2nd Nature Academy

10 Groton Road

Nashua, NH 03062

22 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on November 22, 2022

a student has been accused and bullied for several years and the teachers don't fix it only another student who will remain nameless they teach you nothing that will be used in real life and although kindness is nice if someone hurts you have a right to be unkind. this school tries to fix you if they don't understand you and if your only friends with one other person then they try to force friendship and it doesn't seem fair that if there's one person going to the school they will get blamed for something that was done either from a teachers child or a student that has a few siblings going there.
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2022

We have been so happy with 2nd Nature Academy. Our son is smart and enjoys learning but struggles to sit still and engage in a traditional classroom environment. The incorporation of outdoor/active experience at 2nd Nature is perfect for him. In the early grades so far we've also seen an emphasis on social-emotional development along with academic progress, and we've seen him grow as a whole person rather than just a student. We have appreciated the communication and support we receive from all the teachers and staff, and we would absolutely recommend this school to other families!
Submitted by parent on October 07, 2022

This is our second year at 2nd nature academy. We moved from our local public school and could not be happier with our choice. It was difficult to make that leap of faith but so worthwhile.
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2022

My children love this school! From the amazing dedicated teachers to the students to the well balanced curriculum that perfectly combines skill based learning with project based learning. 2nd Nature Academy does an excellent job integrating their compassion into their teaching standards, emphasizing the importance of values, and building leaders through each of their lessons. The teachers are passionate about seeing all of their students succeed. Communication is extremely important to our family and at 2nd Nature Academy the communication is top notch. They are so great about sharing proud moments, good behaviors and achievements, as well as getting parents involved should an issue arise all in a very respectful and approachable manner. Our family has been a part of 2nd Nature Academy for the past 8 years and could not be happier.
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2022

Great school indeed. My daughter will be going into 8th grade this year and she is already so excited to go back again. She loves animals and the outdoors so this school was the best fit for her needs. The teachers and staff are all very helpful and supportive and they truly care for the students. Project based learning, team building, classroom debates, inclusion and mutual respect has given my child a strong feeling of acceptance within the 2nd Nature family. She has grown so much as a person and can actually advocate for herself now. Her shyness is something of the past and her greatness is shining through.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2022

We enrolled our daughter in 2nd Nature Academy when she was old enough for kindergarten. She was one of the youngest kids in her class. Our decision was based on the small class size compared to public school. COVID was also very much a factor in our decision. Remember the chaos?In 2020, my daughter attended kindergarten (outside) with a class of 13, with masks, and social distancing. The school handled this situation brilliantly. My kid was better for going, and no one in her class was sick. Did I have apprehension about sending my kid to school? Yes. The bargain I made with myself was -- if there was a sign of a sniffle, cough -- the MINUTE I felt uncomfortable -- I would pull her out. The pleasant surprise? It was the first year I remember where she didn't have a cold or get sick. When they came in for class in the wintertime, they followed a strict cleaning protocol, guidelines from the state, and CDC. I appreciate how the school rallied to make in-person classes work. This was a significant amount of extra work for administrators, teachers, and cleaning staff to stay open. Parents WERE nervous, but the school got us through the pandemic. The communication was exceptional.In 2021, my daughter was a 1st grader. It was still during COVID (Delta). We kept her enrolled in the school because we were impressed with how the school handled education and COVID during the previous year. She was learning well in her small classroom setting. Unfortunately, near the end of the year, the original teacher couldn't finish the school year. I was concerned about the gap in learning and the potential anxiety this would cause my daughter. Mrs. Gleeson (principal, owner), with decades of experience, stepped in. She made the spring semester magical. Not only did they learn maths and reading, but they also hatched chickens, and grew plants from seeds.And here we are in 2022. My daughter will attend the 2nd grade, with a class of 14. We like how her education is rounding out and the level of attention to detail with staff, teachers, and administrators.I don't have regrets about my daughter not being in public school. I would still enroll her in a private school. 2nd Nature is a nurturing environment. I did not want my daughter to have an education by rote. I wanted her to have the opportunity to explore beyond the commonality of being tied to a standardized test. She is learning about processes, critical and logical thinking.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2022

