Nursery Kindergarten Classes
Our Nursery Kindergarten is nestled on 12 acres of land, with a sweeping view of the Ashuelot River Valley and the hills beyond, just on the outskirts of Keene. Meadows, woods, and a trickling brook provide the setting for a program full of the magic of the natural world. Festivals and special celebrations honor the movement of the seasons. The core of the early childhood curriculum is based on your child’s natural reverence for nature.
We make the most of each and every season—collecting leaves from long fall walks, harvesting fruits and vegetables from our garden, sledding down our big gentle hill, mucking about in the muddy spring yard, dipping into our running brook, and tending our profusion of flowers. You might find us pressing cider, popping homegrown corn, collecting maple sap, or roasting potatoes in an outdoor fire pit.
Nursery Kindergarten Classes
The young child lives a life of imitation and gathers a growing sense of the world by trying on all that she experiences. The Waldorf school day is full of healthy and creative opportunities for the young child to imitate through story, song, circle games, and many side-by-side activities with teachers. The heart of the day is play.
Our specially trained Waldorf teachers and their skilled assistants provide a warm, home like atmosphere that emphasizes daily work, artistic activities, and seasonal celebrations, all thoughtfully designed to support your child’s healthy development.
A day of discovery.
After warm greetings at 8:15 a.m., children join others for free play. During the next several hours, your child will work on a craft project, enjoy a hearty and healthy snack, play outside, join a morning circle for songs and verses, hear a story or watch a puppet play, and have plenty of time to enjoy the company of friends. The morning ends at noon with outside play.
Our optional afternoon program begins at noon and continues until 5:30 p.m. Children eat lunch (brought from home), rest, hear a story, and play outside again.
Partnership in one of life’s most challenging jobs
Our teachers offer a series of parent evenings throughout the school year that explore topics of interest and concern to parents of young children—bedtime routines, caring for sick children, nutrition, planning birthday parties, mealtimes, celebrating holidays, setting limits. Often topics are requested by parents themselves.
Many parents find the insights of our teachers and those of other parents invaluable as they navigate the challenging and magical world of being parents of young children.
You can expect to find a caring and concerned partner in your child’s teacher, one who is available to you both formally and informally for support, ideas, and sometimes just a good laugh!
During the school year you will also meet individually with your child’s teacher to discuss school progress and to learn more about school life. This parent/teacher conference is an excellent time to raise questions and to explore your child’s needs.
