by Kerri Consalvo | Sep 5, 2025 | Blog, Educational Philosophy, Leadership
This week, our 6th–8th grade students stepped outside the classroom and into the community, spending the morning volunteering at The Salem Pantry. While they were stocking shelves, organizing donations, and helping neighbors, they were also learning something much deeper: the importance of giving back.
At The Phoenix School, we believe education extends far beyond academics. True learning includes understanding our role in the world, developing empathy, and taking action to make a difference. Service opportunities like this one give our students the chance to experience firsthand the power of compassion and community.
For our middle schoolers, being leaders means more than mentoring younger peers—it also means recognizing the needs of the broader community and stepping up to help. These experiences foster responsibility, resilience, and gratitude, while also showing students that their actions matter.
This is why community service is woven into life at Phoenix. Whether it’s helping at a food pantry, cleaning up local parks, or supporting global causes through our JDO connections, we want our students to understand that giving back is not an extra—it’s an essential.
Together, our students are not only learning about the world; they’re learning how to make it better.
✨ Want to see this kind of learning in action? Book a tour and discover how Phoenix empowers students to lead with compassion, creativity, and purpose. Book a Tour →
by Kerri Consalvo | Aug 26, 2025 | Educational Philosophy, Leadership
Imagine this: your child walks into school every day excited—not because of worksheets or test prep, but because they’re following their passions. At The Phoenix School, students are in the driver’s seat of their learning. Instead of rigid routines, they dive into projects that matter—like building a robotic arm to help the elderly or creating a documentary on climate change.
We believe children are naturally curious and capable of incredible growth when given the right environment and support. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, Phoenix puts student interests at the center, encouraging exploration, experimentation, and creativity.
Here’s how that looks in action:
Learning That Matters
Phoenix students go beyond memorizing facts. They take on long-term, passion-driven projects—whether it’s studying marine biology with local scientists or presenting community solutions to ocean plastic waste. Every project builds confidence, communication skills, and real-world problem-solving.
Creativity at the Core
The arts aren’t an add-on at Phoenix—they’re part of everything we do. Students express ideas through murals, stop-motion animation, sculpture, and digital media, blending creativity with academics in powerful ways.
A Classroom Without Walls
Learning happens everywhere. Phoenix students measure biodiversity in parks, learn geometry by designing gardens, and practice teamwork by building shelters outdoors. The world itself becomes the classroom.
Learning Together
In our multi-age classrooms, students collaborate across grade levels. Older students mentor younger ones, while younger students bring new ideas. This dynamic builds empathy, leadership, and a true sense of community.
Confidence for the Future
At Phoenix, mistakes aren’t failures—they’re stepping stones. Students are encouraged to ask bold questions, try new things, and take risks. From robotics to research, they learn resilience and adaptability—the skills they’ll need to thrive in tomorrow’s world.
Unlocking Potential
At The Phoenix School, learning knows no limits. Our students don’t just absorb information—they lead, create, and grow into confident, capable learners who are ready for anything.
by Kerri Consalvo | Jul 7, 2025 | Educational Philosophy, Leadership, Social Emotional Learning
As an intentionally small, independent K–8 school in Salem, MA, we do things differently. Our students don’t just memorize facts—they design solutions, explore deeply, collaborate across age groups, and contribute meaningfully to their communities, near and far.
We break down the traditional walls of education—between grades, subjects, and even the school building itself. Our classrooms extend into parks, museums, libraries, and city streets. Learning becomes alive, purposeful, and personal.
We hire educators who think outside the box and know how to inspire curiosity, creativity, and confidence in every child.
At Phoenix, students are empowered to take ownership of their learning, parents are integral partners, and every child is deeply known.
We prepare kids not just for high school—but for life.
Curious about what we do? We’d love to connect.
🔗 Learn more: https://phoenixschool.org
by Kerri Consalvo | Jun 26, 2025 | Blog, Educational Philosophy
What makes The Phoenix School different—and why it matters more than ever…
Every parent wants their child to love learning. But in many schools, curiosity is something to manage—not something to nurture.
At The Phoenix School, we flip the script.
We believe that curiosity is the engine of learning. When children are given space to ask their own questions, follow their interests, and engage deeply with the world around them, amazing things happen.
In our intentionally small, multi-age classrooms, students work side by side across grade levels—collaborating on long-term projects, solving real-world problems, and stretching their minds in unexpected directions. There are no worksheets. No cookie-cutter tests. No one-size-fits-all learning plans.
Instead, our students are:
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Building understanding, not just completing assignments
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Exploring the “why,” not just memorizing the “what”
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Learning to lead, not just follow directions
Phoenix students don’t just survive school. They thrive in it. They grow into confident, capable, compassionate young people who know how to think, question, create, and connect.
If your child is bursting with questions, energy, creativity, or passion—and you’re looking for a school that sees those qualities as assets, not obstacles—come see what Phoenix is all about.
This is not your average school. This is where curious kids thrive.
