APPLE SHED ACADEMY
Parent & Family Handbook
Welcome to Apple Shed Academy!
Apple Shed Academy is a small, multi-age learning community located at Good Pickin’ Farm. Our program combines academics with hands-on, project-based learning, creativity, nature, movement, animal care, and the everyday experiences that come from learning on a working farm.
We believe children learn best when they are engaged, curious, supported, and given meaningful opportunities to explore the world around them. Our small class sizes allow teachers to know each child as an individual while creating a community in which students of different ages can learn both independently and together.
Our goal is not simply to teach children information. We want them to become curious thinkers, creative problem-solvers, confident learners, compassionate community members, and capable young people.
Apple Shed Academy Quick Reference
Apple Shed days can include classroom learning, art projects, animal care, outdoor exploration, hiking, farm chores, and plenty of time outside. Please send your child prepared to participate in all parts of the day.
Every Day
Backpack large enough for your child's belongings
Lunch
Snacks appropriate for an active school day
Refillable water bottle
Weather-appropriate clothing
Closed-toe shoes or boots appropriate for the farm
A complete change of clothes, including socks and underwear
For Rainy & Muddy Days
Waterproof raincoat
Waterproof boots
Rain pants when appropriate
Extra socks
Please assume that we may still go outside when it is raining.
For Cold & Snowy Days
Warm winter coat
Snow pants
Waterproof winter boots
Warm hat
Waterproof mittens or gloves
Warm socks
Appropriate layers
Because students spend significant time outdoors, fashion gloves, thin knit gloves, sweatshirts, and sneakers are generally not sufficient for extended winter outdoor activities.
For Warm Weather
Lightweight, comfortable clothing
Closed-toe shoes appropriate for hiking and farm activities
Sun hat, if desired
Sunscreen applied before school
Plenty of water
Please Label Everything. Seriously. Everything.
Coats, boots, snow pants, gloves, hats, lunchboxes, water bottles, sweatshirts, and other belongings have a remarkable ability to become anonymous once they enter a school.
A Good Rule of Thumb: Your child should arrive dressed for the weather, the woods, and the farm—not just the classroom.
We strongly recommend keeping extra seasonal clothing at school when possible. Children who do not have the clothing or equipment necessary to safely participate in an activity may need to remain out of that activity.
Our Philosophy
At Apple Shed Academy, education extends far beyond a desk. Students learn through a combination of:
Individual and small-group academic instruction
Project-based and interdisciplinary learning
Hands-on science and exploration
Art, music, movement, and creative expression
Outdoor learning
Farm and animal experiences
Nature exploration
Practical life skills and responsibilities
Collaborative projects
Independent work
Play and social connection
Our academic program incorporates Massachusetts curriculum frameworks while allowing teachers the flexibility to meet students where they are academically and developmentally.
Because Apple Shed is a multi-age environment, students may work at different levels within the same classroom. Age or grade does not automatically determine the work a child receives. Teachers consider each student's abilities, needs, interests, and progress.
Program Hours
Apple Shed Academy operates Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM–3:00 PM during the school year.
Families should refer to the annual school calendar for holidays, vacations, professional development days, and other school closures.
Students who are enrolled in Good Pickin’ Farm's early arrival or after-school programs may remain on the farm outside of regular Apple Shed hours according to the terms of those programs.
Arrival
Students should arrive ready to begin the school day at 9:00 AM.
Consistent, on-time attendance is important. Morning routines help students transition into the day, connect with their classmates, understand the day's expectations, and participate in community activities.
If your child will be absent or significantly late, please notify the school.
We understand that occasional delays happen. However, repeated late arrivals can be disruptive both to the student's learning and to the classroom as a whole.
Attendance
Regular attendance is an important part of a successful school experience.
Apple Shed Academy's curriculum includes collaborative projects, discussions, hands-on experiences, outdoor exploration, and activities that cannot always be recreated through worksheets or assignments sent home.
If your child will be absent, please notify us as soon as possible.
Families are responsible for communicating with teachers regarding extended absences or planned vacations.
Whenever possible, please schedule routine appointments outside of school hours.
A Typical Day
No two days at Apple Shed are exactly alike.
A typical day may include:
Morning meeting
Yoga, stretching, movement, or affirmations
Academic instruction
Individual or small-group work
Reading and writing
Mathematics
Science and social studies
Project-based learning
Art or music
Outdoor exploration
Animal care or farm chores
Lunch and social time
Independent work
Games and collaborative activities
Classroom responsibilities
Reflection and closing activities
Schedules may change based on student needs, projects, weather, farm activities, special visitors, seasonal opportunities, and spontaneous learning experiences.