Over the last three years, Second Nature Academy has provided our daughter with a nurturing, supportive and engaging learning environment. In addition to the educational curriculum, she is learning social emotional skills such as resiliency, inclusivity, team work and leadership skills. Second Nature Academy offers a community that cares about the child's overall well-being.
Submitted by parent on August 15, 2022

We shall no be returning to this school after a year or miscommunication, lack of education, and my child regressing because of it. After seeing what he learned in public school compared to this school. We now have to get a tutor to get him back up to speed for his grade.
Submitted by parent on August 15, 2022

My child came into 2nd Nature with some gaps in learning. From the beginning, teachers and administrators worked with him and with our family to make sure he was held to high standards while always receiving the support he needed. They truly partnered with us to bring creativity and openness to a program to support my son's learning needs. Classrooms are bright and interesting, teachers are always meeting students where they are and work hard to keep them engaged. From the top down, I found every person who works at 2nd Nature to be a master of honest, direct and effective communication - and to have a sense of humor! Students are supported to develop their capacities and interests as individuals, but there is strong emphasis on having a healthy community and finding ways to engage individuals in that community with an aim to fostering engaged and thoughtful citizens.
Submitted by parent on August 15, 2022

My daughter has absolutely flourished in this schools environment. The project based learning accompanied by the incredibly educated, involved, engaged and communicative teaching staff is second to none. What's also really comforting is their zero tolerance policy for bullying - they absolutely will not tolerate it.Driving into the school you'll see a barn with alpacas, goats, peacocks, a donkey...you name it. It's such a breath of fresh air and a welcoming and stress free environment where kids are truly encouraged to be their true, authentic selves. The education is top notch, the food is farm to table, the staff and educators are beyond - I'm so happy we found it.
Submitted by parent on August 13, 2022

Our experience at 2nd Nature Academy has been amazing. Our daughter has been attending this school since 1yr. She is entering the 10th grade. The staff is exceptional. They are committed to making the educational experience fun and successful for every student. They truly bring out the best in every child. My daughter is dyslexic and she was supported from by everyone. This environment is like no other. Who doesn't want to have the opportunity to spend a good portion of their day outside...exploring and learning how to apply their lessons in the rule world. To have an environment that encourages kindness, acceptance, responsibility and leadership. The small classes provides an atmosphere to gain confidence in asking questions, engage in group activities and allows for one-on-one opportunities with teachers. There has not been one day that I have worried about my daughter being in the absolute best care. We are so thankful and grateful that our daughter gets to attend this school. I encourage you to seek out this school!
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2022

We are so happy to have found 2nd Nature Academy!! After being accepted for 6th grade (for fall 2022) in April 2022, our daughter expressed interest in starting in May as a "trial run" since this would be the first time she would be attending school. We were all uncertain how the transition would be since it we had been homeschooling since preschool! The teachers, staff, and most importantly children of all ages welcomed her with open arms and she looked forward to going to school every day! The teachers challenge her to be curious and think critically. The student-centric, delight-driven, project based learning style that the school values fit our family school philosophy so well. As an educator, I am extremely critical when it comes to pedagogy and curriculum and I can say with confidence, I have no doubt that my daughter will thrive at this school and be receiving an excellent education! She cannot wait to go back in September!
Submitted by parent on August 11, 2022

We have had a phenomenal experience at 2nd Nature Academy over the past 3 years, and are excited about the high school program. The curriculum is challenging and the faculty are uniquely adept at challenging students and motivating them to excel in new ways academically, emotionally and socially. My son has been supported in ways that have enabled him to grow significantly over the past few years - ways that wouldn't have been possible without the collaboration and support from the 2nd Nature team. The program fosters a sense of accountability, responsibility and independence you will not find in a public school. We could not be happier!
Submitted by parent on August 09, 2022

