Fiorella Preparatory School blends curriculum with community so that well-rounded students are on track to become cultured, fulfilled and empathetic individuals.

Today it’s commonly recognized that education should not take a one-size-fits-all approach. While research demonstrates that different individuals can respond better to alternative learning styles and environments, not every school is able to accommodate an educational experience beyond the standard. The award-winning Fiorella Preparatory School, however, not only defies that standard, but exceeds it.

Seamlessly harmonized with Christ-centered values and faith-based learning, the curriculum at Fiorella is designed to provide diverse experiences with a wide range of subtopics designed for students to internalize material. This results in students who are eager to apply what they’ve learned outside of the classroom and brings forth opportunities for students to truly decipher their strengths and interests at an early age. Implementing experiential learning curriculums for preschool and elementary students allows them to attach positive memories to even less-favored subject matter.

Learning through a textbook alone can easily set a foundation of resentment toward a subject in which a student is lesser-skilled or uninterested, minimizing growth through the progression of grade levels. Fiorella instead successfully encourages students to have an affinity for every subject by allowing them to confidently find their niche through experimenting with varied concepts and activities. This has proven to be an impactful way to ensure information is retained well into the future.

“We take [material] outside of the workbook… and we do it through an activity, like a field trip where we go out and learn about the life cycle of a plant at a plant farm, or a park,” describes Principal Director Cecilia Alvarez. “Yes, they’re taking an evaluation at the end of the week, and we’ll reference the textbook, but they’re learning it through the experience that they lived through.”

Although equipped with innovative technological tools that teach computer skills like typing and coding, teachers divert students from excessive screentime with hands-on application and individualized attention. The small class sizes for which the school is known not only allow teachers to give students more help when necessary, but also to assign more challenging work for students who are ahead to keep them engaged.

Preschool and elementary classes alike have instituted that multifaceted learning model for above-average development, yielding both scholastic and personal benefits. To influence multiskilled and adaptable students, Fiorella equips its students with comprehensive arts and health instruction alongside core subjects. Such examples include music theory studies, lessons taught in Spanish, and a rotating lineup of engaging sports such as jiu-jitsu and tennis for physical education beyond the conventional.

“That’s something different from other schools where they might do regular physical education, like, ‘Do 10 jumping jacks and five push-ups.’ That’s just a warmup for them, because we want them to love sports and the outdoors. This is the fourth year that we’ve had tennis, and you can really see how they’ve advanced. We just started jiu-jitsu, but before that they had dance and movement class,” Alvarez says.

Another major element of Fiorella Preparatory School’s holistic approach is its signature, all-natural nutrition plan designed to stimulate minds through proper nourishment. Processed and microwaved foods might be the easiest solution, but Fiorella Preparatory School emphasizes fresh-cooked meals daily with ingredients from multiple fresh markets for the best possible quality.

“We wanted to be very mindful about not giving the students the typical school lunch of a burger or nuggets. So we said, ‘Why don’t we cook food for the students that a parent would cook at home?’ We started dabbling into recipes that we can have students try and get used to—like rice, beans, chicken, pasta—and then we started buying a lot of organic food. After that, the menu started evolving and now we have a rotating menu each month,” says Alvarez.

The full spectrum of engagement in STEAM, physical health and religion is all built into the curriculum, which allows for heightened accessibility and opportunities without having to stay afterschool. However, extended hours are available for one-on-one tutoring and homework help, followed by playtime. Furthermore, Fiorella empowers students to take part in community service—from food drives, to spreading joy at nursing homes with holiday cards and performances, to cleaning communities of debris during a recycling unit.

“We’re not just there for them to be academically challenged and have a good learning foundation,” affirms Alvarez. “Yes, we’re doing that—but we want to create a good, well-rounded individual; one who is a community leader and is successful in life overall. Having good habits through nutrition, exercise, and being a loving person…it starts with us, right in the classroom, with nurturing and loving teachers.

Fiorella Preparatory School
Orlando
(407) 745-5732
FiorellaPrepSchool.org