One of the advantages of learning on a farm is that sometimes the most memorable lesson of the day wasn't on the schedule.
Multi-Age Learning
Apple Shed Academy includes students of different ages and grade levels. We consider this a strength of our program.
Students have opportunities to learn from one another, mentor younger classmates, observe more advanced work, collaborate across ages, and develop leadership skills.
Students will not necessarily be doing the same assignment at the same time. Teachers differentiate instruction based on students' academic levels and learning needs rather than expecting every student in a particular age group to progress at exactly the same pace.
Learning on a Working Farm
Apple Shed Academy is located on an active working farm.
Students may encounter goats, horses, chickens, rabbits, dogs, cats, cows, pigs, ducks, turkeys, farm equipment, mud, hay, dirt, bugs, wildlife, uneven terrain, changing weather and occasionally something wonderfully unexpected.
Farm experiences are an intentional part of our educational environment. Students are taught appropriate safety procedures around animals, equipment, barns, fences, and other areas of the property. Children must follow staff instructions regarding animal interactions and farm safety at all times.
Outdoor Learning
Outdoor learning is an important part of Apple Shed Academy.
Students should expect to spend time outside throughout the year, including during cold weather and light rain.
Outdoor activities may include:
Hiking
Nature exploration
Science investigations
Animal care
Farm chores
Gardening
Outdoor projects
Games and movement
Reading or academic work outdoors
Seasonal exploration
Weather conditions, safety considerations, and the needs of the group will determine how much time is spent outside on any particular day.
Clothing & Gear
There is no bad weather—only clothing that isn't ready for it.
Students should come to school prepared to get dirty, muddy, wet, dusty, grassy, or covered in evidence that they spent the day learning on a farm.
Please do not send children in clothing or shoes that cannot get dirty.
Food & Water
Students should bring a lunch, snacks, and a refillable water bottle each day unless families are notified otherwise.
Please send enough food to sustain your child through an active school day.
Children may be considerably hungrier after hiking, working outside, caring for animals, or participating in other physical activities than they would be during a traditional classroom day.
Families must notify the school of any food allergies or medically required dietary restrictions.
Personal Electronics
Apple Shed Academy is intended to be an engaged, hands-on learning environment.
Unless specifically approved by a teacher for educational or medical purposes, students should not use personal phones, smartwatches, tablets, gaming devices, or other personal electronics during the school day.
If a student brings a phone or smartwatch to school, staff may require that it remain stored during program hours.
Families who need to reach their child during the school day should contact the school rather than contacting the child directly.
Behavior & Community Expectations
Apple Shed Academy is a small community. Every student's behavior affects the experience of everyone around them.
Students are expected to:
Treat others with kindness and respect
Listen when teachers or staff are giving directions
Respect personal boundaries
Use appropriate language
Care for classroom materials and farm property
Treat animals gently and appropriately
Participate in classroom and farm responsibilities
Make reasonable efforts to participate in learning
Allow others to learn
Follow safety rules
Take responsibility for their choices
Work toward repairing harm when mistakes occur
We recognize that children are still learning these skills.
Discipline is therefore intended to teach, guide, and help children develop greater independence and self-regulation—not simply punish mistakes.
When Problems Happen
Children will disagree. They will make mistakes. They will have difficult days. Whenever appropriate, staff will help students:
Identify what happened.
Understand how their actions affected others.
Consider what they could do differently.
Repair the situation when possible.
Rejoin the community successfully.
Depending on the situation, responses may include redirection, conversation, a break from an activity, loss of a specific privilege, restorative actions, parent communication, or an individualized behavior plan.
Serious or repeated behavior concerns will be discussed with the student's family.
Safety & Behaviors We Cannot Accommodate
The physical environment of a working farm requires students to be able to follow essential safety directions.
Behaviors that create a significant safety risk may require immediate parent pickup and/or reconsideration of whether Apple Shed Academy can safely meet a child's needs.
These may include:
Leaving the group or designated area without permission
Running away from staff
Entering animal areas without permission
Aggressive behavior that creates a danger to others
Intentional harm to animals
Dangerous misuse of tools, equipment, or classroom materials
Repeated refusal to follow critical farm safety instructions
We will make reasonable efforts to work collaboratively with families. However, Apple Shed Academy cannot provide continuous one-to-one supervision or support. If a child's needs exceed what can safely and reasonably be provided within our program, we may determine that Apple Shed Academy is not an appropriate placement.
