My kids are developing into the kind of little people I had always worked and hoped they would…read morebecome. SMCDS is a major reason. The top flight staff, location and community are evident the moment you land on campus. As for a high level academic oriented-challenging environment, SMCDS is all that. As a major part of our lives for many years, starting in Pre-K, I am proud to be a part of the SMCDS community and grateful for each member of the team at SMCDS that have helped develop each of my children into competent, curios and independent thinkers. Recommended without reservation.

We started our child at St. Michael's for 5th grade. Wish we would have made the move sooner. After…read moretouring the school by myself, I left knowing this was going to be a great fit for our child. Their two day visit was their favorite of all of the schools they checked out because 'They actually teach you things and the kids want to learn.' The campus is beautiful, but beyond that, a few things stood out. 1. The head of middle school was great. She was engaging and immediately handed me two business cards. She asked me to please pass one on to my child and let them know that they could contact her with any questions they may have. My child felt like the head of middle school genuinely cared about them and proceeded to send an email asking a few questions/concerns they had. This was huge for my child. 2. All of the students played together. We watched a huge divide occur in 2nd grade at our previous school. Boys played football and soccer, and girls stood around. At St. Michael's the main playground equipment is built to accommodate all ages. Kids all played together and had fun. There was no division between boys and girls. I really liked how the middle schoolers came together so much. 3. The depth of learning going on, the number of options for a smaller school, and the responsibility placed, taught and expected from the middle school students was something that I knew my child would appreciate and could learn from. My child loves learning and wants to be challenged. I knew they would be challenged on many different levels. Things that we have loved since attending: * I love the Harry Potter'esque' houses that each student gets placed in at the beginning of their school year. This is a good way to bring together the 3 year olds up to 8th graders to cheer on their houses at different events. * I love the fact that field trips still happen through 8th grade. * I love the after school sports programs and how students are introduced to different sports even if they aren't overly sporty. * I love the fact that my child can stay after school for extra homework help and I can pick them up at the end of my work day. * I love how the school is a STEAM based school with amazing opportunities to explore including using the maker space to create solutions to problems and as a creative outlet to design things. * I love how there is lots of project based learning allowing students to have a deeper understanding of what they are learning about. The choices of how they will present and share their learning have been equally impressive and have forced my child to try new skills like sewing, stop motion and green screen technology. * I love the diversity of students that comes from the numerous military families attending from all over the globe. My child has learned about different cultures and languages because of this. * I love how the Choose Love program isn't just a bunch of sayings slapped on a wall as it sometimes is in other schools. The curriculum is used along with mindfulness, meditation, and self reflection and the students really practice what they learn. * I love how mistakes are encouraged as part of the process of learning and improving. * I love how the school has great community activities such as back to school picnics, ice skating days, parent get togethers, and opportunities to help support the community at large through volunteer projects. The parent's association is active and inclusive. * I love that foreign language is 4 hours a week starting in 5th grade with exposure in elementary school. * I love the science lab, PE and Heath classes and the focus on arts. So many schools are cutting arts and music programs. At St. Michael's you are exposed to chorus, band, studio arts, stage craft, cos-play and actor's studio. * I love how the teachers are engaging and so wonderful in their enthusiasm. They have a great pulse on their students and are really working hard to make students become better students and better contributors to society. * I love the administrative team and how they communicate with families and really get to know the students. * I love how encouraging the student body as a whole is. They genuinely care about other students. This was the best jump we ever made and so grateful to have found such a wonderful place to land, grow and learn.

Wonderful service. Christ-centered and heartfelt from beginning to end. What a blessing!read more

Towards the end of our last day in Newport, we just had to stop by the Touro Synagogue. It was at…read morethe end of the day, so unfortunately, we weren't able to see the interior of the building. The Touro Synagogue was built in 1763 and is the only surviving synagogue in the U.S. dating back to the colonial era, and thus, the oldest synagogue still standing in the U.S. and North America. In 1946, it was declared a National Historic Site. In 1790, President George Washington wrote in his now famous letter to the "Hebrew congregation at Newport" that "our new nation would give to bigotry no sanction and to persecution no assistance." While Touro Synagogue is a fully functional synagogue, apparently, they hold a special service each year to re-read President Washington's meaningful letter in its entirety. Touro Synagogue is a beautiful building with significant historical value.

