Doves Landing School offers a safe, peaceful, and inspiring place to learn including and going beyond typical academic assignments.
With our Kindergarten through High School offerings, the entire family can participate in this 21st Century Country School House, "Abraham Lincoln-style" micro-school concept. Friendly competition occurs when the younger children observe and try to be like their older schoolmates. Leadership skills and accountability are provided in return from the younger student to their elders. Research finds that the one-room school house concept accelerates and deepens children's overall learning at each level.
Beyond the accelerated academic learning, the Abraham Lincoln-style Country School House is where the students' social and emotional skills (and emotional health!) are greatly enhanced. Older students help and model for younger students. The younger students respect and honor their older "TA's" or Teacher Assistants.
About Us
Our Program
The Doves Landing School program is based upon the Roger Taylor model of Gifted and Talented Programs with a dash of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence's theory added. Children participate in Language Arts, Math, Music, Art, Physical Education, Science, History, Foreign Language and Field Study as part of the regular program. Doves Landing School operates at The Family YMCA of the Desert facility. This location provides outdoor learning options at the adjacent Palm Desert Civic Center Park, including the Palm Desert Aquatic Center.
Examples of our Field Study programs include: swimming lessons for water safety, recreational activities and competitive sports. Field Days at nature reserves, such as the world-renowned The Living Desert as well as local businesses. Whenever possible, the children study outside, as our community is internationally famous for its natural beauty.
Our school is a Donation-based, private school open to any student interested in attending and adhering to the requirements of respect for all.
● Pre-K - Kindergarten
Hummingbirds
Our students from pre-K to Kindergarten start out as Hummingbirds! Just like the curious, energetic, tiny birds we all love to feed with sugar water, so our Hummingbirds need a lot of careful attention and guidance- or they could be off and away in a flash!
For this reason, and other reasons that may arise depending on the particular temperament of your Hummingbird, we usually ask that Hummingbirds stay for no more than a half day. There are exceptions, and we can work on a case-by-case basis. The Hummingbirds curiosity can make for a wonderful early start at Doves Landing!
● First - Fourth Grade Students
Quails
Just as Quails follow each other closely in lines, the Quails stay by and interact closely with teachers and older students, whom they respectfully know as Lead Students and Teacher Assistants. When the older students review concepts in language, read to Quails and assist with Math, etc. the older students hone their own skills while the Quails enjoy one-to-one tutoring time. Have you ever tried to teach a concept? You really need to know the concept to teach the concept! This is great practice and review for the older students. TA's lead the Quails on Walking School Bus field trips including professional swim lessons at The PDAC as well as the Palm Desert Library.
Doves Landing School Quails assist other Quails encouraging students to develop healthy friendships, almost like siblings. The Quails look up to their Roadrunner and Eagle schoolmates and anticipate taking on their responsibilities as they grow. Quails have the opportunity to advance quickly as they look to the other Quail students, Roadrunners’ and Eagles’.
● Fifth - Twelfth Grade Students
Roadrunners
Doves Landing School students from the fifth through twelfth grades are more like Roadrunners. Like their bird namesakes, they can "run" more quickly in academic endeavors in a more independent and responsible fashion.
The Advanced Roadrunners, as Teacher Assistants, TA’s, assist many of the younger students in practicing their Hummingbird or Quail level studies. This time serves to provide a review and reinforce the skills of the younger students. At the same time, this practice can be remedial for Roadrunners (older students) in need of basic skill acquisition or significant review. The dignity of young students is enhanced as older students spend time assisting them. More importantly, the dignity of older students is maintained as the Roadrunners help and serve others.
Advanced Roadrunners (middle and high school aged) work on assigned and interest projects such as; Catering full lunch for the school through Culinary Arts, Music Recitals, and Technology Presentations. They also perform other learning events such as musicals and other drama productions. During Field Study times, the Advanced Roadrunners learn in-depth concepts with hands-on activities.
● Eighth - Twelfth Grade Students
Eagles
Eagles are eighth through twelfth grade students with responsibilities beyond the regular students. They work on their academics and have duties to assist the school staff with life skills in preparation for family and career success. High school students enjoy direct access to College of the Desert's concurrent enrollment program, and can attend college courses for dual college and high school credit.
The Eagles work on science projects and other assigned or choice projects that require a high level of trust. Eagles and Advanced Roadrunners have time for serving teachers and students at the school as well as academic projects. Projects have included science projects on electricity, solar powered motors, rockets, squid dissection and more!
Our Founder
As the founding administrator and teacher, Kennedy Rocker, brings experience in traditional and charter public schools to her latest endeavor, the private micro-school, Doves Landing School. Additionally, she has designed and coordinated the implementation of over a dozen start-up schools including North County Trade Tech High School, an engineering architect construction-based charter school located in San Diego, CA and, in 2022, the Irvine International Academy charter school located in Irvine, CA.
Working as a third through ninth grade teacher, in two different districts, and with over 15 years experience as a school principal in two districts has provided the background for development and implementation of Doves Landing School, private, non-profit micro-school. Kennedy has also worked as an Assistant Adjunct Professor of Education with USC in the MAT@USC, Rossier School of Education. She has also presented conferences training principals and teachers in the U.S. (California, Minnesota, Nevada, and Arizona) as well as, internationally in Chengdu and Beijing, China, El Salvador, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and South Korea.