Several aspects make Peninsula unique among independent schools.

Grade-free learning: At Peninsula, we cultivate and celebrate intellectual curiosity and a love of learning. Our non-competitive environment supports student collaboration, positive risk taking, creativity, and intrinsic motivation. Students grow to see learning as a treasured opportunity and a lifelong, personal journey.

Multi-age groupings at the primary level: Children are placed into classrooms that focus on aligning their developmental and cognitive readiness with that of a particular peer group. Such multi-age groupings support children to see themselves as individual learners who are developing at their own pace.

Student voice and choice: In our classrooms, democratic learning is part of the curriculum. Students are active participants in their learning and able to see their school experience in relation to the outside world. Student voice, choice, and democratic decision-making practices are embedded in Peninsula’s model. We recognize children as community members, decision-makers, and creators.

Social-emotional development is as important as intellectual development: Our all-school focus on social and emotional learning cultivates self-awareness, empathy, and capacity for collaboration. Additionally, students are provided time to reflect on their learning. The relationships built at Peninsula often become lifelong bonds that support children across their lifetime.

Healthy risk-taking is part of the experience: At Peninsula, we allow students the space to take age-appropriate risks in their environment. More and more evidence has shown that children who engage in healthy risk taking from a young age further their development and gain experience in risk assessment. This self-awareness instills confidence to try new things out of one’s comfort zone, and also when to use caution and acknowledge limitations.

The natural setting: Peninsula’s spacious campus, filled with native trees and plants, invites students to discover aspects of the natural world in a school setting. Children participate in relaxed and unstructured play, developing an awareness of nature that cultivates their sense of place and the value of environmental stewardship.