Facilities
Campus School of Smith College is nestled on the edge of the campus, which gives us our own intimate setting while having the learning and cultural resources of the college minutes from our door. In fact, the entire campus is our classroom, and students at Campus School sing and play music in Smith’s performing arts spaces; view art in the art museum; study plants and botanic sciences in the botanic gardens, and use the entire campus for study and exploration.
Space for Discovery
Campus School itself is housed in a charming, intimate, and inviting space. Gill Hall resembles a farmhouse, with a slate roof, lots of windows, and small scale. Our “new” wing (from 1996) is more modern, with high ceilings, natural light, and bright colors. Students can get from one end of our building to another in just a few minutes. We have a computer lab with new Mac desktops, robotics supplies, cameras, and other tech tools; two breakout spaces; a cozy and well stocked library on our top floor; a learning resources space; a large art room with pottery kiln; and a music room and full-sized gymnasium.
Adjacent to the school is a playing field and playground. Here, students enjoy recess, play basketball and kickball, climb-on play structures, and engage in creative play on an outdoor stage. Across the street from our school is another playing field, which serves as a space for physical education activities. Students also use Smith College athletic facilities when appropriate.
Active Learning
At Campus School, we believe that daily movement—both structured and unstructured—is essential to students’ physical health, emotional well-being, and the development of lifelong healthy habits. Our physical education program offers a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate curriculum for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Taught by certified and experienced educators, the program supports physical, cognitive, and social-emotional growth through instruction in motor skills, fitness education, sport-specific skills, game strategies, and teamwork. Students in grades one through six participate in P.E. four times a week while our kindergarteners have physical education twice weekly and begin and end each day with outdoor play and movement.
The curriculum is intentionally sequenced to ensure that activities are age-appropriate and build progressively on students’ skills, confidence, and resilience. Emphasis is placed on creating meaningful experiences that foster a growth mindset and promote the value of an active lifestyle. We follow best practices in the field to ensure that all students have ample and equitable opportunities to move, play, and learn.
The art room at the Campus School is stocked with every type of material imaginable, ensuring each child’s creativity is limitless.
For Our Use
Explore the Smith College resources we use throughout the school year. In addition to these three main venues, we also take our students to MacLeish Field Station, the Boutelle-Day Poetry Center, and the athletic fields.
