| Seabury School | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Inspiring, Enriching, Empowering |
| Formation | 1989 |
| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Purpose/focus | Gifted education |
| Location | Tacoma, Washington |
| Head of School | Sandi Wollum |
| Website | Seabury.org |
Seabury School is an independent school for gifted children in Tacoma, Washington.
Founded in 1989, Seabury is the only independent school in the South Puget Sound with a program specifically designed for intellectually advanced children. Children from Tacoma, Federal Way, Kent, Auburn, Gig Harbor, Puyallup and throughout the South Puget Sound Region come to Seabury for its personalized approach to education and emphasis on the development of creative and analytical thinking skills. Seabury is a member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS)[1] and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NASC).[2]
Seabury serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grades on two campuses: one located in Northeast Tacoma. and one located in Tacoma's downtown theatre district.
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The school began when two principals, one in private education and the other retired from public school administration, met and were reflecting on their careers. Barbara Field and Lee Woodworth Fisher were concerned with the lack of appropriate educational placement for very bright, highly exceptional students. At that time, funds for these students were not generally available in the public schools under the assumption these students could “fend for themselves.”
In 1988, Field and Fisher moved from deliberation to action. Field designed a survey to assess the community’s perspective regarding gifted students’ educational needs and distributed it to many community organizations. When surveys were returned, 95 percent indicated that there was a need for an independent school to serve children in the Federal Way and Tacoma area.
The immediate and long range planning began. Field and Fisher met with educators from private gifted schools to learn about the structure, curriculum, and Washington State’s legal requirements for private schools. The two founders then met with psychologists, educators from the University of Washington and other public and private programs, in addition to state officials from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. By late fall, it was decided that the school would open with grades kindergarten through second and with plans for inclusion through grade six. After accumulating used furniture, materials and books, Field and Fisher rented a commercially zoned building on 51st Street NE near Commencement Bay in Northeast Tacoma.
The school's name reflected the location's scenic environment and Field's past connections with Episcopal schools.
The incorporation of the non-profit organization was certified in November 1988. Barbara Field was named as the registered agent. Lee Woodworth Fisher, Lyle Starkey, and Don Field were named as incorporators. Evergreen Bank, a teachers’ bank in Seattle, provided a ten thousand dollar loan to support the opening of the school, and The Medina Foundation and several private donors supplied funds for the school’s initial operation.
In September 1989 Seabury school opened with eighteen students, two teachers and parent volunteer aides. Mrs. Field donated her first year of teaching and administration. Wenda Collins was the upper primary grade teacher. Fisher started the school library with used books and 20 years of National Geographic magazines. The founding Board of Directors included Fisher, financial and legal professionals Ed Opstad (board president) and Scott Jablon, educators Manvel Schauffler and Mary Helen Robinson, and child psychologist Richard Borton.
By September 1990, Seabury had 38 students, a director, three teachers, three aides, a set of bylaws and an ever-expanding set of policies. In 1992, the school was accepted as a candidate member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools.
In the fall of 1993, enrollment had expanded so Seabury offered a full academic program of classes for students in preschool through grade six, including French language instruction. In 2009, Seabury continued fulfilling its vision of establishing academic schools for students by opening a middle school for gifted students in grades 6-8 within the heart of downtown Tacoma. Seabury buses its students between the sites.[3][4]
Seabury's Lower School is located in its original location in Northeast Tacoma, and houses pre-kindergarten through fifth grades. The campus has expanded to include administrative offices, a Media Center and library and expanded outdoor play space.
In fall 2010, the Early Learning Center at Seabury School changed from a preschool and kindergarten program to a 4-year-old pre-kindergarten and kindergarten program.
Seabury's Middle School opened in September 2009, and is located in Tacoma's historic downtown theatre district. The middle school houses sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
The Seabury Middle School program features an integrated curriculum and is designed so that students make the city their classroom.[5] Students take physical education classes at the downtown Tacoma YMCA, do their research at the Tacoma Public Library, visit the Tacoma Farmers Market and eat lunch at local delis and cafés.
The school is housed in the historic Pythian Temple downtown.
Seabury School hosts a series of week-long camps each summer at the Lower School campus. Past camps have included Lego Camp, French Camp, Archaeology Camp and Meet the Authors camp. The camps are open to both Seabury students and members of the public.[6]
Alumni of Seabury School have attended high schools that include Bellarmine Preparatory School, Stadium High School, Charles Wright Academy, Annie Wright School, Tacoma School of the Arts and Thomas Jefferson's International Baccalaureate program.
Alumni of Seabury School have attended colleges and universities that include The University of Washington, Harvard University, Seattle University, Brown University, Stanford University, New York University, California Polytechnic State University, Lewis and Clark College,