FOSTERING AGENCY
Capable, ethical young adults.
What do young people need in order to thrive beyond graduation day? This question drives our approach to school culture. Student life at schools usually centers on extracurriculars: athletics, arts, and student-led activities. At The Field School of Hvar, “extracurriculars” are the heart of our program, because they are what children generally find most interesting and, not coincidentally, most closely resemble the work of the real world.
With extracurriculars woven into everyday learning, students’ free time is just that: free. We encourage them to be with family, friends, and their own thoughts. There is far more lifetime value to a routine of cheerful family dinners, Friday night sleepovers, and a Sunday walk in the woods than in exotic afterschool programs with little connection to any activity that adults commonly pursue.
Our student culture is shaped by the robust integration of parents and role models, combined with consistent opportunities for children to exercise judgement, leadership, and choice. Strong roots and good sense are the characteristics that define mature young people and prepare them to pursue their dreams with vigor and resilience.
Student Life
Class Size and Levels
We aim to welcome 26 children in our Fall 2026 founding class: six early learners (ages three through six), eight lower school students (seven through nine), ten middle school (ten through twelve), and twelve secondary school (thirteen through fifteen). Toddlers and infants can enroll in Hvar’s public daycare, which starts at twelve months. Our tutorial format allows us to challenge each child academically to the limit of his or her ability within this mixed age setting.
We will add new groups on a yearly or semester basis, serving teens as they grow towards graduation. We anticipate enrolling new classes on a semester or yearly basis.
Our Calendar
The Field School of Hvar operates on a twelve-month academic calendar. Parents and staff choose to use up to twelve weeks of breaktime as suits them throughout the year. Additionally, we observe Croatia’s 13 national holidays and a two-week pause from Christmas through New Year’s Day.
In order to refresh throughout the year, we operate on a “four-on, one-off” model. Learning modules play out in four-week clusters with a consistent schedule and focus. The group then switches gears with a week-long outdoor trip or practicum, creating space for children to return to academic instruction with fresh perspective and energy.
Tutorials grant us this flexibility. In most schools, a teacher is moving a group of students through a shared curriculum. At The Field School, study is more like work in the real world: each student is approaching a shared project in a distinct way. After a break, a child simply picks up where he or she left off.
There are a number of reasons why we follow an unorthodox academic year. Long breaks result in learning loss. Families and staff appreciate flexibility. Abundant instructional time allows us to be lavish with enrichment activities without sacrificing academics.
School as we conceive of it is not a place from which children need relief. We all need breaks but, like an adult who loves their work, our students derive meaning and pleasure from their projects and relationships. No Sunday scaries.
A typical week at The Field School will run from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. We offer optional early drop-off with breakfast for all students and study hall with tea for older children. Fridays are optional until age 11 for home education and enrichment.
Friday evenings feature an all-school hang-out with parents joining for pizza or barbecue. “Service Saturdays” are also an all-school effort, taking place every weekend for roughly three hours. On Sunday mornings, families who observe are invited to attend Mass together.
Spiritual Life & Celebrations
The Field School of Hvar is a secular program that recognizes the need for beauty, goodness, and inquiry.
Hvar has a vibrant culture of spiritual celebrations, folk tales, and heroes, which we weave into our curriculum. The Mediterranean more broadly is the cradle of many faiths, which animate the study of history here. Older children encounter religion through literature and art. Big questions are welcome.
Celebrations are a wonderful opportunity to find magic in the ordinary, forge unforgettable memories, and knit our community together. In addition to birthdays and national holidays, every Friday is a family get-together, always including a simple dinner and often featuring a student exhibition, performance, or game. Other major holidays include Easter, which is celebrated with a UNESCO-recognized tradition on Hvar, local feast days, All Soul’s, and Advent.
Student Behavior & Leadership
Our powerful student culture of kindness and responsibility comes from trusting children.
Children want to be good, and they generally know what it means to be safe and kind. Also, respect is reciprocal. These assumptions inform our approach to daily class management. Rather than issuing directives and then punishing infractions, our educators ask children to articulate how they want each other to behave in a given situation. These conversations happen multiple times per day. As a result, our students are bought in to positive norms, and misunderstandings dissolve before they can become a problem.
All children have ups and downs. If a student is consistently struggling to adhere to agreed upon boundaries and norms, parents are engaged to understand the child’s context and develop solutions collaboratively.
Our goal is to delight and engage young minds, so we ask their opinions frequently. Everything, from the lunch menu to the curriculum, is a topic for constructive discussion and improvement with our kids. How better could they learn to make decisions for themselves and others as adults?