We first enrolled my son last year due to pandemic concerns, and concerns he needed extra help with reading (which he was not getting at our local public school) and math. We looked into private reading tutoring, but then heard that 2nd Nature Academy was using an Ortho Gillian based reading program with all students, not just those struggling with reading. We decided to look into 2nd Nature Academy based on this, and were impressed with the teachers, curriculum, facility, and community. The reading program was indeed wonderful for my son, the class worked in small groups on reading with this program (each group at a different level) so he did not feel singled out and built his confidence. He’s now caught up to reading at his grade level. He was nervous about returning to school in person, and his teacher was supportive of that transition. Her communication was wonderful. She shared highlights of what the class was learning with weekly, and often daily, updates with pictures and occasional video. Her energy and enthusiasm inspired a love for learning in her class. Each day we were happy to hear about his adventures, ranging from science outside (for example, discussing the life cycle of frogs and their habitat while observing actual frogs at the pond), fort building with friends, and barn visits. The Art teacher recognized my son’s creativity, and had him do a special challenge project that he was excited about. His 2nd/3rd grade class wrote a play together, designed and built the set (with help from the Art teacher), and then put on the production at the end of the year for the school and parents. This past year he learned how to count in mandarin, and math in mandarin seemed to help reinforce the math foundational concepts he had been learning. By the end of the year, he was caught up to where he should be with math. The school utilizes two apps for communication, one by the teachers who post updates, photos, and videos, and one by the school administration with information about special events, school lunch, and school community news. The school also emailed important updates and information. As a busy professional, the easily accessible updates were appreciated. Initially we had thought we would send our son just for the one year, a temporary solution given the pandemic, but after seeing how much he thrived this past year we can’t imagine not continuing with 2nd Nature Academy. Highly recommend 2nd Nature Academy!
Submitted by parent on August 09, 2022

We enrolled our daughter last fall in 5th grade at 2nd nature. We were a little apprehensive at first, not really knowing how the transition would be or really understanding how the curriculum would work as she transitioned from public school. But within the first couple of months, she really flourished there. She has gained so much confidence in herself. She loves the school, the teachers, and the other students. Throughout the school year, a couple of issues with her academics did come up (not turning in assignments, needing additional help in writing/spelling, etc), but through communication with her teachers we addressed the situations and helped put her back on a better path. She loves going to school every day - it’s a welcoming, supportive and inclusive community that we are happy to be a part of. And her favorite day is always barn day!
Submitted by parent on August 09, 2022

2nd Nature Academy has been an absolutely wonderful experience for my child who began there in 4th grade and is now heading into 7th. From the small class sizes, and absolutely amazing teachers, she has thrived. One of the things we love about the school is their inclusive environment. Kids can be themselves and express themselves without fear of bullying from other students. Students are taught to be thoughtful and kind in their interactions with each other. Academically, my child has thrived in a way that she wasn’t able to in a public school setting. She feels comfortable participating in class discussions, or asking for help when needed. This has everything to do with the teachers and staff at the school- the small classes enable the teachers to really spend time with their students to help them learn new concepts, or give more direction individually when needed. We are the type of parents who like to keep close tabs on our child’s class work, and we’ve always had immediate, and thoughtful responses from her teachers. We’ve always felt like there is a partnership between the school and our family and as needs arise, we’ve been able to collaborate effectively to get the best learning outcomes for our child. The school does an excellent job of encouraging teamwork between the kids in each class, and for us- their collaborative style of teaching through group work has been wonderful for our child. The school’s commitment to getting kids outside, and in nature to learn has also been a great fit for us- children learn by doing and collaborating, not just sitting passively and absorbing what’s being taught AT them. My child has had the opportunity to be “met where she is at” in her learning, which makes her feel secure, and not anxious about having to fly through lessons at breakneck speed like she would in a public setting. 2nd Nature has been a perfect fit for our family, and we’re grateful to have her learn in the nurturing environment they’ve created.
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2022

