Testimonials
My son really enjoys going to
school. He is thriving in this small
community of teachers and staff who know
and understand him. My son says 'isn't
reading the best thing in the whole
world?' Bill Alsdurf is truly a gifted
teacher. He is able to encourage the
best without the pressure.
I
discovered Tall Cedars Academy last year
having heard whispers of a great school
in Duvall. I was searching for a place
where my girls could thrive and really
enjoy learning. The difference it has
made has been so clear: my younger
daughter, who has always despised
school, now tells me with great JOY
about her reading assignments. My older
daughter has discovered her love of
writing--it was there before, but only
at TCA has it been allowed to grow into
a true gift. The Headmaster,
affectionately known as 'Mr. A' by the
kids, gives his all for the kids, and it
shows. I feel so lucky to have
discovered TCA.
My son loves
going to this school and his love of
learning is one of the best gifts in
life that his dad and I could give him.
He's getting such an excellent academic
start, but it's not with any pressure or
stress. I wish I could clearly express
how great Mr. Alsdurf is with his kids.
He's that one in a million teacher that
people rave about! His joy of teaching
and love for the kids is so clear and
I'm thrilled to send my son off to
school every day because of it. My son
was so shy and now is becoming
self-assured and self-confident because
he feels safe to do that at this school.
He even (usually) likes to do his
homework because it's fun! Amazing. I
can't wait until I can send my two
younger daughters to TCA. Kindergarten
will hopefully be at TCA soon!
An absolutely amazing little school in
downtown Duvall, Washington!!! With a
wait list after just one year, this
great little school for grades K-6 is a
multi-age adherent's dream come true.
Community-mindedness, respect, and
self-pacing are just a few of the many
elements that make Tall Cedars Academy a
true jewel of a school. With less than
thirty students in the entire school,
Headmaster Bill Alsdurf has created a
learning community where each student
feels safe and valued for who they are.
These are bright, interesting, and kind
children who go out of their way to make
certain that their younger buddies are
honored and respected for their own
ideas, not just those of the group.
Individuality, creativity, and
intellectual exploration are hallmarks
at Tall Cedars Academy. A great little
school with an excellent reputation. I
only wish there were lots more just like
it!!
We've been at TCA for two
years now and it's truly been the best
educational decision we've made.
The
kids at the school are bubbly and happy
and very polite and considerate and I
love the multi-age classroom set-up,
especially since my child doesn't have
siblings. I love the teachers and staff
at TCA and the headmaster never ceases
to amaze me with the terrific programs
and field trips that our children go on.
There's always a "mini-stampede" of
parents who want to sign up for the
field trips because they're so fun!
Each year the kids go to camp as well,
and four days a week they're learning
Spanish, and have gym and music twice a
week. The leaps and bounds my child has
made in her schooling are nothing short
of amazing. Our community is very
blessed to have this wonderful school in
our midst. Check them out with a
visit to watch the kids interaction and
see the school, you won't be ssad you
did!
Searching for the perfect
school for your child can seem a little
overwhelming. After spending several
years doing research and visiting
schools it was clear to us that Tall
Cedars Academy was a cut above the rest!
The curriculum, multi-age programs and
friendly environment really make TCA a
unique and special school. TCAs
philosophy of child-centered programs
provides a positive educational
community like no other. Our daughter
wakes up every morning excited about
school and comes home every day with fun
stories to share. We highly recommend
TCA to families looking for an
exceptional education for their children
and fun learning environment!
Before coming to TCA in 4th grade, the
weight of being labeled and placed into
a reading safety net program for a year
and a half at his previous school with
virtually no progress, smothered my
son's self confidence as a learner and
his enthusiasm for school. His first
year at TCA, in fact the first couple of
months, there was an awe-inspiring
change in his confidence and desire to
learn, go to school and even to do his
homework. He is a completely different
student. Today he is self-motivated, a
self-described confident reader and is
often giggling and beaming when I come
to pick him up from school! At TCA every
child is treated special, every occasion
is made special and it is a true
inspiration to watch the kids and Mr. A
at work. This school and Mr. A's way of
teaching is a true gift and it is a
profound privilege for our family to be
a part of this wonderful learning
environment. The only wish my husband
and I have is that we wish we could have
gone to TCA ourselves!
"With Bill Alsdurf's profound respect
for his students not simply as students, but as colleagues and as
partners with their own individual
perspective and unique sense of
difference and place, Bill excites our
children to challenge themselves and to
challenge each other as they work
to master the progressively more
difficult (and rewarding) levels of Mr. Alsdurf's outstanding selection of
individual self-pacing programs. We
could hardly be more pleased with the
results!"
The students are given
responsibilities - for both classroom
duties and their own work and behavior.
It is amazing to see each and every
child live up to that. The pride my
child feels in being part of that kind
of classroom community is wonderful. She
feels safe to ask for help and proud
when she can help someone else.
"Our family remains convinced that a
miracle like Bill Alsdurf comes along
just once in any given lifetime.
Time
spent with Mr. Alsdurf reverberates
through days, weeks, and months. It
benefits our children and ourselves in
myriad and enormous ways. How quickly we
have grown to love and to
cherish this most treasured teacher! One
thing is certain -- wherever
Bill Alsdurf is and whatever he does,
lives around him will always be
changed for the better! We cannot thank
him enough."
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