“Coming from a competitive school in the city, I wasn’t sure what to expect at a Buddhist school in Upstate New York, was it going to be rigorous enough? Would my child remain on par? I could not be more thrilled to see how fully my child is learning and how confident he has become. He now enjoys reading and his handwriting has improved, he’s doing mental math above his grade level. And on top of that, his genuine kindness is shining through brighter than ever. Thank  you!” 

SB

Middle Way School Parent

ABOUT

Founded in 2017, The Middle Way School of the Hudson Valley is one of the first Buddhist preparatory schools for children in the West. Our mission is to empower students to take their places in the modern world. Our pedagogy and school culture draw upon foundational Buddhist teachings and traditions as well as the latest research in child development, neuroscience, and technology. MWS offers an exceptional education, creating conditions for wisdom and compassion to flourish.

 

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ACADEMICS

We view education as a natural learning process that engages children’s innate potential and provides a way to understand the phenomenal world with grace and humor. Our students play, contemplate, engage with text and numbers, and are encouraged to use inquiry as the foundation for academic achievement. Our developmental approach to teaching and learning is highly personalized so that each student is experiences a balance of challenge and accomplishment. The aim is to tap into students’ intrinsic joy of learning while supporting their social, emotional and spiritual growth.

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ADMISSIONS

Middle Way School thrives on the principle of inclusion. We actively seek to build a community that is rich with diverse cultures, races, talents, interests, learning profiles, and economic and ethnic backgrounds. MWS is a pilot school with the support of a global community of friends and foundations who wish to see us succeed. Because of their support, we are able to offer ample financial aid to meet families needs. 

 

 

 

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I feel today’s education does not really teach freedom. If they try to teach freedom, it is just about individual rights but not about the inner freedom which comes from a deep inner sense of order. When you have this inner orderliness you can then sprawl out and breeze around in the chaotic world. Instead it sometimes seems modern education does the opposite, it makes us chaotic inside and tries to create some kind of external order.
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

Advisor

DAILY AND WEEKLY HAPPENINGS AT MIDDLE WAY SCHOOL

In the classroom, we are deep into our Bodhicitta studies, spanning time, place, and culture to include how we make wishes for beings, create acts of kindness, and offer thoughtful gifts. We consider the interconnectedness of everyone — plants, animals, neighbors, and beyond. When we encourage the practice of offering care and kindness for all, we truly include all. We don’t limit ourselves to only those we know and like!

An aspect of Bodhicitta is the aspiration that all beings be free — free from harm, confusion, and suffering. May it be so! May we all find warmth and shelter, both physical and psychological. May we try our best each day to extend our generosity of heart.

The children sure are great role models in this way!

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#bodhicitta
#generosityofheart
#awakenedhearts
#awakenedminds
#kindnessforall
#everyone
#everywhere
#learningfromeachother
#ourvalentinetoyou
...

Once a child is ready for their next step after Middle Way School, how well do they adjust?

With such a new and revolutionary model for learning, some folks are curious about how students transition to a more standardized setting later on. Our young alumuni move on to a wide range of schools around the Hudson Valley and Catskill region—primarily public. We’re delighted to hear how well they’re doing, both academically and emotionally.

One parent shared feedback from her child’s latest middle school report card:

[This child] “…is kind, thoughtful, and hardworking. She is an absolute joy to have in class! She is a bright, kind, and conscientious young woman. Her performance is outstanding. All-around, she’s an excellent student.”

When she started her journey at Middle Way, the school had freshly opened its doors. Her family made the choice to prioritize the preciousness of childhood—making space in the day for time with nature and opportunities to learn about more than just academics.

With a reasonable dose of worry about how she’d fare in her later learning, they’re now seeing how her advanced ability to contextualize change and center herself with great compassion for others is not at all *separate* from her academic triumphs. She is a star student *because* of the time she was allowed to focus on these essential skills for being an empathetic and resilient human.

Brava!!

