by Kerri Consalvo | Apr 27, 2026 | Uncategorized
As we wrap up our look back at this incredible experience, we’re grateful for the moments of curiosity, growth, and connection our students experienced:
Mysterious murky bayous beckon to us and we cannot refuse the call. We board our boat at Honey Island Swamp for today’s adventure. Our captain takes us deep into the bayou, past a settlement of houses perched at water’s edge. The river is their highway, and boats are their sole means of transport to work, school, and fun.
Moving on, we begin to spy young alligators sheltering in plants and lily pads near the shore. They know they are food for every other creature in the swamp so are careful about where they hide. Older ‘gators are easier to spot as they laze about. A small water snake resting on a broken limb just above the water slides gracefully away upon our approach. Turtles sun along logs, all in a row until our appearance causes some to slide silently into the water until we pass. A single osprey swoops over us on its way to join its mate on a limb above its massive nest. They watch over a teeming bayou that holds us in its embrace, allowing us to forget civilization for a short time.
Phoenix travelers are lured back to New Orleans to wander among the French Quarter’s streets that they found so fascinating on their first day. Music and aromas of fresh beignets accompany us on our explorations. We find a soulful group of musicians playing jazz on the street, wind through narrow streets of colorful doors and ironwork, ride a streetcar into modern New Orleans and find fresh, sweet beignets that we eat overlooking the mighty Mississippi River before heading back to Bogue Chitto.
by Kerri Consalvo | Apr 23, 2026 | Uncategorized
Our 6–8 students’ learning adventure at the Global Wildlife Center continued to unfold in new and exciting ways. Each day brought new opportunities for discovery, connection, and real-world learning:
This morning at Global, Cali transports us into the world of the long leaf pine savannah, first through a digital presentation in the tree house (our outdoor classroom perched above the pastures), then in the field among the pines. We examine needle bundles, pine cones, and bark to differentiate each species. Cali’s enthusiasm for saving milkweed for monarch butterflies before the pasture gets mown leads us to helping her dig up milkweed for replanting elsewhere. To reach the pasture, we are treated to a private ride through the pastures. With our feeding cups full, we attract crowds of hungry critters, hoping for a mouthful of nutritious treats.
Global’s capybaras have been tugging at our hearts since our first day when we watched them grazing along the pond’s edge and swimming group laps around the water’s edge across from our “tree house” where we meet each day with our naturalists. Mikayla and McKale introduce us to the family, supplying branches of delicious leaves, according to the capybaras, so we can feed the gentle creatures. They love their treat and us petting them and rubbing their bellies. How do we know that? Capybara whistles and grunts tell us “Please don’t stop! We love this!”
After lunch the Center’s two tortoises decide to make an appearance, moving slowly and steadily from their shelter onto the grass. McKale allows us to go into the enclosure to meet the girls, who, thinking we might have tortoise treats, follow us around.
Before dinner, we plunge into the Bogue Chitto River and float, pushed by its current until we cool off and shed the dust of the Global fields and pastures. Splashing and carousing together, both in the river and water park, we end our adventures today wet and joyful.
by Kerri Consalvo | Apr 11, 2025 | Uncategorized
Education doesn’t stop at the classroom door—it expands into the world. Our Travel Study Program is a hallmark of our experience-driven model, offering students unforgettable, immersive learning adventures that blend academic exploration, cultural connection, and personal growth.
From sailing a tall ship to Catalina Island, to navigating local ecosystems or engaging in service projects across the globe, our students take on real-world challenges, build confidence, and return transformed.
🌍 Why Travel Study?
Because children remember what they experience.
Because real learning comes from doing, problem-solving, and seeing through new eyes.
Because the world is our classroom—and every journey holds lessons in science, culture, empathy, and self-discovery.
🧭 On each trip, students…
✔️ Take responsibility as leaders and team members 
✔️ Journal and reflect daily, growing self-awareness
✔️ Engage in hands-on fieldwork tied to science, history, and geography
✔️ Return with a deeper sense of purpose, curiosity, and global citizenship
✈️ Recent destinations include:
At Phoenix, we’re not just teaching students what to learn. We’re showing them how to engage with the world—and who they can become.
🎒 Want to know what’s next on our map?
👉 Schedule a Tour or Contact Us to learn more about how our Travel Study program is changing lives. 
by Kerri Consalvo | Nov 25, 2024 | Uncategorized
Empowering Girls to Lead, Grow, and Thrive
Here we recognize the unique challenges girls face in traditional school environments. Our intentionally small, multi-aged classrooms eliminate the typical pressures of middle school—like navigating boy/girl dynamics—and replace them with opportunities for collaboration, mutual respect, and leadership development.
