2010 : The Grove School: A seriously fresh new preschool in Cary and Plano!

Our Student-Led Video Tour

Scott Andersen | March 10, 2010 | Comment

Wow! What a fun day! I thoroughly enjoyed working with our two Pre-K students. I think they enjoyed it too. We spend a good portion of the day learning about video production, enunciation and communication. I hope you enjoy it. Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.

Scott, a.k.a. Dr. Andersen, is our Head of School in Cary, NC. He brings 16 years of experience as a teacher and school/district administrator. He has also worked as a photojournalist and software developer.

Keywords: Cary, Grove School, Student led tour, video, video tour

P is for Passion

Dan Flood | March 9, 2010 | Comment

The last week in February marked our grand opening celebrations at both Cary and Plano. I had the privilege of attending both events, which made for an exciting, energetic, and (slightly) exhausting week! The schools were in top-notch shape, the faculty was energized, parents were wowed and children were laughing, playing, running, stretching, dancing, and posing (for yoga, that is).

The one word that truly embodies the spirit of that week for me is passion. Every single person who has become a part of our community has done so because they are passionately invested in what The Grove School stands for. Take Dr. Shefali Parmar for example, one of our parents who is also a pediatrician. She spoke at The Grove School of Cary about the importance of children’s health, and gave other parents a great list of things to do for their children to ensure an all-around healthy lifestyle. As I listened to her workshop, I found myself taking notes to use at home for my daughter.

Another great example is Stephanie from Stretch-n-Grow, who at The Grove School of Plano took children through a set of exercises and an obstacle course, all while teaching them the names of various muscle groups. I loved hearing the class of 3-year olds pronounce “trapezius” in unison!

Or, take Ms Ali at The Grove School of Cary, who I personally watched scrape the ORTs from her plate into a bin for composting, and then recycle her plastic plate. Talk about passion!

To me, meeting these folks just helped to reinforce that we’re all here not because it’s a job, or because it’s a convenient place to take our kids. We’re here because we all truly believe in a similar set of ideals, and are passionate about living them out (personally, professionally, or through our children). Of course, I’m no exception. While traveling, I managed to successfully adhere to my diet which consists of lean meats, fruits and veggies, and specific fats (and excludes grains, gluten, legumes, dairy, and heavy starches – check out the Paleo Diet). I also managed to seek out a local CrossFit affiliate, where I train back home 5 times per week. My coworkers gently kid that I’m obsessed.

It’s was great to spend a week amongst such passionate people. But most importantly, it was great to see children getting such a great educational experience at the school. When we sought out to build The Grove School, our goal was simply to create the best preschool a family could ask for. After being there and witnessing such amazing educational experiences, I can confidently label The Grove School “best” in any category.

Here’s a video with footage of both Grand Openings, including interviews with parents and partners of The Grove School.

Dan steers our business development. As the father of a toddler and a conscientious consumer, he's energized by The Grove School's focus on high-quality education and the triple-bottom line (social and environmental responsibility in tandem with profitability).

Keywords: Cary, Crossfit, Dr. Shefali Parmar, grand opening, Grove School, Paleo Diet, Plano, Stretch n Grow

My Favorite Drink!

Scott Andersen | March 9, 2010 | Comment

I like to drink. I am not referring to alcoholic drinks, but to flavorful drinks like cherry limeades, diet Pepsi and fresh fruit smoothies. However, after running 6 miles on Saturday and 4 miles this morning, there was nothing more satisfying than a big drink of water!

Over the past several weeks, I have been trying to increase my water intake in replacement of those others drinks which are just bad for me or contain too many calories. Hopefully when you come in the building, you will see a tall stainless steel double-walled water bottle on my desk. Furthermore, I hope you see me drinking from it!

I love the water we have here at The Grove School. Our drinking water goes through our water filtration system (see photo) and reminds me of the delicious water I used to get from my personal well I had when I lived in NH. That water was delicious and so is our water here.

Perhaps you will join me in my water drinking challenge. Some of you may be way ahead of me. But for those of you who seem to have an attached coffee cup or soda bottle to your hand, I invite you to replace it with a delicious drink of water.

Keywords: Cary, Grove School, Head of School, Healthy Me, water

Composting ORT

Scott Andersen | March 8, 2010 | Comment (1)

Here is some video from our students doing a little composting today. We had some build up of ort that we needed to include in the composting bin.

Keywords: Cary, composting, ort, outdoor classroom, The Grove School

A new referral program for our friends

Dan Flood | March 8, 2010 | Comment

New families are coming to check out the schools every day. One of the questions we always ask is, “How did you hear about us?” Most people answer, “from a friend.”

We’re thrilled by the response to The Grove School and want to thank the people in our community who send new families our way. To do that, we’ve started a “friends” of the school referral program. Here’s how it works:

Friends of The Grove School Referral Program

What You Get:
When you refer a family to our school, we’ll send you a $25 Whole Foods gift certificate for each new child enrolled.

What They Get:
Besides an amazing preschool education, parents you refer get a $100 tuition credit for each child they enroll. Plus we donate $100 to the Wake Audubon Society (Cary) or the Holifield Science Learning Center (Plano) in their family’s name.

How to Get your Gift Certificate
Contact the Head of School in your area. In Cary, that’s Scott Andersen. In Plano, it’s Wendy DeSpain. They will give you a referral card you can hand out to a prospective family. You’ll need to include your name and contact info on that card to be eligible for the $25 Whole Foods gift certificate.

Leave a comment below if you have any questions.

