Seabury School
Encyclopedia
Seabury School is an independent school
for gifted children in Tacoma, Washington
.
Founded in 1989, Seabury is the only independent school in the South Puget Sound with a program specifically designed for intellectually advanced children. Children from Tacoma
, Federal Way
, Kent
, Auburn
, Gig Harbor
, Puyallup
and throughout the South Puget Sound Region
come to Seabury for its personalized approach to education and emphasis on the development of creative and analytical thinking skills. Seabury is a member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools
(PNAIS) and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NASC).
Seabury serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grades on two campuses: one located in Northeast Tacoma. and one located in Tacoma's downtown theatre district
.
In 1988, Field and Fisher moved from deliberation to action. Field designed a survey to assess the community’s perspective regarding gifted students’ educational needs and distributed it to many community organizations. When surveys were returned, 95 percent indicated that there was a need for an independent school to serve children in the Federal Way and Tacoma
area.
The immediate and long range planning began. Field and Fisher met with educators from private gifted schools to learn about the structure, curriculum, and Washington State’s legal requirements for private schools. The two founders then met with psychologists, educators from the University of Washington
and other public and private programs, in addition to state officials from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. By late fall, it was decided that the school would open with grades kindergarten through second and with plans for inclusion through grade six. After accumulating used furniture, materials and books, Field and Fisher rented a commercially zoned building on 51st Street NE near Commencement Bay
in Northeast Tacoma.
The school's name reflected the location's scenic environment and Field's past connections with Episcopal schools.
The incorporation of the non-profit organization was certified in November 1988. Barbara Field was named as the registered agent. Lee Woodworth Fisher, Lyle Starkey, and Don Field were named as incorporators. Evergreen Bank, a teachers’ bank in Seattle, provided a ten thousand dollar loan to support the opening of the school, and The Medina Foundation and several private donors supplied funds for the school’s initial operation.
In September 1989 Seabury school opened with eighteen students, two teachers and parent volunteer aides. Mrs. Field donated her first year of teaching and administration. Wenda Collins was the upper primary grade teacher. Fisher started the school library with used books and 20 years of National Geographic magazines. The founding Board of Directors included Fisher, financial and legal professionals Ed Opstad (board president) and Scott Jablon, educators Manvel Schauffler and Mary Helen Robinson, and child psychologist Richard Borton.
By September 1990, Seabury had 38 students, a director, three teachers, three aides, a set of bylaws and an ever-expanding set of policies. In 1992, the school was accepted as a candidate member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools
.
In the fall of 1993, enrollment had expanded so Seabury offered a full academic program of classes for students in preschool through grade six, including French language instruction. In 2009, Seabury continued fulfilling its vision of establishing academic schools for students by opening a middle school for gifted students in grades 6-8 within the heart of downtown Tacoma. Seabury buses its students between the sites.
In fall 2010, the Early Learning Center at Seabury School changed from a preschool and kindergarten program to a 4-year-old pre-kindergarten and kindergarten program.
The Seabury Middle School program features an integrated curriculum and is designed so that students make the city their classroom. Students take physical education classes at the downtown Tacoma YMCA
, do their research at the Tacoma Public Library
, visit the Tacoma Farmers Market and eat lunch at local delis and cafés.
The school is housed in the historic Pythian Temple
downtown.
, Stadium High School
, Charles Wright Academy, Annie Wright School
, Tacoma School of the Arts and Thomas Jefferson's International Baccalaureate program.
Alumni of Seabury School have attended colleges and universities that include The University of Washington
, Harvard University
, Seattle University
, Brown University
, Stanford University
, New York University
, California Polytechnic State University
, Lewis and Clark College,
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
for gifted children in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
.
Founded in 1989, Seabury is the only independent school in the South Puget Sound with a program specifically designed for intellectually advanced children. Children from Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, Federal Way
Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south...
, Kent
Kent, Washington
Kent is a city located in King County, Washington, United States, and is the third largest city in King County and the sixth largest in the state. An outlying suburb of Seattle, Kent is also the corporate home for companies such as REI and Oberto Sausage...
, Auburn
Auburn, Washington
-Parks:Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprising 29 developed parks, 5 undeveloped sites under planning, 2 skate parks, 2 water roatary parks, and over of trails , and almost of open space for passive and active recreation.-Environmental Park:The Auburn...
, Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor, Washington
Gig Harbor is the name of both a bay on Puget Sound and a city on its shore in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,126 at the 2010 census....
, Puyallup
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
and throughout the South Puget Sound Region
Puget Sound region
The Puget Sound region is an inland area of the Pacific Northwest in Washington , including Puget Sound, the Puget Sound lowlands, and the surrounding region roughly west of the Cascade Range and east of the Olympic Mountains.- History :...
come to Seabury for its personalized approach to education and emphasis on the development of creative and analytical thinking skills. Seabury is a member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools
Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools
The Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools is an organization devoted to promoting quality education within independent schools in the Pacific Northwest...
(PNAIS) and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NASC).
Seabury serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grades on two campuses: one located in Northeast Tacoma. and one located in Tacoma's downtown theatre district
Broadway Center for the Performing Arts
Broadway Center for the Performing Arts is a 501 non-profit organization located in the historic Theater District of downtown Tacoma, Washington. Encompassing the Pantages, Rialto, and Theatre on the Square, the Broadway Center manages the largest complex of theaters between Seattle, Washington...
.