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#bestindependentschool
#empathyineducation
#dharmabasedlearning
#wholehuman
#impermanence
#resilience
#hudsonvalleyschools
#hudsonvalleyalternativeschools
#theimportanceofwhatcantbemeasured
#academicsuccess
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Last week, we welcomed Carlo Carranza from The Milinda Program of @KhyentseFoundation and Ken Ying from @translate84000 for a visit to the Middle Way School campus.

We were delighted to host them, share ideas centered on Buddhist-based education for children, and hear all about the wonderful projects they are a part of. What a great opportunity to collaborate and help each other flourish!

84000 is dedicated to accurately translating Buddha’s words into a range of modern languages for preservation and accessibility. The Milinda Program was created to ensure that the dharma taught in the future is authentic and powerful by creating a core training curriculum for dharma teachers and setting a common standard for teaching outside of Buddhist institutions.

Learn more about these inspiring projects:
https://khyentsefoundation.org/kf-projects/the-milinda-project/
https://84000.co

Thank you for your heartwarming perspective, @lobsangtonden

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#buddhisteducationforchildren
#buddhadharma
#collaboration
#interconnection
#flourishingtogether
#timelesswisdom
#modernage
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Happy Lunar New Year! Today, people around the world are marking a fresh beginning as they celebrate the start of the “Year of the Wood Snake.” Many gather with their families to celebrate health and prosperity.

✨ How are you starting anew today? ✨ 

We invite you to reflect on this delightful Lunar New Year song that we’ll be singing on campus. “The Snake Year Song” was written by Middle Way School advisor Harry Einhorn for Middle Way Education:

Look at the sky we see the moon so clear
It’s time to celebrate the lunar year.
Twelve animals each following another
And each one has a lesson to discover.

Goodbye Dragon, thank you for your turn,
It’s time for the Snake, what can we learn?

Welcome snake, you touch the ground
Sensing everything around.
Elegant, you glide and bend,
Beautiful from end to end.

Look at the sky we see the moon so clear
It’s time to celebrate the lunar year.
Twelve animals each following another
And each one has a lesson to discover.

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#compassionatechildren #alternativeeducation #lovingkindness #lunarnewyear #yearofthewoodsnake #childrensvoices #celebratingchange
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Have you heard? Middle Way School is currently taking applications for the 2025-2026 school year! All applications received by January 30 will be reviewed for early admission.

MIDDLE WAY SCHOOL is a Buddhist-based elementary school that blends vibrant academics with timeless wisdom to cultivate compassionate, curious, and creative learners.

Voted ‘Best Independent School in the Hudson Valley’ for THREE YEARS IN A ROW, our forested campus offers an abundance of opportunities for outdoor learning and inward reflection. Scientific, student-centered, and inquiry-based approaches nurture a profound understanding of the world and self. We’re rethinking education to empower students with the knowledge, awareness, and skills needed to thrive in the modern world while honoring our interconnectedness with nature and all beings.

Now enrolling pre-K through sixth grades.

Learn more and explore the application process by visiting our Admissions page: www.middlewayschool.org/admissions (link in bio).

Can you please help us spread the word?

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#compassionatechildren #alternativeeducation #lovingkindness #outdoorlearning #artsareessential #somuchtimeoutdoors#buddhisteducationforchildren #hudsonvalleyprivateschools #saugertiesschools #woodstockschools #catskillschools #kingstonny #huntertannersvilleschools #onteoraschools #ulstercounty #privateschoolhudsonvalley #privateschoolupstateny #privateschoolulstercounty #privateschoolcatskills #hudsonvalleyparents
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✨ ONE MORE DAY! ✨

We are truly grateful for your enthusiasm, your blessings, and your financial support. As you express your generosity this season, please consider supporting Middle Way School.

Your contribution has a significant impact on each and every one of our students and staff—enriching our programming and facilities, contributing to need-based scholarships for young learners, and furthering our mission of creating education for children rooted in Buddhist wisdom and compassion. 

