Nursery

The young child is best nurtured in a simple, ordinary, extended-family environment which allows him to relax into the natural rhythms of the day. For this reason we recommend small, home-based preschool groups. In these groups periods of active play, movement and rest are woven into a schedule which includes opportunities to explore the world through imagination, imitation, story and song. The changing seasons and the ordinary work of daily life - cooking, cleaning, decorating, animal and plant care - give rise to a wide variety of activities.

Through creative play, the central activity of each day, these young children build the foundations that will later develop into the imaginative, conceptual and physical abilities which are essential to learning.

Kindergarten

The kindergarten student stands at a threshold, eagerly peering at the world that lies ahead. She is ready for an experience which bridges the home or extended-family environment with the larger, more structured and focused world of the grades. She is still deeply imprinted by the environment, and play is still her primary learning tool. But now her play has the mark of a budding imagination and the ability to plan. The kindergartner is ready for a larger group that engages her in more complex and structured stories, projects and activities.

Kindergarten children can take a more active part in noticing and celebrating the seasonal changes in the world around them. They are ready for more focused and complex movement activities which will help them build the inner sense of rhythm and spatial awareness necessary for the academic learning that lies ahead. To meet these needs, we offer a kindergarten program that emphasizes creative play and movement in a natural and rhythmic environment.