What Makes GCS a Special Place…
We are Nationally Accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). We meet voluntary national criteria and standards for the highest quality in Early Childhood Education.
Our School History can be traced back to the 1920s, with an official beginning at First Parish Church in 1945. Our current facility was renovated and expanded for 2021 to accommodate the energy, curiosity, and creativity of young children.
Our Staff Longevity and Teacher Excellence set us apart in the field of early childhood education. Our teaching staff is highly qualified in education and experience with children, and is supported in achieving ongoing professional development. Staff longevity at GCS is both valued and rewarded.
Our Exceptional Teacher-Child Ratios enable teachers to provide attention to individual children’s interests and needs. These ratios vary according to the ages of children and size of classrooms.
Our Outstanding School Curriculum is inspired by national accreditation criteria and also follows the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences. We promote children’s curiosity, creativity, and self-expression with hands-on learning experiences.
Our Language-Rich Environment is enhanced with the Handwriting Without Tears ® Program to encourage writing and literacy development. The program incorporates music and movement activities and hands-on materials to foster physical readiness and literacy skills.
Our Specialized Consultants on staff lend their expertise on a regularly scheduled basis in each classroom. Our Occupational Therapy Consultant offers valuable insights and advice on teaching strategies to benefit individual children and our school overall. Our Speech and Language Development Consultant visits throughout the school year to help us address children’s individual needs. Kindergarten children enjoy weekly formal French Language Lessons.
Our Family-Centered Atmosphere encourages family participation. Family involvement in the classroom and in the school overall is always welcome, and is beneficial to children, family members, and teachers alike.
Our Extensive Outdoor Playscape expands learning opportunities. We value outdoor play to foster children’s overall development and interactions with the natural world.
Our Peace Pole highlights our commitment to teaching peace, kindness, and empathy. The peace pole says “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in seven languages. We hold school-wide events to celebrate “peace” throughout the year.