Make a gift directly, or shop our charitable auction for ONE MORE DAY:
https://go.rallyup.com/mwsholidaymarket/
Auction ends Friday, Dec. 20 at noon (New York time)

All proceeds will support the 2024-25 Middle Way School Fund, which helps grow and further our mission of creating education for children rooted in Buddhist wisdom and compassion. 

✨ THANK YOU!! ✨

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Many thanks to the families, artisans, practitioners, and businesses who donated to this very special auction!

#allflourishingismutual #saugertiesgives #givingwithgoodnessinmind #communityconnections #buddhisteducationforchildren #locallove #globalgenerosity
...

✨ The Middle Way School Holiday Market is LIVE!! ✨

EXPLORE, BID or BUY IT NOW:
https://go.rallyup.com/mwsholidaymarket/

An online silent auction focusing on THE GIFT OF COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, this event’s aspiration is to bring the humans in our local community together, inspire new adventures, and foster friendships. Community is at the heart of what we do—leading with loving-kindness as we cultivate globally conscious minds.

✨ AUCTION ENDS FRIDAY, DEC. 20 AT NOON ✨

All proceeds from the MWS Holiday Market will support the 2024-25 Middle Way School Fund, with a family fundraising goal of $108,000. Thank you for helping us grow and further our mission of creating education for children rooted in Buddhist wisdom and compassion. 

✨ THANK YOU! Your support truly makes a difference!✨

Please share the MWS Holiday Market far and wide with your friends and family!! Let’s all flourish together. 

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Many thanks to the families, artisans, practitioners, and businesses who donated to this very special auction! Special thanks to @sawyersavingsbank for sponsoring our fundraising efforts.

#allflourishingismutual #saugertiesgives #givingwithgoodness #communityconnections #buddhisteducationforchildren #locallove #globalgenerosity
...

Each day at Middle Way School, we dedicate our thoughts and actions to benefit ALL beings everywhere. For such a big aspiration, we start with a simple wish: May all beings be happy and free. Every day, this is our wish for YOU.

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Please support Buddhist-inspired education for a kinder and more compassionate world. A gift in ANY amount sustains our dharma-based programming and contributes to need-based scholarships for young learners.

https://middlewayschool.org/annualfund
(link also in IG bio)

We’re grateful for your support!

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May all beings be happy and free

#allflourishingismutual
#buddhisteducationforchildren
#powerofkindness
#metta
#happyandfree
#childrenchangetheworld
...

We can help each other flourish.

In each moment, we can look for ways to support one another, while also caring for ourselves. We can share small acts of kindness that might make a big difference. We can make friends along the way.

Let’s do it!

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#worldkindnessday #compassionatechildren #lovingkindness #metta #hudsonvalley #ouranimalneighbors #naturalwisdom #wisdombynature
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Tuesday, Oct. 29 is the final day for the month-long, online BOOK DRIVE where you can support Middle Way School from your own home, on your own schedule. Our goal is to acquire 100 new books for our school library and we’re at 62 so far. Can you help the school by donating a book from our wishlist?

We appreciate the generosity and thoughtfulness needed to create a school library from the beginning. Now in its second year, the MWS library enriches the reading journey of all our students and provides precious teaching materials for our educators.

Thank you for your contribution!

(link in IG bio)
...

“We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms—waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.

Now our minds are one.”

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from the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World (the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen)

This translation of the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address was drawn from the 1993 version that was developed by the Six Nations Indian Museum and the Tracking Project.
...

Middle Way School is pioneering a new model of education based on the best in education research and enhanced by the wisdom and compassion of Buddhist traditions. Master teachers with a deep understanding of childhood development are the pillars of this education. The Fifth/Sixth Grade Math Teacher is responsible for co-creating, evaluating, implementing and documenting curricula in cooperation with the Head of School, curriculum coordinators, and the Fifth/Sixth Grade Lead Teacher. The Fifth/Sixth Grade Math Teacher is responsible for supporting students’ development in all areas including social-emotional, physical, academic.