Student Responsibilities
Being part of Apple Shed Academy means being part of a community. Students may have age-appropriate responsibilities such as:
Caring for classroom materials
Cleaning shared spaces
Organizing supplies
Feeding or caring for animals
Helping with farm chores
Setting up or cleaning up activities
Helping younger classmates
Maintaining personal belongings
Participating in community projects
We believe responsibility builds confidence, independence, competence, and a sense of belonging.
Family Communication
Strong communication between families and teachers is important.
In addition to the weekly Education Newsletter, teachers will communicate information about classroom activities, upcoming events, student needs, and other important matters through the communication systems established for the school year.
Families should contact us when there are circumstances that may affect their child's day, including significant changes at home, sleep difficulties, emotional concerns, medication changes, illness, or other relevant information.
For concerns that require a longer conversation, please arrange a meeting rather than trying to have an extended discussion during arrival or dismissal.
Classroom Communication
Families will receive information about how to join their child's classroom communication platform at the beginning of the school year.
Teachers may use this platform to share:
Photos
Classroom updates
Reminders
Projects
Upcoming events
Learning highlights
Requests for supplies or materials
Please remember that teachers' primary responsibility during the school day is supervising and teaching students. Messages may not receive an immediate response.
For urgent matters or changes to dismissal plans, please contact the farm directly.
Illness
Children should remain home when they are too sick to participate comfortably in the school day or when their illness may pose a significant risk of spreading to others.
Please keep your child home for symptoms including, but not limited to:
Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Significant or unexplained rash
Contagious illness
Symptoms severe enough that the child cannot comfortably participate in normal activities
Children should generally be fever-free and/or vomit/diarrhea-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning to school.
If a child becomes ill during the school day, a parent or authorized adult will be contacted for pickup.
Medication & Medical Information
Families must provide the school with current information regarding:
Allergies
Medical conditions
Emergency medications
Activity restrictions
Any other health information necessary to safely care for their child
Medication must be provided in accordance with program requirements and accompanied by any required authorization or medical documentation.
Emergency medications must be available whenever the child is attending the program.
Families are responsible for ensuring that medications have not expired.
Injuries & Emergencies
Minor injuries such as small scrapes, bumps, or bruises may be treated by staff.
Families will be notified of more significant injuries or incidents as appropriate.
In the event of a serious medical emergency, staff will contact emergency services and then contact the child's parent or guardian.
The safety of the child will always take priority.
Severe Weather & School Closures
Because families travel from different communities and weather conditions can vary significantly throughout the region, Apple Shed Academy will make closure or delay decisions based on conditions affecting Good Pickin’ Farm and our ability to operate safely.
We do not necessarily follow the closure decisions of any one public school district, though we typically try to follow the Westford Public Schools.
Families will be notified as soon as reasonably possible regarding weather-related closures, delayed openings, or early dismissals.
Because our program includes outdoor activities and a working farm environment, conditions on the property—including ice, snow, high winds, extreme temperatures, power outages, or unsafe road conditions—may affect operations.
Dismissal & Pickup
Students may only leave with a parent/guardian or another individual authorized by the family. Please notify us of changes to your child's normal dismissal plan. For safety reasons, staff may request identification from an adult they do not recognize. Students enrolled in after-school programming will transition to that program at the end of the Apple Shed school day.
Late Pickup
Please arrive on time for your child's scheduled dismissal. Repeated late pickups create staffing and supervision challenges and may result in additional charges. If an emergency will delay your arrival, please contact us as soon as possible.
Tuition & Enrollment
Enrollment reserves a space for your child for the agreed-upon schedule.
Tuition policies, payment schedules, deposits, withdrawal requirements, and other financial terms are provided during registration and are considered part of the family's enrollment agreement. Tuition is based on enrollment rather than attendance. There are no tuition reductions or credits for:
Student absences
Family vacations
Routine illnesses
Missed days
Scheduled school holidays or vacations included in the school calendar
Families experiencing unusual circumstances are encouraged to contact administration.
Withdrawal or Schedule Changes
Families requesting withdrawal or changes to their child's enrollment should contact administration as early as possible. Any changes to your child’s schedule require a 30-day written notice. Changes are subject to program availability and the terms of the family's enrollment agreement.
