefully, we have been able to begin this process, and as of next year, will have two kindergarten classes, two 1st grade classes, and two second grade classes for grades PK-2—all separated into two classes with no more than 18 students per class. This is a long-term strategic move that we believe will enable us to offer the awesome education here at TRA to as many students as possible, while also ensuring that every student gets the hands-on support we have been known for in our community. Our plan is to continue this progression by adding a new section every year. So the following year next year we will add 3rd grade, and then the following year 4th… you get the idea. When this process is complete, we believe it will allow us to accommodate the demand we are currently experiencing for our education, while still allowing us to keep class sizes small.
Increasing student support through hiring additional aides. As class sizes near maximum capacity, we see a much greater need to support our students and teachers by giving them additional aide support. If you are interested in being part of this growing team, please contact the office for more information.
Significantly increasing our focus on teacher training. This past year our administrative team outlined a 7 year faculty development plan which includes extensive training in classical and Christian pedagogy but also includes key TRA cultural elements we want to ensure continue long into the future.
Increasing our focus on student enculturation through chapel and Psalm sing. We are so grateful that Covid restrictions have been lifted enough to allow for all-school gatherings. We are actively working on plans to leverage these all-school gatherings to increase student instruction in culture and spiritual development.
Maximizing the usage of our current facilities and actively seeking the Lord’s direction for a long-term solution on our Miller Street property to accommodate the growing population. Adding the portables really helped with this, but we are also looking into ways we can further maximize our usage of the WVBC facilities to allow for more access. We recognize that this doesn’t fix the limited parking lot spaces, but it will at least allow for more breathing room for teachers and students next year.
I hope hearing these measures we are taking to grow—but in a healthy way—are encouraging to you. I hope you will join us in praying regularly for God to continue to bless TRA with like-minded families and also with the sweet culture we have all come to love.
Have a great week,
Eric
