Art & Innovation
Walking in to The Sonder Academy,
families are struck by three exciting elements.
First is the peaceful and calm space. Despite
the student population growing this 2018-
19 school year, the staff and children of The
Sonder Academy enjoy a tranquil environment.
This may not be expected for a private
school filled with students with Autism
Spectrum Disorder. Several important factors
help to achieve this. Students have many fun
activities at school including; yoga classes, music
classes, computer lab and a beautiful outdoor
playground. The size of the facility, over
20,000 square feet, allows ample space for kids
to be kids, while still keeping class sizes very
small. Most of the classrooms have 8 students
or less per room. The staff has remained very
consistent since the school opened in August
2017, with very little staff turnover. The teams
are strong, and they know their students well!
The second element parents comment on,
upon touring the school, is the artwork! The
halls of The Sonder Academy are filled with
amazing student-created masterpieces. Under
the masterful teaching of Ms. Ann Harmon,
the artwork is breathtaking. From sculpture
to recycled environmental art, the students at
Sonder Academy are expressing themselves in
creative and wonderful ways. Walking down
the halls of Sonder Academy, feels like a gallery
walk. Art class is a daily joy for students
and staff.
The Sonder Academy has a diverse and
creative staff that always makes our families
smile. This is seen in every room. Class groupings
at The Sonder Academy
Brevard Edition — Volume I, Fall/Wunter Issue 9
are not defined by age or functionality.
The groups are placed upon educational
assessment into Content Standard groups for
maximum educational benefit. Each class has
chosen their own name and their classrooms
are themed on those names. Examples include:
Jurassic Jedis, Wonderland, Bugs, Oceans,
Rockets and Avengers. The entire preschool
space, 7 separate rooms, is decorated with a
different Pixar movie in each room!
The third element is Sonder’s mindful innovation
of technology throughout the building.
The school’s mission is to seek innovative solutions
for children and families impacted by
Autism Spectrum Disorder by implementing
educational, therapeutic, and family support
programs. Those innovations include being
the first location to deploy LIGHTING
SCIENCE’s CLEANSE™, a LED light fixture
that sanitizes air to reduce pathogens responsible
for illness. This amazing system, which is
in place throughout the school, decreases the
levels of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in highlypopulated
spaces. At Sonder students are
breathing air of the highest possible quality all
day long! Data suggests a huge impact on both
student and staff absences with this system.
When was the last time you heard someone
talk about how much they loved their fluorescent
lighting? Never? But people feel energized
when they are outside, that’s why TSA
installed Lighting Science’s GoodDay(r) lighting,
developed in collaboration with NASA to
support the circadian rhythms of astronauts
on the International Space Station. The sun is
always shining in Sonder!
At the end of the day, The Sonder Academy
is a school which strives to give students the
best possible childhood experience. In fact,
the definition of the word “Sonder” is the
realization that each random passerby is living
a life as vivid and complex as your own. Our
children deserve a vibrant and fun school. It is
our pleasure to provide it for them!
If you would like to schedule a tour of The
Sonder Academy call: (321) 241-1170.