We are dedicated to the early childhood years.
Our focus on children in preschool through third grade allows us to work with them right from age three to develop
positive attitudes toward learning that remain with them for life. Socially, our children learn to work
and play independently and in groups, and to be respectful of everyone.
Academically, they develop basic learning skills, learn to take
intellectual risks, solve problems, and expand their creativity in an
environment tailored to how young children learn best.
We are small on purpose.
We intentionally keep the number of students in Preprimary
through third grade to 100 and maintain an average student-teacher ratio of
6:1. This helps our teachers and
staff to appreciate the character of each child and help them interact with the
world around them in an environment scaled to their size and level of
maturity.
Every child is an important member
of our community.
Our Director knows every child by
name and can say without hesitation what makes each of them unique and what
role they play at the school. Our
teachers and staff also take an interest in knowing each and every child. This warmth and caring offer children a
safe, small, happy atmosphere in which they are comfortable learning and
growing.
We believe in the power of play.
Play is fun, but it is also how young children learn. Through play, they learn conflict
resolution, respect, creativity, independence, and self-confidence. Rather than just passive learning, play
encourages children to actively engage in their world and become mini
“scientists”—exploring, manipulating, and interacting with their environment. Play allows them to investigate,
create, and discover; it motivates them to take risks; and it adds to their
understanding of the world.
Our respectful reminders guide
children in becoming good citizens.
Respectful
reminders are written for all of our young children to keep in mind as they go
through each day. They experience
courteous and polite collaboration from the very beginning—in play, in working
in small groups, on paired projects, as well as in service to the community beyond
the walls of our school. Learning
about their obligation to the community at large will make it second nature as
they grow to care for each other and the world around them.
Our third grade students gain
confidence as the “big kids” in school.
Daily service jobs empower our third graders to be actively engaged in our
community. They begin to feel a
sense of mastery over their world and a sense of belonging and understanding of
what is going on in their environment.
Not only do these jobs reflect responsibilities and privileges within
the school, they also prepare students for the next step beyond the Concord
Hill community.
We support successful fourth grade placement.
As a child enters third grade, our
Director is in a position to confidently recommend a short list of schools that
best fits each child’s needs. By
this time, a child’s learning style and academic strengths are well understood,
making it clear where a student will excel during the middle-school years. Our Director works closely with parents
to ensure the most appropriate placement.
Proven academic success.
Concord Hill School students are sought after by area schools because
they are kind, well-prepared, and intellectually curious. They meet the challenges of middle
school and beyond with confidence and compassion.