Legal details:

New families will receive a $100 tuition credit for each new child enrolled. The Grove School will also make a $100 donation per family to either the Wake Audubon Society or the Holifield Science Learning Center (“Donation”). Tuition credits and Donations are only valid for new families who enroll at The Grove School. Families currently enrolled at The Grove School who refer a new family will receive a $25 Whole Foods gift certificate (“Gift Certificate”).

Offers expire 12/31/2010, have no cash value and are non-transferrable. Gift Certificates and Donations are limited to one per family. Offers are not valid with additional offers or discounts and subject to age acceptance and availability. Contact Head of School for further details.

Keywords: $100 tuition credit, Cary, Friends of The Grove School Referral Program, Grove School, Holifield Science Learning Center, Plano, referral program, Wake Audubon Society, Whole Foods

Inside the Summer Program: Outside My Window

Linda Nelson | March 4, 2010 | Comment

This is the sixth and final article in a series about The Grove School Summer Program. The program runs from Monday, June 7 through Friday August 27, 2010 at both our Cary, NC and Plano, TX schools. Learn more about the program.

Outside My Window
After learning about the Earth’s five biomes — deserts, forests, grasslands, tundras, and aquatic — this unit introduces children to ways of caring for and preserving our planet. The dramatic play center will become a recycling center filled with a variety of materials for children to discover, explore and dispose of in the appropriate recycling bins.

Literacy activities include making nature booklets and writing a class letter to the Earth. In small-group science activities, children will experiment with Earth-friendly energy sources such as the wind, and even plant their own marigold seeds.

What We’ll Read
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by Rozanne Lanczak Williams

This book introduces the concept of recycling to children in a format they will enjoy — a song! Each page of the book contains a line of the song and shows how simple items children use every day can be reduced, reused, and recycled. Children learn how they can work together to perform the very important task of taking care of the Earth.

Culminating Event — School Cleanup

In this final unit’s event, children will put what they have learned about caring for the Earth into practice as they participate in a school-wide cleanup effort. Children will also help sort recyclable materials in the classroom recycling center to be taken to a real recycling center. Children will learn an ecology pledge encouraging them to continue to help take care of our special planet.

Linda is a program development senior specialist and holds a master's degree in Early Childhood Education. She loves the fact that The Grove School curriculum and learning environments help children take care of themselves, one another and the natural world.

Keywords: early childhood education, ecology, Grove School, Outside My Window, Summer Program

What’s up at The Grove School of Plano?

Wendy DeSpain | March 3, 2010 | Comment

Early Preschool is learning about the sky and going on picnics while using children’s literature as an anchor. Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten are discovering different methods of transportation while focusing on the letter of the week and building vocabulary through experiences and literature.

Also, all classrooms are busily planting! It is time to get our onions, radishes, lettuce, basil, peppers, okra, tomatoes, and flowers as well as lima beans, snap peas, corn, pumpkins, squash, beets, oregano, dill parsley, leeks, cilantro, and carrots in the ground! We’ll be moving some from the greenhouse to the planting beds soon too!

Here’s a video of our recent planting activity:

Wendy is our Head of School in Plano, TX. She has deep community ties, having spent 15 years with the Plano ISD in various teaching, administrative and leadership roles. In addition to her zeal for helping children learn, Wendy enjoys being in the great outdoors with her family.

Keywords: curriculum, Grove School, organic gardening, Plano, planting

Grand Opening Video

Scott Andersen | March 2, 2010 | Comments (2)

We had a great turn out for our Grand Opening last week. For those of you who attended, this VIDEO will seem familiar. For those of you who missed it, take a look and see what you missed!

Keywords: Cary, Dr. Scott Andersen, events, Grove School

Inside the Summer Program: Arctic Adventures

Linda Nelson | March 2, 2010 | Comment

This is the fifth article in a series about The Grove School Summer Program. The program runs from Monday, June 7 through Friday August 27, 2010 at both our Cary, NC and Plano, TX schools. Learn more about the program.

Arctic Adventures
During this unit children will have many opportunities to learn about the frigid climates of the Arctic and Antarctic tundras. They will discover how animals are able to survive the harsh tundra weather through large-group discussions such as How Tundra Animals Stay Warm. Children will practice fine-motor skills as they write or draw pictures in their journals of an imaginary journey as a polar bear. Math skills will be expanded on as children sort items in ice-cube trays and measure ingredients for sugar cookies.

What We’ll Read
The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins

At the very bottom of the world, in a place called Antarctica, the Emperor penguins rule. In his book The Emperor’s Egg, Martin Jenkins describes the life of the world’s most devoted father: the male Emperor penguin. Children will be amazed to hear how he stands in the cold for two whole months with nothing to eat, all while balancing his baby’s egg on his feet and keeping it warm by tucking it up under his thick tummy feathers.

The Emperor’s Egg is a fun, fact-filled book sure to capture every child’s interest during the two-week unit about the frozen tundras.

Culminating Event — Arctic Games

The culminating event for the unit Arctic Adventures will find children slipping, sliding, and sledding in their own Arctic Games! Children will work together to learn fun winter games such as the Dogsled Race and the Penguin Snowball Pass, which they will play during the Arctic Games.

Keywords: Arctic Adventures, early childhood education, ecology, Grove School, Summer Program

Grand opening article in Cary Citizen

John Fread | March 1, 2010 | Comments (2)

Cary Town Councilwoman Gale Adcock reads to children at the opening of The Grove School. CaryCitizen photos by Hal Goodtree.

Lindsey Chester of the Cary Citizen wrote a nice article about the school’s grand opening. Read the full article.

John oversees public relations for the school. For 20 years he's been helping global consumer brands, non-profits and high-tech companies engage in meaningful conversations.

Keywords: Cary Citizen, grand opening, Grove School

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