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If you desire a vibrant learning atmosphere where days are filled with wonder & delight ...
If you're eager for a high-quality, time-tested Christian education with family-affordable fees ... If you have a great homeschool curriculum but desire additional enrichment ... If you are looking for a warm and supportive learning community where your children and family will be known, loved, equipped and inspired ... WE ARE HERE FOR YOU! |
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Abiding in Christ and His Word, aligning with Charlotte Mason’s classically-based principles, and partnering alongside parents . . . we spread a rich and varied feast of a life-giving education (truth, goodness, beauty) through three-fold knowledge with deepening relationships (God, humanity, universe).
Our three instruments of education are atmosphere (moral, intellectual, and social climate), discipline (habit formation), and life (relational, delightful living amplified by living ideas). This is to be used by the Holy Spirit in transforming students to genuinely love the Lord and others, lead gracious and flourishing lives of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, and bear much fruit for His glory. (Deut 6:4-9, Prov. 24:3-4; John 15:1-11) |
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We are working through our interest form emails and will be reaching out shortly depending on order and space availability.
Register for Camp HERE
Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life ...
and a science of relations. ~ Charlotte Mason
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Weekly Schedule
In-Session Options: Mondays-Thursdays OPTION A: 4-Day Cottage School Program OPTION B: 3-Day Option (M, T, W or T, W, Th) OPTION C: 2-Day Option (M/W or T/Th) OPTION D: Half-Day Option (M-Th) OPTION E: PK/K Woodland Friends (T, W, Th) Forms (not Grades) "Forms" allow for a broader window of growth. Woodland Friends - PK & K (T, W, Th) Form I - ages 5-9 Form II - ages 9-12 Form III - ages 13-15 Form IV - ages 14-16 Form V - ages 16-18 (gr. 10-12) Hours Cottage Students Full Day: 8:10am - 3:10pm (Drop-off window: 7:45am to 8:10am) Enrichment Half-Day Students: 11:30am - 3:10pm Clubs & Electives: 2:10pm Tues & Thurs Afternoons After-Care Options: $5 per child per day |
We have a 4.5 acre country-like campus with a chicken coop, gardens, various child-designed forts, rabbits, guinea pigs, aquariums, climbing trees, miniature houses, and a lovely green space that facilitates generous outdoor exploration and play. We are easily accessible (just four minutes off I-75) in South Dayton close to many amenities.
FORM I Timetables for 2025-2026
FORM II Timetables for 2025-2026
Branches & Vine Motto
I AM
I CAN
I OUGHT
I WILL
I CAN
I OUGHT
I WILL
Branches & Vine Approach
At Branches & Vine, we honor the child's dignity as a whole person designed in God's image and for His glory.
Our educational approach nourishes the whole person with first-hand exposure to great and noble ideas through: "living books" authored by invested, eloquent writers across every discipline, timeless literature and poetry, generous nature exploration, treasured handicrafts, Shakespeare plays, Latin and classical studies, inspiring art, great works of the composers, biblical worldview conversations, Plutarch's Lives, structured math and sciences, conversational Spanish, speech and composition, violin and band ensembles, hymns and folksongs, mapwork, dance and physical activities.
Chronological history comes alive through well-written books, source documents, captivating biographies, and literature selections which illuminate the era.
We believe life-giving education possesses "depth of relations" through a three-fold framework: knowledge of God, knowledge of humanity, and knowledge of the universe. As knowledge broadens, understanding deepens, and wisdom for life is applied. We help students build meaningful relationships with God and His Word; with friends in their rich learning community; with people from various eras, places, and cultures; and with the natural world including nature and daily outdoor life, geography, math and sciences.
"Narrating" (retelling) from living books teaches students to digest, reflect upon, order, and graciously communicate vital ideas. Children who are exposed to daily practices of narration mature into articulate and expressive writers and communicators.
Focused attention at short, varied lessons keeps students' minds fresh, leaving time for exploration of nature, personal interests, and life skills.
English skills develop beautifully through "copywork" (transcribing a portion of quality literature), and "dictation" of literary passages (specialized focus on spelling and grammatical structures). Memorization and "recitation" are approached, not as tools for repeating facts, but to give children rich words to ponder for a lifetime.
Instead of dry worksheets, students design and develop cherished "living notebooks" including: Book of Centuries (master timeline); Commonplace Book (literary quotations); Nature Notebook (observational sketches, paintings, and notes); Copybook (Scripture, poetry, and literature selections); Scripture Notebook (Bible readings, lists, and "lessons for life") ... among other notebook keep-sakes that take shape through the years.
Our teachers direct the course of study, but students assume personal responsibility for their own learning. We are neither teacher-driven, nor student-centered. Instead, our primary agents of learning are living books, living ideas, and living things that shape a living education,
Atmosphere, Discipline, Life: We seize every opportunity to stir a refreshing atmosphere warmed by love (atmosphere), shepherd good habits of thought and life (discipline), and spread a generous feast of truth, goodness, and beauty that nourishes the mind and shapes a beautiful life (life).
Our educational approach nourishes the whole person with first-hand exposure to great and noble ideas through: "living books" authored by invested, eloquent writers across every discipline, timeless literature and poetry, generous nature exploration, treasured handicrafts, Shakespeare plays, Latin and classical studies, inspiring art, great works of the composers, biblical worldview conversations, Plutarch's Lives, structured math and sciences, conversational Spanish, speech and composition, violin and band ensembles, hymns and folksongs, mapwork, dance and physical activities.