MWS school culture relies on daily meditation and ample professional support. We expect our teachers to meet conventional outcomes in unconventional ways and use skillful means to differentiate in ways that help meet students academically and socially. Teachers are expected to explore the Middle Way model of development and actively engage in its creation.

Interested in learning more? To see a full job description, please visit the link in our bio!

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#saugertiesschools #ulstercountyschools #ulstercountyteachers #woodstockteachers #dutchesscountyteachers #greenecountyteachers #onteorateachers #hudsonvalleyteachers
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This morning, Middle Way teachers and staff are greeting the morning from the top of the mountain! To gather and ground as a group, we are coming together at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD), overlooking Woodstock and beyond. We chose this welcoming space because it allows us to reconnect without distractions and begin the school year by setting our collective intentions. We’ll be focusing on community, caretaking, and curriculum—sharing ideas and learning from one another.

We offer our gratitude to KTD, to its residents and staff, and to Lama Lodro Lhamo, KTD President, for hosting us today. Thank you for the welcoming hospitality and the beautifully serene location. We’re grateful to be neighbors with you!

https://kagyu.org

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#buddhisteducationforchildren #buddhistelementary #hudsonvalleyschools #community #caringforoneanother #caringforourspaces #caringforourstudents #caringforourselves #settingintentions
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WE’RE HIRING! As we continue to grow, we’re expanding our team of support. We’re currently hiring for a range of positions—both teaching and administrative.

Please visit our CAREERS page (link in bio) to learn more!

Middle Way School is pioneering a progressive model of education based on contemporary research and enhanced by the wisdom and compassion of Buddhist traditions.

The school provides an uplifted, dynamic working environment with daily meditation and ample professional support. Dignity of labor is a key teaching at the school and all members of the community are treated with equal respect. Staff must have a deep appreciation of children and an interest in the Middle Way view.

Being a practicing Buddhist is not necessary. However, an understanding of Buddhist principles and terminology and experience in Buddhist practices are appreciated.

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#ulstercountyjobs #saugertiesjobs #hudsonvalleyjobs #bestindependentschool #compassionatecareers #woodstockjobs #kingstonjobs #upstateteachers #workinthewoods
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For the THIRD YEAR in a row, we’re delighted to share our gratitude. In such a vibrant region—full of individuals and organizations sharing their special skills and unique offerings—it’s an honor to have been named 2024 BEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL in the Hudson Valley.

Congratulations to our Head of School Grace Ann Louis for being chosen as Best Youth Advocate, and to MWS Advisor Amy Brown-White for being named Best Racial Justice Advocate and Activist.

THANK YOU to over 25,000 @chronogram readers for sending your best wishes our way.

At Middle Way School, we’re exploring the rich potential of infusing modern education with the wisdom and compassion of Buddhist teachings. May the lessons we learn and the celebrations we share be of benefit to all.

_____

#hudsonvalleyschools #chronogrammies2024 #ulstercountyschools #upstatenewyork #upstatecamps #buddhisteducation #alternativeeducation #saugerties #outdoorlearning #middleway #dharmabasedlearning

@chronogram @khyentsefoundation @abwconsulting7 @middlewayedu @middlewayschoolpca
...

Congratulations to Amy Brown-White for being honored as Best Racial Justice Advocate and Activist in the Hudson Valley. As a Middle Way School Advisor, Amy leads our conversations around diversity, race, privilege, and inclusion. Guided by empathy and interconnection, she challenges our understanding of one another and hones our awareness of injustice.

In her practice, Amy helps reexamine established organizations that wish to shift their personal narrative and become more equitable. She promotes the understanding of people with threatened identities and researches those experiences to break down barriers.

We’re thrilled to see Amy Brown-White receive this honor for her ongoing work in this field. We’re grateful for her wise and generous perspective, which continually reshapes our school.

