Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm offers birth – 2nd grade (soon to be 3rd grade) education based on the Waldorf philosophy on a working farm in Essex, NY.

Letters from Lakeside

Student Name:  Delaney Grimes
Age:                   5
Grade:               Kindergarten
Parents:            Corinne & Kyle
Where from:      Morrisonville, NY

How would you describe Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm?
In keeping with our “wish list” for our daughter’s education, Lakeside is a school that:  embraces our child and her individual needs; honors childhood and all the magic surrounding it; holds a philosophy of learning that’s bigger than test scores and benchmarks; incorporates play, creativity, art, music, and nature every day; and builds community within and outside of its walls.

Why did you choose Lakeside School?
Quite simply, we knew as soon as we walked through the rustic wooden gate at Black Kettle Farm that this was going to be a perfect fit for our spirited, creative, intuitive, emotionally-driven little redhead, and another home for her (and us!) too: the school, the community, the people. The decision to send her to Lakeside was a no-brainer, but our situation was a bit more complex because the commute from Morrisonville to Essex is 40 minutes each way! We learned very quickly that it was worth every minute.

How has Lakeside benefited your daughter?  
Delaney is enriched in ways I couldn’t have imagined or even dreamed of. Even our commutes are filled with special times where we reflect on the breathtaking Adirondack scenery and share stories about Delaney’s days: feeding the new calves, hiking to Grandfather tree, seeing a porcupine on the morning walk, helping to light the fire on Outpost Day, or sharing a sled with a friend or three. I am always warmed by the giggles and squeals of the children playing outside when we arrive for morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up. Quite simply, she is thriving.

What makes Lakeside School such a treasure to the North Country?
There are so many reasons. It is in the midst of an area that embodies small-town community values that exist in very few places anymore. The area has been attracting new families because of those values, and the school has been a part of that. People are seeking out this type of educational experience for their kids when they are looking to relocate to the area. And quite frankly, with all that’s happening in education these days, to have a school like Lakeside in our backyard is a gift!

Help Lakeside School continue to be part of the North Country. Please make a donation today.
We need your support! Lakeside is supported solely by parents and the community through various fundraising efforts.  Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeside School, you are connecting the economic growth of our community through an organization that respects the environment, embraces the spirit of young children, and enriches the opportunities for young families in our area.

Thank you!
Corinne Grimes