PORT TOWNSEND — A private school is commemorating its 30th anniversary this month with a fundraiser to accumulate $1,000 for each year of its existence.
Swan School began its fund drive Nov. 20 and moved ahead of its projections, raising about $7,000 in six days, according to Finance Director Bonnie White.
“It terms of the programming and what we offer, tuition doesn’t cover all of our costs,” White said.
“We don’t get any public funding. We are completely reliant on people paying for a child’s education.”
“When people invest in Swan School they are making an investment in everyone’s future, including their own,” said office manager Shelley Murney.
The school, located at 2354 Kuhn St. in a quiet residential neighborhood, has 61 students from preschool to sixth grade, with all classrooms containing several age and grade levels.
“There is the old cliche that one size shoe doesn’t fit everyone. That’s where we fit in educationally.” said Russ Yates, the head of school.
“Public schools have great programs for many people, but it isn’t for everyone.”
An emphasis on art and music with small class sizes are what makes Swan special, Yates said, along with its ability to provide more attention to individual students.
The money raised will alternately benefit students who cannot afford the tuition and support of music and arts programs, Yates said.
“The money raised will help give students a choice,” Yates said.
“The kids who have graduated from here have done some amazing things, and they have a strong sense of community.”
The kids know that Swan is special.
“In public school, it seems like you have your friend group, and if you walk away from that, your whole social medium is destroyed,” said Mira Stewart, 10, a fifth-grader.
“Here, it’s like one big friend group.”
Stewart and sixth-grader Emily Soller-Tanner, 11, write and edit a biweekly school newspaper, a handwritten combination of questions, answers and drawings.
Yates said the girls have been given the option to type the newspaper on a computer but prefer the handwritten format.
The fundraising effort continues to Dec. 20, but funds received prior to Dec. 15 will be matched dollar for dollar up to $15,000, Yates said.
For more information call 360-385-7340 or go to swanschool.net.
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