@abwconsulting7 @chronogram #hudsonvalleyschools #chronogrammies #ulstercountyschools #upstatenewyork #buddhisteducation #alternativeeducation #saugerties #compassionatekids #middleway #rethinkingeducation #everythingisconnected #awakenedmind #letsdothistogether
...

Let’s hear it for our Head of School Grace Ann Louis!! For a THIRD YEAR, she’s been named Best Youth Advocate in the Hudson Valley by @chronogram readers. Over 25,000 people voted, casting over 480,000 ballots.

Grace is known for her skill in the classroom, her warm and creative leadership, and her ability to keep all the balls in the air with a cheerful smile. She has over two decades of experience in approaching Early Childhood Education from a contemplative vantage. She believes in creating the conditions for every child to encounter a confidence and true delight within themselves so that they may become lifelong learners.

We’re so glad to see her endless dedication recognized by this award! Thank you, Grace, for advocating for each child’s relationship with learning. May your compassionate influence continue to ripple outwards into the world.

#hudsonvalleyschools #chronogrammies2024 #ulstercountyschools #upstatenewyork #alternativeeducation #saugerties #upstatesummercamp #rethinkingeducation #woodstock #kingston #catskill #phoenicia #awakenedmind #buddhisteducationforchildren #contemplativelearning #dharma
...

For the THIRD YEAR in a row, we’re delighted to share our gratitude. Thank you for declaring MWS the BEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL in the Hudson Valley!

In such a vibrant region—full of individuals and organizations sharing their special skills and unique offerings—it’s an honor to have the compliments of our community.

THANK YOU to over 25,000 @chronogram readers, casting 480,000+ votes throughout the season.

What makes Middle Way School so special? We’re rethinking the school experience, exploring the rich potential of infusing modern education with the wisdom and compassion of Buddhist teachings. We’re shifting the way children relate to learning, leading with loving-kindness as we cultivate globally conscious minds.

Curious? We have a few spots in our Summer of Wonder day-camp experience, starting NEXT WEEK! Sign up at https://middlewayschool.org/summer/

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#hudsonvalleyschools #chronogrammies2024 #ulstercountyschools #upstatenewyork #upstatecamps #buddhisteducation #alternativeeducation #saugerties #outdoorlearning #middleway #rethinkingeducation #dharmabasedlearning #ancientwisdom #modernage
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This Friday, May 31 (5 – 6:30 pm), we welcome you to @cygnets_way to hear Sarah Beasley, Middle Way School’s Dharma Education Coordinator and Teacher, in conversation about her book, Kindness For All Creatures: Buddhist Advice for Compassionate Animal Care (@shambhala_publications).

Community event, open to all ages 12+
By donation; RSVP link in bio

Sarah will speak about death and dying for families in relationship to animal chaplaincy. She’ll also touch on talking about death with children, along with views on death and dying in Buddhist community and culture.

In past years, Sarah has taught widely in the U.S. and Europe on Practices for Death and Dying, based on traditional Tibetan Buddhist texts. Her style includes pathos, humor, and curiosity toward facets of death and dying with all their complexities and nuance. Signed copies of her book will be available for purchase at the event.

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#kindnessforallcreatures #sarahbeasley #middlewayschool #dharmatalk #deathanddying #lovingkindness #buddhistschools
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“Loving-kindness has to be based on the fact that everybody is equal, and this equality is based on knowing that everybody has the buddhanature.”

—Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

Let’s radiate boundless love to all beings everywhere and hope that our actions are multiplied millions of times over.

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#sagadawa #tashidelek #vesak #fullflowermoonofmay #buddhisteducationforchildren #you #me #us #lovingkindness #buddhanature
...

We still have space for your curious child all three weeks of “SUMMER OF WONDER” — a day-camper experience that blends forest adventures with the cultivation of an open heart and mind.

