Plumfield Academy

07/27/2025

Dear friends,

We have been heartened by the “Thank You’s” and "Well Wishes” as we come to the end of our 32 year Plumfield Academy ministry “season.” Thank you for your kind words.

As part of the closing, we have material assets to distribute. There may be something which may be useful to you in your home or homeschooling. All the material assets will be available in the barn and garage on Tuesday, July 29, 10:00 - 12:00pm; Thursday, July 31, 1:00pm - 4:00pm and Saturday, August 2, 10:00am - 12:00pm. You are welcome to take from these assets whatever is of value to you.

Some items include: Literature, History, Reading, Math, Science, Art Appreciation, Music Appreciation, Leadership, Language Arts, etc. books, tables, chairs, musical instruments, science materials, handcraft materials, games, white boards, office supplies, etc.

We look forward to seeing you.

07/26/2025

Plumfield, Farewell:
For the Closing of a Beloved School
By Micaela Plankey, 2010

Now grown with time’s unfolding years,
We turn with both a smile and tears.
To halls once filled with laughter’s song,
Where days were slow, and hearts were strong.

The Pension’s Plumfield, your name stitched in gold,
Upon the pages we now hold.
Not just in books, but in our soul,
A quiet fire that made us whole.

Through Little Men’s well worn lines,
We learned to seek the good, the kind.
Each Christmas Carol on the stage,
We lived the tale beyond the page.

With faces still, in mime we played,
And in the snow, we’d glide and spin,
Bright cheeks, cold hands, warm hearts within.

The world was taught not through a screen,
But under trees in fields of green.
A robin’s song, a bud in spring,
The sacred rhythm of all things.

Charlotte Mason lit the flame,
Of wonder, learning can’t contain.
Not crammed with facts, but living lore,
That taught us less is always more.

Scriptures opened like the dawn,
With truth and grace to rest upon.
The love of God, both deep and wide,
Became the compass deep inside.

We built not just the mind, but heart,
And formed a bond that won’t depart.
Friendships born in younger days,
Now echo in a thousand ways.

Though Plumfield’s doors may gently close,
It’s garden blooms in all we know.
For seeds once sown in quiet grace,
Still grow in every time and place.

So here’s to sleds, and books, and plays,
To sacred, slow, unfolding days.
And to a school, though now set free,
Still shaping who we’re meant to be.

06/18/2025

June 14, 2025

Dear Plumfield Academy Friends,
The Board of Plumfield Academy, have engaged in deep, honest, and heartfelt conversations about the school’s future. We are writing now with difficult news, the result of prayerful deliberation and our best efforts to discern a way forward.

After much consideration, the Board has made the decision to stop operating with students effective immediately. This decision was not made lightly. We’ve been wrestling with fundamental questions: Can we responsibly continue? Do we have the enrollment, the resources, and the energy needed to sustain the mission of Plumfield for another year?

There are three key pillars that have always guided us: our commitment to pastoral care, to a Charlotte Mason education, and to a sound, sustainable business model. Our enrollment for the upcoming year stands at 13, a significant and unexpected downturn that occurred at the end of May. Despite the gratitude and support expressed by families, it became clear that the board and current leadership cannot ensure sustainability, nor can we expect John to continue to hold the primary responsibility of leading so many aspects of the school moving forward.

Some families had stepped up with willingness to write reviews, offer coordination support, and contribute financially. These generous gestures moved us deeply. Still, we are also mindful of the burden that exists on a small group of individuals (staff and board members) and the toll it is taking. We have considered the potential of gaining a few more students. We’ve talked about various scenarios, including combining age groups, working in partnership with homeschooling families, and reorganizing staff responsibilities. Ultimately, the board came to an agreement to not operate with students for the 2025-2026 school year.

We offer our deepest gratitude to John and Nina Pension, whose unwavering dedication, vision, and care have shaped Plumfield for over 30 years.

We are grateful to each of you for your trust and your faith in Plumfield. Many of you expressed what this place has meant to your family—your words were not lost on us. You reminded us why Plumfield started and why it has lasted so long.

For now, we honor what was built together, and we close this chapter with tears, yes, but also with profound gratitude.

The Plumfield Academy Board of Trustees
Steve Dalton, Alumnus Parent, Christine Deloury, Alumnus Parent, Denise Gluckert, Alumnus Parent, Christopher Griebel, Alumnus, Mary Beth Katzounos, Alumna Parent, John Kwiatek, Community Representative, Matthew Mahoney, Alumnus, Jay Pension, Alumnus, Nina Pension, Alumnus Parent, John Pension, Alumnus Parent, Ruth Pension, Community Representative

10/21/2024

Plant Study - A visit to Curran's Florist Greenhouse, Danvers and dissecting a lily. Learning by doing - a Plumfield difference

10/06/2024

31st Annual Activity - Preparing Veggie Creatures for the Topsfield Fair

02/21/2024

https://plumfieldacademy.org/stress-or-peace-what-can-we-do/

Stress or Peace: What can we do? - Fostering an atmosphere of peace while cultivating five habits to lead our students to peace.

02/06/2024

A Thought For The Week -
"When our souls are on the verge of giving in to compassion fatigue, when we know what the right thing to do is but we are tired of being charitable and helpful, that is when we need God to restore our souls, to replenish our ability to act like human beings, to understand that what is asked of us is not to make the world perfect but to make one person's life better. When events challenge our faith so that we find it hard to believe that this world is God's world, that is when we need God to restore our souls, to reinforce our ability to believe in ourselves and in our ability to do good things. Even a faithful shepherd gives his flock the food and water they need to be sheep. God, our faithful shepherd, gives us the strength of soul we need to be human."
The Lord Is My Shepherd, Harold S. Kushner

09/07/2023

Plumfield Academy's Annual First Day at Crane Beach was enjoyed by all. Fun in the sun and waves.

08/18/2023

“We immediately saw the difference that Plumfield’s unique atmosphere had on our boy. Like many children, Mark used to drag home at the end of a day at school with little to report. From day one at Plumfield, Mark has been eager for school each day and comes home energetic and full of information about the day’s events.

Though he came into fourth grade struggling with writing, he found himself with plenty to say after interacting with such rich texts and information.”
— Chris and Dee Dee Scaffidi

08/08/2023

"From the minute you arrive here, whether it’s driving up the driveway or walking onto the front porch, there is just an atmosphere of joy, kindness, and love. The kids love to be here: they can’t wait to get here in the morning, they don’t want to leave in the afternoon, the weekend is almost too long to be away from it."

Mary Beth Katzounos, Parent

06/06/2023

Children in the primary grades learning numbers, quantity, size, patterning and data management - all through hands on, playful math exploration.

Their growing math skills, confidence and interests will serve them well in school and in life!