Little River Community School

08/10/2026

The first day of school is still a few weeks away, but the Little River staff is busy planning and preparing for the upcoming school year. We can’t wait to have the students back at school this September!

06/15/2026

Little River Community School welcomes applications for a Director to lead our democratic K-12 school in Canton, NY. Please share this position opening and visit our website for the full job description:

https://littleriverschool.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSdFDtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEemVbnw4FQU-xl855qEuxKtjAAJsndT3jKWuBuah49iLdqM_GZA8_5izCRT9w_aem_br5Cc_AzEeZtS5fy1BMwxQ

We're Looking for a New Director! Little River's founder and director, Steve Molnar, is stepping back after 27 years. We are seeking a director with teaching experience and a strong interest in democratic education to fill this role. Steve will train the incoming director and be available to provide...

06/10/2026

Little River junior, Carly, was just published in the New York State of Poetry 2026 Anthology. Her poem, “Ode to Rebar,” a response to Sharon Olds’ poem, “Ode to Dirt,” was one of thirty-three selected from over 5,000 students state-wide. Congratulations, Carly!

05/28/2026

The last week of school was filled with fun. Students hiked over at Birdsfoot Farm for the afternoon, tie dyed, and of course they did spin art! It is always a challenge to fit all of the activities in the final days. What an amazing year! ☀️

05/18/2026

The olders had a Shakespeare club this semester and met weekly to practice and perform a section of Hamlet for the whole school 🎭

05/15/2026

Little River Graduates Two Seniors

Little River Community School of Canton, New York, held graduation ceremonies for two seniors on Saturday, May 9.

Jojo, whose parents are Rebecca Pickens and Dave Nelson, Canton, has attended Little River as a satellite student from first grade through twelfth grade. He is a musician and plays with the group Young Mischief. Jojo is planning to attend SUNY Potsdam in the fall to study art and has an interest in sociology. In addition to his studies, he wants to continue to nurture the local music scene.

Payton joined Little River two years ago after homeschooling for ten years. Payton is a particularly strong writer and enjoys singing and playing guitar and is concerned about social justice issues. They took a psychology class at St. Lawrence University this year as part of the High School Enrichment Program and is interested in becoming a counselor.

Little River Community School congratulates the Class of 2026 and looks forward to hearing tales of their adventures and successes. For more information on Little River and its high school program, see www.littleriverschool.org.

05/13/2026

Calli Ellis is joining Little River’s staff

Calli Ellis is Little River Community School’s new Youngers teacher, working with students in grades K-2.

Calli is a former director of the Head Start Program in Brushton and Malone, where she led program operations and classroom instruction while ensuring a safe, nurturing environment that supported young learners and their families. She holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling from St. Lawrence University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SUNY Potsdam. Over the past two decades, Calli has worked in a variety of educational and support roles, including school counselor, applied behavioral specialist, program coordinator, and teacher. Throughout her career, she has supported student success through counseling, program development, and collaboration with families and staff.

Calli has guided hundreds of students in academic and career planning and has helped implement programs that improved attendance, graduation readiness, and testing efficiency. She is especially passionate about early childhood education and creating strong foundations for lifelong learning. Calli is an avid reader, raises rabbits and is a dedicated theater/three-sport mom to her two daughters. They reside in a farmhouse in Canton.

For more information about Little River, go to www.littleriverschool.org or call 315-379-9474.

05/12/2026

The middles and youngers finished reading Fantastic Mr. Fox last week. They all watched the movie this week and spent time comparing the book and movie. It was a blast noticing the differences and similarities 🦊

05/04/2026

The middles and olders are working on a project with St. Lawrence University’s Habitat for Humanity and the Environmental Action Organization (EAO). Stay tuned for the results!

04/27/2026

The middles and youngers recently had a blast at the North Country Children's Museum. They worked together on a chemistry project to make wiggly worms! 🧪🥼🪱