My daughter is going into 2nd grade this year and has been going to 2nd Nature since Pre K. I can’t say enough great things about 2nd Nature Academy. My daughter has anxiety issues and her teachers and staff have all been very supportive with us navigating through this new new diagnosis. One of the things I love most about 2nd Nature is that every teacher and staff member in the school knows my daughter by name. It’s a small school feel with all the large school benefits! She’s been taking 2 languages since kindergarten, along with music and art. They understand that kids get bored sitting in a classroom all day, so they will take them outside on a nice day and have class out on the lawn or under the covered farmers porch, they go for hikes, they have barn days where they have jobs and help take care of the animals. They teach them about responsibilities and respect. My family loves 2nd Nature and we couldn’t imagine my daughter going anywhere else!
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2022

I have 2 children that have been at this school since they were 4 months old. They are now about to start 2nd and 5th grade. I cannot say enough positive things about 2nd Nature Academy and it's staff. They know every child as an individual, and each child is given the tools they need to succeed. My son, age 11, is an amazing kid. He has been an educational "challenge" since age 1. From speech delays to sensory issues as a toddler, to an eventual diagnosis of ADHD and social anxiety, each year his teachers meet with us as often as needed to develop and adapt his learning plan. They address new obstacles as they come and celebrate his successes with as much joy as we do. This funny, talented kid has grown and matured so much under the guidance of these teachers. Not one teacher has become frustrated or “given up” on helping him meet his goals. Both of my children thrive here. “I don't want to go to school today" or "I hate school" are words never spoken in our house, because school is fun for them. Kids are encouraged to think as individuals and problem solve, rather than just do worksheets and "busy work". They learn real world skills and socio-emotional skills in the context of their projects. My kids are able to speak both Spanish and Mandarin, as they began learning it here at age 3. "Bullying" does not occur, as issues are never allowed to get to that level. If a social issue arises in a classroom, they deal with it as a group and turn it into a learning opportunity. Parents are made aware as appropriate, and are encouraged to carry the lessons forward into the home. 2nd Nature Academy encourages a sense of community outside of school hours as well. Though Covid has limited this in the past few years, they traditionally make an effort to hold several community building events throughout the year including parent nights, Fall Festival, a Holiday Gala, pancake breakfasts, and art/talent/drama performances. When I drop my kids off here in the morning, I drive away knowing they are safe, cared for, and have teachers that will give them a positive, fun and creative learning experience. I couldn't ask for any more.
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2022

Terrible experience. Was looking for a better education and a smaller more individual approach. We got no communication. We didn’t know his teachers or what he was learning. His math was basic and well below his grade level. Two kids in his class dropped out and it was very sketchy as to why. Also no Nurse on staff and my son had a terrible accident at recess and their lack of protocol was absolutely horrible. He needed surgery and when I got to the school to get him he was laying on the ground in horrible pain with no ice. His teacher told him he needed some “TLC”He actually needed a emergency surgery.Also one his teachers had a very odd Facebook page that all the kids knew about. It was of him selling parts of dolls and objects he would put together (very disturbing) He also had no credentials of teaching. Do your research on this school.
Submitted by parent on July 21, 2021

The 2nd Nature Academy community is truly amazing. The teachers go above and beyond making sure the student's academic and social emotional needs are consistently being met by providing individualized instruction in order for “unique” learners to gain the confidence they need to thrive in school. One thing that sets this school apart from other mainstream schools is how they teach students conflict resolution by talking as a group so children learn how to advocate for themselves without feeling singled out. If you are looking for a small school atmosphere with a truly unique learning experience where students are encouraged to explore, inquire, collaborate, create, analyze, and solve relevant problems through their experiential learning approach then we highly recommend 2nd Nature Academy!