Hill School

We are completing our first year at Schumann through open enrollment. The character program at Orono is outstanding and is reflected in the positive approach of all teachers and staff. Our child is thriving academically and comes home happy from school each day. The school's positive influence is palpable. Our child's class room teacher is so kind and encouraging. She sees each child as an individual, exemplifying all a truly great teacher should be. The specialist classes of art, music and Spanish starting in K are wonderful. As are educational field trips to museums, the Arboretum, and the naturalist-led program at the environmental center on the school's lake shore. Even hot lunches are healthy and delicious, incorporating the school's garden-grown produce whenever possible. They have hot dogs too, made from grass-fed beef. The new principal is adored by parents and students alike. Tremendous parental involvement on every level, including a bullying-prevention Recess Rocks program which reinforces positive interactions on the playground. The Orono Foundation raises funds to bolster programs creating what feels like a public private school. We feel very fortunate to be at Orono.

I visited Blake and I must say the school was truly disappointing. The director lacked coherence when I asked questions about school, the admission staff was poorly prepared, and the entire school environment did not seem nurturing at all. There were some teachers that made an acceptable impression to me but this was no reason enough to put my child in that school. Too bad that such a well-known school seems to be already behind public schools in so many aspects.