Chronological history comes alive through well-written books, source documents, captivating biographies, and literature selections which illuminate the era.
We believe life-giving education possesses "depth of relations" through a three-fold framework: knowledge of God, knowledge of humanity, and knowledge of the universe. As knowledge broadens, understanding deepens, and wisdom for life is applied. We help students build meaningful relationships with God and His Word; with friends in their rich learning community; with people from various eras, places, and cultures; and with the natural world including nature and daily outdoor life, geography, math and sciences.
"Narrating" (retelling) from living books teaches students to digest, reflect upon, order, and graciously communicate vital ideas. Children who are exposed to daily practices of narration mature into articulate and expressive writers and communicators.
Focused attention at short, varied lessons keeps students' minds fresh, leaving time for exploration of nature, personal interests, and life skills.
English skills develop beautifully through "copywork" (transcribing a portion of quality literature), and "dictation" of literary passages (specialized focus on spelling and grammatical structures). Memorization and "recitation" are approached, not as tools for repeating facts, but to give children rich words to ponder for a lifetime.
Instead of dry worksheets, students design and develop cherished "living notebooks" including: Book of Centuries (master timeline); Commonplace Book (literary quotations); Nature Notebook (observational sketches, paintings, and notes); Copybook (Scripture, poetry, and literature selections); Scripture Notebook (Bible readings, lists, and "lessons for life") ... among other notebook keep-sakes that take shape through the years.
Our teachers direct the course of study, but students assume personal responsibility for their own learning. We are neither teacher-driven, nor student-centered. Instead, our primary agents of learning are living books, living ideas, and living things that shape a living education,
Atmosphere, Discipline, Life: We seize every opportunity to stir a refreshing atmosphere warmed by love (atmosphere), shepherd good habits of thought and life (discipline), and spread a generous feast of truth, goodness, and beauty that nourishes the mind and shapes a beautiful life (life).
Branches & Vine Family Culture Initiative
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Embrace a journey of growth and friendship with our Hearth & Home Initiative!
Are you a mother or father seeking enrichment, support, and community? Branches & Vine's Hearth & Home is designed to nourish your mind, heart, and spirit. Join us for a fulfilling blend of reading, friendship, and engaging activities that will equip and rejuvenate you. |
Branches & Vine Preparatory Music Program
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Lark and Laurel Music Conservatory: Where Beauty & Music Become Living Art.
We are an official Partner School with the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM)! In Charlotte Mason’s approach, music is a living art—meant to stir the soul, inspire joy, and uplift the affections. For a Charlotte Mason cottage school, the lark evokes the delight in learning and music as a response to truth and beauty. |
The laurel wreath has long been a symbol of: achievement in the arts; honor, dignity, and wisdom; the classical ideal of virtue and excellence. In ancient Greece and Rome, laurel crowns were given to poets, philosophers, and musicians. In a Charlotte Mason context, the laurel wreath reflects the goal of education to form character through first-hand exposure to great and noble works, and to seek truth, goodness, and beauty in a life-giving way. We have music-degreed and RCM-certified teachers on staff.
We offer lessons to both B&V and community music students in:
Piano, Violin, Voice, Acoustic Guitar, Music Theory
Brass Instruments, Wind Instruments
$15 per lesson for current B&V Students
$20 per lesson for Lark & Laurel Music Conservatory Students
Register for Lessons HERE
We offer lessons to both B&V and community music students in:
Piano, Violin, Voice, Acoustic Guitar, Music Theory
Brass Instruments, Wind Instruments
$15 per lesson for current B&V Students
$20 per lesson for Lark & Laurel Music Conservatory Students
Register for Lessons HERE
Would Your Child Thrive in our
Whole-Hearted Learning Community?
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TIME-TESTED EDUCATIONAL METHODS & PROVEN LONGTERM FRUIT IN STUDENTS' LIVES
MASTERY OF LEARNING WITH DEGREED & SPECIALIZED CM EDUCATORS PARENT RESOURCES, EQUIPPING & SUPPORT |
STIRRING A REFRESHING ATMOSPHERE WARMED BY LOVE
SHEPHERDING GOOD HABITS OF THOUGHT & LIFE SPREADING A WIDE AND GENEROUS FEAST OF LIVING IDEAS (Truth, Goodness, Beauty) |
All applicants and BVCS parents are expected to have read: For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay and In Vital Harmony by Karen Glass. Our families must be supportive of classically-based Charlotte Mason principles and methods to ensure that your hopes for your children resonate with our vision and priorities for B&V, and are in keeping with the philosophical distinctives of our work.
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PAY FEES ONLINE
INTEREST FORM & ENROLLMENT PROCESS NEW STUDENT APPLICATION FORM RETURNING STUDENT FORM |
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Branches & Vine Cottage School is a four-day Charlotte Mason/Classical Cottage School walking alongside families located in Dayton, Ohio.
Abiding in Christ and His Word, aligning with Charlotte Mason’s classically-based principles, and partnering alongside parents ... we spread a rich and varied feast of a life-giving education (truth, goodness, beauty) through three-fold knowledge with deepening relationships (God, humanity, universe). Our three instruments of education are atmosphere, discipline, and life. This is to be used by the Holy Spirit in transforming students to genuinely love the Lord and others, lead gracious and flourishing lives of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, and bear much fruit for His glory. (Deut 6:4-9, Prov. 24:3-4; John 15:1-11) |
“I am the VINE, you are the BRANCHES. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5
A 501c3 educational ministry initiative of Calvary South Dayton |