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At New Garden Friends School, kindergarten life is about understanding how to be a member of a group that learns together, plays together, and respects one another.


Our Sunrise classroom is a supportive environment where children begin to develop academic and social skills within a community of learners, linking family life to school life. Our kindergarten class benefits from a small teacher to student ratio. Your child will receive individualized attention and will have teachers that know him/her as a whole child.

Our day includes time for small group instruction and learning centers. Students choose from activities such as art, building, puzzles, and math. Teachers and students explore topics such as plants and birds with a variety of hands-on experiences.

Our teachers take the time to create a classroom community that is caring and respectful. Students develop friendships and learn how to solve conflicts. Plenty of opportunities are given for students to engage in cooperative learning in the classroom and in interactive play on the playground.

PHOTO GALLERY: See what life is like in Sunrise!

Whether planting in the Guilford garden, dancing their alphabet, or demonstrating their counting skills while jumping, school life is joyful in Kindergarten. Our curriculum, activities, and expectations are specifically designed to honor young learners and cultivate their natural curiosity.   

 


COMMUNITY

We are a community of learners; individuals are respected for who they are and encouraged to become who they are meant to be.
 


Kindergartners are full of energy, exuberance, and opinions. Our teachers continually listen and model appropriate behavior and language, giving students many ways to express themselves while showing respect for others and for their environment. Safety, kindness, friendship, and listening skills are developed through puppet shows, role-playing, and discussion.


ACADEMICS

Our classes are interactive, encouraging students to explore, inquire, and stretch intellectually.

Research tells us that meeting students at their own developmental level is critical for success in reading, math, and writing. With the small class size, our kindergarteners receive academic instruction in smaller groups and have opportunities to work with a teacher one-on-one. In turn, our teachers have the opportunity to watch for signals; they know when it is appropriate to encourage a child to delve further and when additional assistance is needed.

“[My daughter] had a fabulous year in Sunrise. She learned so much academically, as well as how to be a good person not only in the classroom, but also in society. I am so pleased with the person she is becoming and I attribute it to the fabulous teachers in Sunrise. The teachers have been so supportive and nurturing; while at the same time giving my daughter the room to grow and show her independence.” - Current Parent


A predictable but flexible schedule of teacher directed and student centered activities introduces learning from all disciplines, including writing, math, unit-related centers, art, music, Spanish, coding, and PE. Service and experiential learning are hallmarks of an NGFS education, and even our youngest students enjoy service opportunities and field trips. 

By the end of their kindergarten year, NGFS students will have had reading, math, writing, and problem-solving experiences that are at once motivating and developmentally appropriate.


BUILDING INDEPENDENCE

Students learn to manage their belongings and problem solve in a supportive environment.


“I need the Peace Bear,” says a kindergartner to the teacher. When she returns,the teacher helps with the words that need to be spoken, “I really didn’t like it when you …” and the child fills in the remainder of the sentence while holding the Peace Bear. Subsequently, the others involved in this problem take their turns with the Peace Bear and come to a resolution for the problem at hand. This simple process of conflict resolution is intentionally taught to our kindergarten students as a way for them to resolve the everyday issues that happen when children work and play together. Teachers provide the support students need as they begin to learn how to problem-solve. As time goes by, students get the Peace Bear and initiate conversations on their own.


EXPLORE TO LEARN MORE

At NGFS, we take learning outside the classroom.

We honor the importance of play in the healthy development of young minds, hearts, and bodies. Learning matters and so does fresh air and time to play. Our full day program allows opportunities for students to go outside multiple times every day. Children are given the space to create, negotiate, pretend, engage with the natural world, and immerse themselves in imaginative play.

Resource classes are part of the daily schedule. Students receive instruction in Art, Coding, Music, PE, and Spanish from teachers with expertise in those curriculum areas, and every Friday, kindergarteners take part in service learning projects.

One visit to the NGFS kindergarten classroom convinced us that this was the perfect place for our kids. In addition to the strong academic program, the social program is top-notch. NGFS kids learn how to be a good friend, how to resolve conflicts and work together, and how to appreciate each individual’s unique qualities. The teachers really know each child, and the whole community ensures the school lives up to its mission. Our kids are excited about learning, and can’t wait to get to school every day.” - Current Parents

 

Tuition and Affordability

 

Kindergarten tuition for the 2022-23 school year is $16,000. Families can choose to set up payments in monthly installments, pay tuition in one payment, or twice/year. Families who are concerned they may not be able to afford a New Garden Friends School education may apply for financial aid. Learn about financial aid.

Questions?

Contact Chris Skidmore, Director of Admissions, at cskidmore@ngfs.org or 336-299-0964.