Only At Brighton Home / About Us / Only At Brighton Choosing Brighton School We know that parents have a lot of choices for their child’s education. So, why do families choose Brighton School and stay with us until their child graduates? It’s because so many wonderful things happen at our private school, #OnlyatBrighton. Let us tell you more! Education Rooted in Pacific Northwest Heritage Brighton School’s way of learning is inspired by the amazing Pacific Northwest. Our curriculum includes fun field trips and hands-on projects that let students explore the world around them! Some highlights are overnight trips to Mt. St. Helens, the San Juan Islands, the Hoh Rainforest, and Mt. Rainier, where students get to see nature up close. In the winter, students can also join the Friday Ski School to learn and enjoy skiing. Brighton helps students connect with local Native American tribes and their culture. Pre-K students learn about Salish tribe symbols and what they mean. Middle schoolers study the history of coastal tribes in the Puget Sound area. Students also take part in the salmon cycle by raising salmon from eggs to young fish and releasing them into a nearby stream. These hands-on activities teach students about history, nature, and the importance of the Pacific Northwest’s culture and beauty. Brighton FIERCE Brighton FIERCE is our character initiative where staff and students develop traits of Fearlessness, Innovation, Enthusiasm, Responsibility, Compassion, and Enlightenment. We encourage all students to be fearless by trying new things and being brave. We bring out their innovative side with activities that foster their creativity and problem-solving skills. At Brighton, our students learn to be respectful leaders and to care about others by helping in the community. We also teach them to be kind and understand how others feel. Finally, we help our students think about their actions and learn from their experiences. We come together regularly to recognize success and continue to push our students outside of their comfort zones. We make FIERCE a part of our everyday lives here at Brighton and in the Mountlake Terrace community. Community Outreach Helping others is very important at Brighton. One of our big projects is working with Washington Kids in Transition, a group that helps children without stable homes. Our students raise money, collect supplies, and make kindness messages for these children to brighten their day. We teach our students that helping others is not just about money—it is also about showing care and support. Students choose causes they care about, like helping pets at the SPCA or supporting people in Ukraine. At Brighton, we work to make the world a better place and show students that they can make a difference with kindness and action. Grandpals One of our most endearing special projects are our Grandpals. They are residents of a local nursing home who forge an unbreakable bond with our kindergarten students. Whether it is hearing stories of their Grandpal’s youth or singing songs and reading books, our students learn the value of listening and respect for senior citizens. The Grandpals love seeing our students and spending time together. In return, our students, many of whom don’t have their own grandparents locally, feel the warmth and affection of their adopted grandparents. Family Groups Every month, small groups of students from every grade meet with a teacher in Family Groups. Children join their Family Group in kindergarten and stay with the same group of students and teacher all the way through Brighton. Together, they do fun activities that help them learn from each other and build friendships with kids of all ages. These friendships grow stronger and last through 8th grade and even beyond! Salmon Hatchery Our 3rd grade students raise Pacific Northwest salmon, starting as eggs and growing to adults. They watch and write down what they see while learning about the salmon’s life cycle. At the end, they release the grown salmon into the wild. This project teaches children about nature, science, and how important salmon are in Native American culture. Field Trips Field trips are an important part of learning at Brighton. Starting in 3rd grade, all students go on trips that help them grow more confident, independent, and connect what they learn in class to the real world. These trips focus on teamwork, science, the environment, and exploring the world around them. Students visit amazing places like Mt. St. Helens, Olympic National Park, and Orcas Island. In their final year, 8th graders take a special 10-day trip to Virginia, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City. They visit important historical places and share one last big adventure together as a class before heading to high school.