Here, friendships are built on curiosity and teamwork rather than labels or expectations. Instead of focusing on who’s dating whom, our students focus on solving real-world problems, leading service initiatives, and growing into confident, compassionate leaders who are ready to take on the world.
Girls Who Lead, Together
Our girls don’t compete for attention—they thrive as equals, innovators, and changemakers alongside their peers. Whether it’s working on STEAM projects, leading school committees through our Early Act Club, or exploring the outdoors during multi-day trips, they are encouraged to lead with confidence and courage.
At Phoenix, girls:
- Discover their voice: Through project-based learning and leadership opportunities, girls learn to think critically, speak confidently, and take charge.
- Excel in STEAM: They engage in hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math projects, showing them there are no boundaries to what they can achieve.
- Foster mental wellness: Our whole-child approach prioritizes emotional growth, helping girls navigate adolescence with resilience and a sense of self-worth.
- Collaborate, not compete: The pressures of cliques and labels are replaced with collaboration and shared success in a community where every student matters.
Why It Matters
Girls deserve a space where they can lead without limits, explore without fear, and grow without barriers. At The Phoenix School, we’re redefining education for girls—because we believe every child deserves the chance to thrive, not just survive.
Let’s prepare your daughter for a world that needs her talents, ideas, and leadership.
by Kerri Consalvo | Nov 6, 2024 | Uncategorized
Things MATH is not…
Math isn’t about completing endless worksheets or rote memorization – it’s about fostering critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity.
When they just complete worksheets…what are they actually learning?
Math is a dynamic field that involves critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and exploration.
math is not just about rote memorization or completing endless worksheets.
Math problems often have multiple solution paths. Encouraging students to think critically about which approach to take and why helps develop analytical skills that are applicable across various disciplines.
Real-world problems rarely come neatly packaged in a worksheet format. By presenting students with open-ended problems, they learn to apply mathematical concepts to solve practical problems, preparing them for challenges they may face in their future careers.
Math offers opportunities for creativity and exploration. Allowing students to experiment, make conjectures, and explore different strategies fosters a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts and promotes a sense of ownership over their learning.
Math is deeply intertwined with other subjects such as science, engineering, art, and even music. By engaging students in multidisciplinary activities, they see how math is relevant and applicable beyond the confines of the classroom.
Math isn’t just about numbers; it’s about conveying ideas and reasoning effectively. Providing space for students to write, draw, and explain their thinking helps them develop communication skills essential for success in both academic and real-world settings.
When students are merely completing worksheets, they may miss out on these crucial aspects of mathematical learning.
Phoenix has been incorporating hands-on activities, collaborative problem-solving tasks, real-world applications, and opportunities for creativity and exploration into our math curriculum.
Our approach not only makes math more engaging and meaningful for students but also better prepares them for the challenges they’ll encounter in their academic and professional lives.
After reading this post do you agree that math education should involve more than just completing worksheets?
by Kerri Consalvo | Aug 8, 2024 | Uncategorized
At The Phoenix School, we hold a simple: reading is one of the keys to unlocking a child’s potential.
Reading is…
- The gateway to realizing the mind’s potential.
- Essential for economic independence and upward mobility.
- The bedrock of our constitutional democracy.
- A right we have allowed to become a privilege.
📚 Why focus on reading?
Reading is the foundation of all learning. It helps children expand their vocabulary, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and understand the world around them. Whether they’re decoding new words or diving into an imaginative story, reading builds the confidence they need to tackle new challenges.
At The Phoenix School, our students are encouraged to read a minimum of 7 books over the summer, with each child choosing books that capture their interest. This personalized approach is designed to cultivate a love of reading and a strong reading habit that will serve them well in all areas of their education.
But we don’t just focus on reading for reading’s sake. We strive to develop critical reading skills that allow our students to analyze and better understand the stories they read. We encourage them to do something creative and informative with the content they’ve read, which fosters a deeper connection to literature.
Reading is an integral part of every aspect of our curriculum. We individualize reading, ensuring that each student reads at their appropriate level, regardless of their grade. When our students return from their summer adventures, they’ll have the opportunity to present their book projects to the entire school and pitch their favorite reads to their classmates.
At The Phoenix School, we believe that fostering a love for reading is one of the most important things we can do for our students. It’s more than just a skill; it’s the foundation for lifelong learning and success.
