With 110 acres to explore, caring staff, small classes and an educational philosophy that focuses on each student’s brilliance, Garrison Forest School is an ideal place for young children to develop a lifelong joy of learning.
Lower School
Serving all girls in grades Kindergarten through grade 5, the Lower School at Garrison Forest is where girls build confidence and critical thinking skills while also learning about friendship, kindness and respect. As they move through the Lower School, students encounter a strong academic program that is truly interdisciplinary, bringing in aspects of music, art and more to deepen their understanding of the topics they are exploring. At each step, they are building research, collaboration and public speaking skills, preparing them for middle school and beyond. A financial literacy program, which includes a real on-campus branch of M&T Bank that is run by fourth graders, teaches students about money mindfulness, saving and investing, while a school-wide digital discovery curriculum helps students learn to create content and build technological savvy while becoming good digital citizens. Afterschool offerings include music, band, athletics, spirit club, robotics, riding, polo, a bee club that takes care of the campus hives and a Lower School newspaper.
Preschool
The Preschool at Garrison Forest serves boys and girls ages two through prekindergarten. The Preschool is a magical place that nurtures and values each student’s developing personalities and interests while giving them space to explore. Caring, dedicated teachers work with each child, instilling a love of learning and embracing a young child’s natural curiosity and wonder. With a five-day, full-day program, the Preschool also focuses on developmental milestones and introducing subjects like early literacy, math and social-emotional skills. Enrichment experiences like yoga, cooking, building or exploring the campus’s outdoor classroom ensure fun and active movement remains an important component of each student’s day. As students move through the Preschool, they will also participate in specials classes like music, gym, science, library, languages and art. Preschool students become a part of the larger campus community, attending special events and often enjoying visitors from older students to read books or lead activities. Each day, they spend time outdoors traversing the expansive campus–including visits to the school’s barn and horses or the campus pond.
Daycare
The Daycare at Garrison Forest is a full-day, five-day program offering a loving environment for the littlest learners, children six weeks through two years old. Limited enrollment ensures meaningful one-on-one interactions, and a robust curriculum focuses on benchmarks and developmental goals while leaving plenty of time for fun, playing and exploring. Run by professional child care staff, the Daycare is nestled in a quiet, tree-lined part of campus that allows lots of outdoor space to play and explore safely.
Whether you are looking for care for your young child or seeking the place that can help your daughter thrive, start your journey at gfs.org/earlyeducation.
