Sprucewood Prime - Young Students' Favorite

(Year 229) At the moment there are two private boarding schools, one for elementary students in Evergreen Harbor and another for high school students in Windenburg. They are both expensive (§1,000 per year, but with a discount if paying the total before 1st term), so they mainly reach out to high society. Previously I shared tidbits from the general system with uniforms etc, now it's time to stop by for a regular inspection, with info on the building and owners. And, we'll start with Sprucewood Prime!

It should not be necessary to suggest that Sproucewood Prime is extremely popular with the children. The colorful building works like a magnet, and I must admit it was quite fun mashing together crazy colors with no color scheme at all. 

This boarding school intends to be a playful stop in a sim's life, and this part is actually quite controversial, as most high society families are rather old fashioned clinging to the traditional values that brought them up where they are today. How can this school be so popular with the elite when it so obviously breaks with their aesthetics and traditions? Well, when their little Lord learns about Sprucewood Prime from other students, there is no escape. If the Monarch's children can study here, it's very hard for a Duke to explain to his child that this boarding school is no good.

But it is both good and trendy. Sprucewood Prime actually has a great reputation when it comes to building character values and skills. They do indeed their best to fill the classroom with subjects that the nobility appreciates.

The school was founded as late as Year 194 by Madam Maxim Sprucewood. When she moved away, the current owner, Dave Amagom Luxe-Honey (58), bought the place. He is now the Principal, while his wife Colletta (65), teaches most classes and also provides food for the young students. They both hail from the royal House of Luxe-Hamper: Former King Tybe had two half brothers, and Dave and Colletta descend from each their half brother, making King Tybe (King Tarriot's grandfather) their common grand uncle. Dave is a member of the royal house but decided to change his surname recently, to honor his late mother's House of Honeydew.

The couple has no children of their own, but finds lots of joy in raising and educating their young students who will stay at Sprucewood Prime for 6 years total. The school is heavily influenced by the ECO movement, and the students get access to many outdoor activities despite of the rather industrial location next to the old Conifer Station. They grow some food, keep chickens and insects, and there is equipment to train Motor skill.

In the tiny apple garden Colletta crafts flower arrangements. The students don't learn to do that, but getting used to fresh flower arrangements will prepare them for a certain standard. Besides they all find it very cool that their male Principal loves flowers AND pink! Dave has even decorated his bright yellow office door with flowers (see above)! Yellow is also the color of the school's official patch, witch has the motif of a rabbit.

This playful school environment appears like a huge playground, although there is minimum one class every day. Students attend off lot school in day, but Dave and Colletta supervise their progress 24/7. Good behavior is encouraged, and activities that build the right skills are steadily encouraged. The students only need level 3 of each of the four main skills plus grade B or better to graduate. There's normally plenty of time to play.

No wonder they come running back home from the daily off lot classes. Oh... who's there running with them? Bess Sterling wanted to suggest some investments, but was kindly rejected.

The Creativity studio might be the students' favorite hangout. This is next to the classroom.

There are only 6 desks in the classroom, but with such a limited number of pupils, it's better to allow some space than to pretend the class is much bigger.

Today Colletta teaches them about toxic mushrooms, and the boys listen in awe. Principal Dave, wearing his pink favorite jacket, stops by to check on the progress.

Dave normally works in his office near by. It's very tiny, but with room for two guest chairs (noble parents often come as a couple) and a desk in the corner for students on detention.

Today little Lord Magnor Ross is punished for leaving some mess on the entrance floor. He needs to write "I will never mess up anything" fifty times.

There is of course a dining room, nothing luxurious, but at least a tad more cozy than the average cantina. Colletta likes painting and I'm leaving to her to create something for the wall. Students have no access to the kitchen (behind that blue door), but there are other sinks to be used for cleaning dishes.

There is also a tea set to be used only on special occasions, it's part of the education. And the painting on the wall (below) is indeed the school's founder, Madam Maxim Sprucewood, guarding them all.

Finally, upstairs there are two bedrooms where students sleep. The blue room is actually meant for girls, and a red bedroom is popular with the boys. The kids love that the traditional colors are switched! These days all students are male, so the unlucky ones had to sleep in the blue room.

The students are well aware that breaking with traditions is something they can only do here at Sprucewood Prime. When some of them move on to Summerfield High in Windenburg, old traditions will be more important than anything!

Students graduate if they achieve grade B or better + meet the required skill level for the four main classes, Motor, Creativity, Mental and Social. In addition A students are rewarded a diploma, that over the years can become a quite valuable heirloom because they are very rare. This far the school had only one A student, HRH Crown Princess Emireza of Mazaloom.

Here you can see all students of Sprucewood Prime.