Sign up today for this special dharma-driven exploration! Obstacle courses, water wildness, tracking games, campfire cooking, natural dyeing, printmaking, climate experiments, and more!

☀️July 8 – 12
Movement + Games

☀️July 15 – 19
Art + Creativity

☀️July 22 – 26
Nature + Elements

For details, visit
https://middlewayschool.org/SUMMER/
(link in IG bio)

This is a great opportunity to take in the vibrant energy of our campus and find out why we’ve been named “Best Independent School” in the Hudson Valley by @chronogram readers for two consecutive years.

Questions? Reach out to [email protected]

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#bestindependentschool #summeroutofthecity #getoutside #buddhisteducationforchildren #buddhistcamps #hudsonvalleysummercamps #hudsonvalleycamps #catskillscamps #saugertiescamps #hudsonvalleyparents #upstatecamps #hudsonvalleysummer

@chronogram
@dailyfreeman
@hudsonvalleykids
@hudsonvalleyone
@hudsonvalleyhappenings
@hudsonvalleymag
@hvparent
@thehudsonvalley
...

Wild-crafted treats made by our children?
Treasures of the unexpected?
Face-to-face friendship with our community?
Yes, please!

Come to the 3rd Annual PLANT SALE + YARD SALE! Rain or shine, it’s a fun day of gathering to support the school. All proceeds of this event will support the Middle Way School Annual Fund. Open to the public—please tell your friends and family!

NEW! This year, there will be a beautiful BOUQUET BAR for handcrafted arrangements. Add some colorful joy to your space for spring, or share a bouquet with someone special (Mother’s Day is the next day!).

We hope to see you there, friends!

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#saugertiesevents #thisweekendinsaugerties #growingourschool #growingourcommunity #ulstercountyschools #fundraiser #bestindependentschool #welovesaugerties #hudsonvalleyhappenings
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Interested?

Interested in enrolling? Want to learn more? Fill out this simple contact form (link below) and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Middle Way School holds regular open houses. We also can arrange individual tours. This form will automatically sign you up for important notifications regarded enrollment.

Thanks for your interest in Middle the Way School!

ORIGINS

All major religions of the world have systems of educating children in their traditions, beliefs, rituals, and values. There are maktab and madrasas for Muslims, Catholic schools, Jewish day schools, Sunday schools, Catechism classes, all kinds of afterschool programs, camps, and specialized schools meant to teach children to become the stewards of their respective religious traditions. Buddhist education for children has, for the most part, been offered to monastic communities with grassroots initiatives few and far between. Because Buddhism is not culture bound, there are few broadly accepted holidays, festivals and customs to introduce to children. Often, the transference of the Buddhist view happens in the home. Some Buddhist parents have independently created programs for children, but there is no generally accepted content or method for teaching the dharma to children.

To bridge this gap, a team of educators and active Buddhists, inspired by the vision of Bhutanese Buddhist master Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche,  began exploring the possibility of creating such a model of education. It became clear that the model had to be developed in situ, in an actual school. Middle Way Education was established to spearhead this effort.

In 2017 after exploring options in Bali, Indonesia, India, and Taiwan, it was decided that the Middle Way pilot school should be located in Upstate New York. The Middle Way School opened in 2018 with 17 students in West Saugerties. In 2020 we enrolled 55 students in 6 classes.

The Hudson Valley is an ideal location for our pilot school. The welcoming and independent mindset in this area, along with supportive communities like Zen Mountain Monastery, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, Omega Institute,  and other centers of study and practice, makes this a fertile ground for a new model of education to come into being.

We hire and enroll without discriminating against any identifying factor which may include race, age, national or ethnic origin,  religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socioeconomic background. We will make accessibility accommodations for individuals with disabilities to the fullest extent possible. As an institution and as individuals we recognize that we have the responsibility to actively change the power differences that perpetuate biases against historically underrepresented groups. Our inclusion efforts are a dynamic process. We welcome your experience and invite your input on how our school community can continue to evolve.

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