Branches & Vine Cottage School
  • ABOUT US
    • Welcome From the Director
    • B&V Distinctives
    • Calvary South Dayton
    • Charlotte Mason Resources >
      • CM's 20 Principles
      • AmblesideOnline
      • The Literary Life Podcast
      • The New Mason Jar Podcast
  • LIVING CURRICULUM
  • WHY CHOOSE US
  • ENROLLMENT
    • Full Day & Half-Day Options
    • 2023-2024 FEES
    • Next Steps
    • Application Form
  • Required Reading
  • PARENT PORTAL
    • Weekly Resources >
      • Week 3 (23-24)
      • Week 2 (23-24)
      • Week 1 (23-24)
  • ONLINE PAYMENT

If you desire a vibrant learning atmosphere where days are filled with wonder & delight ... WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!


If you're eager for a high-quality private Christian education with affordable fees ... WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!


If you have a morning homeschool curriculum but desire
additional enrichment ... ​
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!


If you are looking for a warm and supportive learning community
​where your family will be equipped and inspired
​... WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!

Nourishing the whole person with first-hand exposure to great and noble ideas.

We are at capacity for our 2023-2024 Academic Year.
​Contact us if you would appreciate being placed on our wait list.

Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, ​a life ...
and a science of relations. - Charlotte Mason



​WEEKLY SCHEDULE
In-Session Options: Mondays-Thursdays
OPTION A: 4-Day Cottage School Program
OPTION B: 3-Day Option
OPTION C: 2-Day Option

OPTION D: Half-Day Option
OPTION E: 3-Morning Woodland Friends (PK-K)


​FORMS
"Forms" allow for a broader window of growth.
Woodland Friends - PK & K
Form I - ages 6-9 (roughly gr. 1-3)
Form II - ages 9-12 (roughly gr. 4-6)
Form III - ages 12-14 (roughly gr. 7-8)
Form IV - ages 14-15 (roughly gr. 9)
Form V - ages 16-18 (gr. 10-12)

​
HOURS
Cottage Students Full Day:
8:15AM - 3:00PM

Enrichment Half-Day Students:
11:30AM - 3PM


Clubs & Electives: Twice Weekly

After-Care Options: $5-$10 per child per day
We have a 5 acre country-like campus with a chicken coop, gardens, rabbits, guinea pigs, aquariums, climbing trees, 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.

Branches & Vine Mission

Abiding in Christ and His Word, informed by Charlotte Mason principles, and in partnership with parents ... we spread a rich and varied feast of a life-giving education through three-fold knowledge with relations (God, humanity, and the universe). This is to be used by the Holy Spirit in transforming students to love the Lord, lead lives of understanding and wisdom, and bear much fruit for the glory of God.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 24:3-4; Philippians 4:8; ​John 15:1-11 

Branches & Vine Motto

I AM a child of God
I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me 
I OUGHT to do my duty to God and others
​I WILL choose the right

The 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" in every subject, timeless literature and poetry, treasured handicrafts, Shakespeare plays, inspiring art, beautiful music, biblical worldview conversations, structured maths and sciences, Spanish, Latin and classical studies, generous nature exploration, violin, piano, choral, and music theory study.

We believe life-giving education possesses "depth of relations" through a three-fold framework: "knowledge of God," "knowledge of man," 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, maths 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 eloquent writers and communicators.

Chronological history comes alive through well-written books, source documents, captivating biographies, and literature selections which illuminate the era.

Focused attention at short, varied lessons keeps students' minds fresh, leaving free 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. The primary agents of learning are living books, living ideas, and living things.

​We seize every opportunity to cultivate a life-giving atmosphere, shepherd good habits of thought and life, and spread a generous feast of wonder and delight.

Would your child thrive in our
​whole-hearted learning community?

CULTIVATING A LIFE-GIVING ATMOSPHERE
SHEPHERDING GOOD HABITS OF THOUGHT & LIFE
SPREADING A WIDE AND GENEROUS FEAST OF LIVING IDEAS

EMAIL US!
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 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.
INFO@BVCOTTAGESCHOOL.COM
​(937) 618 3030
​
3150 W ALEX BELL
​
ENROLLMENT STEPS
PARENT PORTAL
​ONLINE PAYMENT

Picture
Branches & Vine Cottage School is a four-day classically-based Charlotte Mason Cottage School walking alongside families located in Dayton, Ohio.

Abiding in Christ and His Word, informed by Charlotte Mason principles, and in partnership with parents ... we spread a rich and varied feast of a life-giving education through three-fold knowledge with relations (God, humanity, universe). This is to be used by the Holy Spirit in transforming students to love the Lord, lead lives of understanding and wisdom, and bear much fruit for the glory of God.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 24:3-4;
​Philippians 4:8; ​John 15:1-10
“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

​​

An educational ministry initiative of Calvary South Dayton
  • ABOUT US
    • Welcome From the Director
    • B&V Distinctives
    • Calvary South Dayton
    • Charlotte Mason Resources >
      • CM's 20 Principles
      • AmblesideOnline
      • The Literary Life Podcast
      • The New Mason Jar Podcast
  • LIVING CURRICULUM
  • WHY CHOOSE US
  • ENROLLMENT
    • Full Day & Half-Day Options
    • 2023-2024 FEES
    • Next Steps
    • Application Form
  • Required Reading
  • PARENT PORTAL
    • Weekly Resources >
      • Week 3 (23-24)
      • Week 2 (23-24)
      • Week 1 (23-24)
  • ONLINE PAYMENT