History
The school began when two principals, one in private education and the other retired from public school administration, met and were reflecting on their careers. Barbara Field and Lee Woodworth Fisher were concerned with the lack of appropriate educational placement for very bright, highly exceptional students. At that time, funds for these students were not generally available in the public schools under the assumption these students could “fend for themselves.”In 1988, Field and Fisher moved from deliberation to action. Field designed a survey to assess the community’s perspective regarding gifted students’ educational needs and distributed it to many community organizations. When surveys were returned, 95 percent indicated that there was a need for an independent school to serve children in the Federal Way and Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
area.
The immediate and long range planning began. Field and Fisher met with educators from private gifted schools to learn about the structure, curriculum, and Washington State’s legal requirements for private schools. The two founders then met with psychologists, educators from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
and other public and private programs, in addition to state officials from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. By late fall, it was decided that the school would open with grades kindergarten through second and with plans for inclusion through grade six. After accumulating used furniture, materials and books, Field and Fisher rented a commercially zoned building on 51st Street NE near Commencement Bay
Commencement Bay
Commencement Bay is a bay of Puget Sound in the U.S. state of Washington. The city of Tacoma is located on the bay, with the Port of Tacoma occupying the southeastern end. A line drawn from Point Defiance in the southwest to Browns Point in the northeast serves to mark the generally accepted...
in Northeast Tacoma.
The school's name reflected the location's scenic environment and Field's past connections with Episcopal schools.
The incorporation of the non-profit organization was certified in November 1988. Barbara Field was named as the registered agent. Lee Woodworth Fisher, Lyle Starkey, and Don Field were named as incorporators. Evergreen Bank, a teachers’ bank in Seattle, provided a ten thousand dollar loan to support the opening of the school, and The Medina Foundation and several private donors supplied funds for the school’s initial operation.
In September 1989 Seabury school opened with eighteen students, two teachers and parent volunteer aides. Mrs. Field donated her first year of teaching and administration. Wenda Collins was the upper primary grade teacher. Fisher started the school library with used books and 20 years of National Geographic magazines. The founding Board of Directors included Fisher, financial and legal professionals Ed Opstad (board president) and Scott Jablon, educators Manvel Schauffler and Mary Helen Robinson, and child psychologist Richard Borton.
By September 1990, Seabury had 38 students, a director, three teachers, three aides, a set of bylaws and an ever-expanding set of policies. In 1992, the school was accepted as a candidate member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools
Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools
The Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools is an organization devoted to promoting quality education within independent schools in the Pacific Northwest...
.
In the fall of 1993, enrollment had expanded so Seabury offered a full academic program of classes for students in preschool through grade six, including French language instruction. In 2009, Seabury continued fulfilling its vision of establishing academic schools for students by opening a middle school for gifted students in grades 6-8 within the heart of downtown Tacoma. Seabury buses its students between the sites.
Lower School
Seabury's Lower School is located in its original location in Northeast Tacoma, and houses pre-kindergarten through fifth grades. The campus has expanded to include administrative offices, a Media Center and library and expanded outdoor play space.In fall 2010, the Early Learning Center at Seabury School changed from a preschool and kindergarten program to a 4-year-old pre-kindergarten and kindergarten program.
Middle school
Seabury's Middle School opened in September 2009, and is located in Tacoma's historic downtown theatre district. The middle school houses sixth, seventh and eighth grades.The Seabury Middle School program features an integrated curriculum and is designed so that students make the city their classroom. Students take physical education classes at the downtown Tacoma YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, do their research at the Tacoma Public Library
Tacoma Public Library
The Tacoma Public Library system serves residents of Tacoma, Washington. It operates ten library branches, which include a central library in downtown Tacoma, two regional locations in north and south Tacoma, and in seven neighborhoods. The Tacoma library has nearly 150,000 registered users, and...
, visit the Tacoma Farmers Market and eat lunch at local delis and cafés.
The school is housed in the historic Pythian Temple
Pythian Temple (Tacoma, Washington)
The Pythian Temple, built in 1906 for Commencement Lodge Number 7 of the Knights of Pythias, is an historic building located on Broadway in the Theater District of Tacoma, Washington...
downtown.
Summer at Seabury
Seabury School hosts a series of week-long camps each summer at the Lower School campus. Past camps have included Lego Camp, French Camp, Archaeology Camp and Meet the Authors camp. The camps are open to both Seabury students and members of the public.Alumni
Alumni of Seabury School have attended high schools that include Bellarmine Preparatory SchoolBellarmine Preparatory School
Bellarmine Preparatory School is a Roman Catholic high school in the Jesuit tradition in Tacoma, Washington, USA. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle. Today it serves just over 1,000 students from the Greater Tacoma area....
, Stadium High School
Stadium High School
Stadium High School is a 100-year-old high school in Tacoma, Washington and a historic landmark. It is part of Tacoma Public Schools, or Tacoma School District No. 10 and is located in the Stadium District, near downtown Tacoma. The original building burned to a shell while it was still a partially...
, Charles Wright Academy, Annie Wright School
Annie Wright School
Annie Wright School is a preschool-12th grade independent school of about 450 students. It is a co-ed day program through grade 8, and an all-girls day and boarding school in grades 9-12. The upper school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme...
, Tacoma School of the Arts and Thomas Jefferson's International Baccalaureate program.
Alumni of Seabury School have attended colleges and universities that include The University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Seattle University
Seattle University
Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA.SU is the largest independent university in the Northwest US, with over 7,500 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools, and is one of 28 member...
, Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
, Lewis and Clark College,