Apple Shed Academy reserves the right to end enrollment when:
Tuition obligations are not met
Required paperwork is not provided
A student's behavior presents an ongoing safety concern
A child's needs cannot reasonably be met within the program
Family conduct significantly interferes with the school's ability to provide a safe and productive environment
Program policies are repeatedly disregarded
Whenever reasonably possible, we will communicate concerns and attempt to work collaboratively with families before enrollment is terminated.
Field Trips & Off-Farm Experiences
Students may occasionally participate in field trips, walks, community outings, or other educational experiences away from the main classroom.
Families will receive information when additional permission, transportation arrangements, special clothing, supplies, or fees are required.
Photos & Media
Apple Shed Academy and Good Pickin’ Farm frequently document learning experiences through photographs and videos.
Images may be used for classroom communication, school displays, the Good Pickin’ Farm website, newsletters, social media, or promotional materials according to the permissions provided by each family.
Please contact administration with questions regarding your family's media permissions.
Family Partnership
Children are most successful when families and educators work together.
We ask families to:
Communicate openly with us
Read school communications
Maintain current contact and emergency information
Provide required forms and medical documentation
Send children prepared for the weather and activities
Support regular and punctual attendance
Reinforce school safety expectations
Communicate concerns directly with us
Treat staff, students, and other families respectfully
In return, families can expect us to:
Treat your child with dignity and respect
Provide a safe and engaging learning environment
Communicate significant concerns
Celebrate your child's strengths
Encourage curiosity and independence
Provide meaningful learning opportunities
Work collaboratively with your family
Care about your child as an individual
Enrollment, Homeschooling & Educational Responsibility
Apple Shed Academy is a homeschool educational program offering multi-age, individualized and project-based instruction at Good Pickin’ Farm.
Because families may enroll children for different numbers of days each week, the educational responsibilities of Apple Shed Academy and the child's family differ depending upon the student's enrollment schedule.
Students Attending Four or Five Days Per Week
For students enrolled in Apple Shed Academy four or five days per week, Apple Shed Academy provides the child's primary educational program and curriculum.
Our teachers plan and provide instruction across core academic subjects while incorporating project-based, experiential, outdoor, farm-based, and creative learning.
Apple Shed Academy will work with families to provide appropriate information regarding the student's educational program when documentation is required for homeschooling purposes.
Students Attending Fewer Than Four Days Per Week
Students are welcome to attend Apple Shed Academy on a part-time basis. However, families choosing a schedule of one, two, or three days per week are responsible for their child's overall homeschool program and compliance with the requirements of their local school district.
For students attending Apple Shed Academy fewer than four days per week:
Apple Shed Academy does not create or submit the family's homeschool education plan to the child's local school district.
The parent/guardian remains responsible for submitting any required homeschool documentation.
The parent/guardian is responsible for ensuring that the child's complete educational program meets applicable requirements.
Apple Shed Academy provides instruction and educational experiences on the days the student attends, but those experiences should be considered part of the family's larger homeschool program.
Families may use information about Apple Shed Academy's curriculum, activities, and areas of instruction when preparing their own homeschool documentation as appropriate.
Our teachers are happy to communicate generally about what students are learning at Apple Shed Academy, but staff cannot assume responsibility for creating, maintaining, or administering a complete homeschool curriculum for students attending fewer than four days per week.
Family Responsibility
Homeschool requirements and procedures are determined by applicable Massachusetts law and the family's local school district.
Families are ultimately responsible for understanding and completing any homeschool notification, approval, reporting, assessment, or other requirements that apply to their child.
Apple Shed Academy cannot guarantee that enrollment in the program, by itself, satisfies an individual family's obligations to its local school district.
Families with questions regarding their specific legal responsibilities should contact their local school district.
The Apple Shed Difference
Apple Shed Academy isn't intended to recreate a traditional classroom on a farm.
The farm/nature itself is part of the classroom.
A math lesson may lead to measuring a garden bed.
Science may mean observing something happening in the barn.
Writing may begin with an experience on the trail.
Responsibility may mean caring for an animal that depends on you.
Art may happen outside.
A lesson may change because something fascinating appeared in the woods.
Students will get dirty. They will explore. They will create. They will solve problems. They will help care for their community. They will have opportunities to take appropriate risks, make mistakes, try again, and discover what they are capable of.
Our goal is to provide children with a strong academic foundation while preserving something equally important:
the curiosity that makes them want to learn in the first place.