"I have finally found a place to live Just like I never…read morecould before And I know I don't have much to give But soon I'll open any door In the presence of the Lord" (Eric Clapton) In June 2014, we visited the third oldest synagogue in the US when we toured Savannah, Georgia's Congregation Mickve Israel. Yesterday, we toured the second oldest synagogue in the US when we visited the Touro Synagogue and Visitor Center in Newport, RI. The congregation's history goes way back to 1658 and its quite a fascinating history. The building itself was constructed in 1763 and is now both the oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States and North America. Rightfully so, it was declared a National Historic Site in 1946. Jewish history and American history intersected in the form of a famous letter written by George Washington on August 21, 1790. After his visit to Newport, Washington sent a letter to the synagogue's warden to express his support of the Congregation's Jews, all American Jews, and his vison for religious tolerance in the newly born nation. Washington's letter stated: "... the Government of the United States ... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance. ... May the children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy". Lew, our Tour Guide, was the very best tour guide I ever had. He was funny when he wanted to be, but brought enough serious gravitas when needed, to explain the magnificent history of Newport, the significance of Washington's letter, and the contribution of American Jews to Newport and Colonial America. I can't recommend a visit and tour of the Touro Synagogue highly enough.

This is a church where you can feed your soul (and frequently your belly). This is a church where…read morepeople are involved in being Jesus' hands in the community.

While visiting Touro Park, I noticed the William Ellery Channing statue that faces the Channing…read moreMemorial Church. Channing was a leader of Americna Unitarianism and anti-slavery movement. The church, built largely of porphyritic granite, was erected in 1800.

My partner and I were married in this church. The church is beautiful inside. parking is a bit of…read morea problem, but it is worth the trip to see this historic church,. they are an inclusive church and performs same sex marriage's. they do not discriminate!

Walked by this church dozens of times but have never stopped in. Doors are open 9-3. Lots of…read morehistory in this church. Loved the individual pews and the stained glass windows. There are pamphlets when you walk in that give you information as you take a "self guided" tour.

We visited early on weekday and were unable to enter, but the church with its imposing steeple is…read moresituated in a beautiful location on a hill in Queen Anne Square. I dare you walk to walk past without taking a photo or three.

What the...look at the pic I posted. They've hung a sign stating that they're no longer taking…read moredonations. What is that? It's Salvation Army, it's how they make money!

This is the best thrift store I've ever been to. Tons of designer clothing, great shoes and some…read moreawesome tech gear. Nice dinnerwear as well. A trip to Newport is not complete without a trip to the Salvation Army. As far as not accepting donations on site, I tend to side with the store. It is a small store, and I'm sure they get shipments of merchandise to sell from the larger collection locations that can accommodate the volume of donated goods. Another tip is to then head to the nearby vintage store Closet Revival. It is walking distance and the most amazing vintage store I've ever been to.

Our 3 year old son is enrolled in all seven weeks of the St. Michael's Morning Adventurers Summer…read moreCamp - it's that good!! He loves it! Each week has a different theme, which keeps it really exciting for the kids. Every day I pick him up, he has some amazing piece of art that pertains to that week's theme - they're all "framers"! Our son also loves that they start each day by going to the swimming pool - it doesn't get any better than that! The teachers have all been very friendly and good with the kids. We're very pleased with our experience thus far - highly recommended!

From the owner: St. Michael's Country Day School Summer Camp runs for seven weeks each summer beginning in late…read moreJune. Our programs are tailored for a range of age groups from 3 to 18. We have talented and dedicated counselors focused on providing a nurturing environment where your child can experience all the fun that summer has to offer. Our beautiful 7 acre campus has an in-ground swimming pool (supervised by a lifeguard), two playgrounds and our own state-of-the-art theatre. We have something for every camper from sports, chess, legos, arts and crafts to acting and more. Summer Fun For Everyone!

Hadn't really thought much about this place until I read about the sex abuse scandal, but I spent a…read moresummer there in the 70s to make up in algebra and Spanish. I must say that the level of instruction was much superior to to that at the (supposedly prestigious) midwestern day prep I had come from. Place was older than God. The stone steps and stairs in the dormitory had deep troughs worn in them from a hundred years of wear. The students, as I remember, were rich New England types and kind of assholish. They had sailboats the kids could use, and I walked down and swam in the ocean a few times. Water was very rough, it was unsupervised, and I have no idea how I didn't drown. My roommate, from my own hometown, was stabbed in the hand over a pinball game. I guess it was bad because he wore a cast for the rest of the summer. Someone had the idea to bring in Puerto Rican kids from Harlem as part of a Head Start program. A well intentioned gesture, no doubt, but pick less stabby kids next time please.

I'm glad they have cleaned up the sex abuse. It will make St. Georges stronger going forward…read more Another area that is often overlooked is domestic abusers that are hired as faculty. The teachers are allowed to move in between private schools unfettered like priests in the Catholic church. I know of one history teacher at St. Georges that had beaten his wife at a prior boys boarding school, who was protected by the head master of that prior school who was also a wife beater. The headmaster was eventually fired. These folks should not be allowed as role models for our children and should be thoroughly vetted in this regard.