"Do not follow the accepted path but go ahead and blaze a trail for others to find.”
Harking back to the heyday of groundbreaking schools, the Pathfinder School celebrated its 35th anniversary Saturday afternoon with a party in the school's memorial garden.
Approximately 100 staff, students, parents and alumni stopped by for cake, laughter and stories about their experiences over the decades. Guests of honor Art and Nancy Baxter, who founded the school in 1972, brought along some of their children and grandchildren to the event. Nancy recalled that the quote from the book "Pathfinder” by James Fenimore Cooper, an American author from the 1800s as an inspiration for the school's name.
"It was the age of the alternative school yet we were reluctant to do anything too experimental,” said Nancy Baxter. "We really believed in rigorous education.”
The anniversary celebration was especially timely as the parents, staff and teachers at the school worked since February to ensure its survival after Interlochen Arts Academy announced that it would close the school in June. Declining enrollment and financial concerns finally prompted Interlochen to close the school they took over the in 2000.
A transition team spearheaded the negotiations, fund-raising, publicity and community outreach needed to continue the alternative school that serves students in grades preschool through eight. After much hard work — with an estimated 120 parents contributing time, talent and determination — and thanks to financial help from a Grand Rapids foundation, the team closed on the property Monday.
"It is a very big milestone,” said Bob Barrett, the head of school and the former leader of the parent association. "We had a saying all through this thing: let's not forget this is for the children.”
As for founders, who began the school with 56 students, six of them their own children, the new direction for Pathfinder is exciting.
"We're all glad to see the school reinvent itself and maintain its independence,” said Art Baxter, who now lives with his wife in Indianapolis.
The original Pathfinder School included a high school through the mid-1980s. Wendy Rogers of the class of 1975 recalled many class trips, including backpacking in the fall and winter in the Upper Peninsula.
"You had more attention and more hands-on experiences and I think that's what I appreciate most,” she noted.
"Madame” Sharon Rutkowsi taught French at the school for 21 years before retiring in 2001 and took seventh and eighth graders to France every other year. Three of her own children attended the school, one graduating from the high school before it closed.
"It was just like a family here, the little kids looked up to the high schoolers and the big kids took that seriously,” she said. "Throughout the history of Pathfinder, parents have been committed to the school and the education their kids were receiving.”
Looking ahead to the next iteration of the school, Bob Barrett, head of school, said this parent participation is more important than ever. A foundation of the school's philosophy from the outset,
"It's just part of what independent schools are about, that's the nature of the school,” said Baxter, noting that the eighth grade class of 2007 had 13 members.
Duncan Sprattmoran completed his 17th year of teaching at the school and is eager for many more immersed in an atmosphere that nurtures true learning, not teaching to a test. From the motivated, questioning and eager students to the participating parents, his days are filled with teachable moments and students making connections.
"The teachable moment at Pathfinder, we have the opportunity to exploit it at any time because of the environment,” said Sprattmoran, who teaches seventh and eighth grade language arts.
For more information about the Pathfinder School, call 941-1300 or see their web site at www.thepathfinderschool.org.