​Learning Happens in Phases & Cycles
The Rhythm of Our Year
At Ceiba Nova, time isn’t just managed — it’s honored. Our year-round calendar is organized into intentional phases of growth and rest, while each learner’s journey moves through unique cycles of mastery and reflection.
At Ceiba Nova, our year is divided into four intentional phases — structured blocks of time that include ~9 weeks of core learning followed by a 2-week break. This rhythm supports deep engagement, project-based progress, and time to recharge. These seasonal breaks occur during:
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March 15–31
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June 14–29
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September 13–28
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December 13–28
Each phase may also include optional special weeks for field trips, interdisciplinary showcases, community celebrations, or family engagement opportunities. These allow students to demonstrate learning and connect with the wider world in meaningful ways.
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Flexible Days Off — Rooted in Real Life
We know that life doesn’t always align with school calendars. That’s why Ceiba Nova families receive 16 Flex Days per student, per calendar year, to be used in ways that best suit their family rhythm and personal needs:
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🎂 1 Birthday Day — The student’s birthday (or nearest school day) may be taken off.
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🌈 5 Anytime/Anyway Days — Use for family travel, rest, cultural holidays, illness, or spontaneous joy.
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🧳 2 Flexible 5-Day Weeks — Two full weeks (5 consecutive weekdays each) that can be scheduled anytime in the year with 1-month advance notice (less than 1-month notice requires approval).
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These Flex Days allow for planned breaks without disrupting student progress or undermining the intentional rhythm of our learning phases. To ensure compliance with student MAP and MEP- and US-based accreditation standards, Flex Days do not roll over into the following calendar year unless prior written approval is granted.
Personal Progress Moves in Cycles
Each student at Ceiba Nova follows a Mentored Adventure Plan (MAP), designed around their needs, interests, and developmental readiness. Students progress through learning cycles — project-based units, thematic deep-dives, or skill development sequences — aligned to rigorous academic standards and grounded in student-driven exploration.
Entry point → Inquiry → Exploration → Practice → Mastery → Reflection → New cycle