About Our School

Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther' King, Jr.’s vision of racial peace, the school was founded in 1968 to provide the opportunity for children of different backgrounds to play and learn together. Since then scheduling has expanded with a diverse offering of programs to fit changing family needs. Saugatuck Nursery School provides a comfortable, relaxed environment where kids aged 2-5 experience carefully designed, enriching activities lovingly guided and taught by seasoned professionals with a passion for educating young children.

SNS has a long-standing reputation of lovingly providing for each child’s needs and gifts. Each program encourages the children to develop life skills, including language, reasoning ability, problem solving and conflict resolution. Lessons are designed to stimulate critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity. Open-ended questions encourage problem-solving and safe risk taking. The development of imagination and creativity is more important than the “right” answer. Art is for the experience, not the product. Children are encouraged to enjoy the texture, color, and experimentation. Building is mainly for the experience, not the structure. The act of cooperative building is more valuable than the finished project.

A typical day’s activities are adapted to the developmental level of each child. Realistic individual goals challenge our students to achieve his or her highest potential while increasing self-awareness, independence and a positive self-image. Activities include music, science, dramatics, imaginative play, art, problem-solving, storytelling, predicting, cooking, block building and outdoor play. Monthly enrichment programs include Yoga, Music and Spanish. The goal of our play-based approach is to offer a curriculum rich in experiences that foster problem solving, development of skills and Kindergarten preparedness.

The school is guided by a Board of Directors comprised of parent representatives, alumni and interested professionals from the community. Saugatuck Nursery School is a non-profit, interfaith, multi-cultural school licensed under the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood.

Our Teaching Philosophy

At SNS we believe in using the Project Approach when planning lessons and implementing them. This approach is child-centered and teacher-framed. Ideas for study are found in the child’s home, school and community. The project is an in-depth study of a topic worthy of investigation that is found in the students’ immediate environment. The project is specific to different groups of children and their interests. Collaborative construction and cooperation with peers is a key element.

The teachers serve as a resource for materials, support and a facilitator as children access and learn new information. Topic studies follow a sequence that begins with teacher observation, introducing children to a topic through displays, conversations, books and/or learning experiences. Project work is rich with opportunities for learning and meet the areas of The Connecticut Early Learning Development Standards. The areas of literacy and language, mathematics, science, social studies, cognition, motor and creative skills are embedded in meaningful applications.

Documentation by way of photos and work samples of learning are shared with families on documentation boards. A close partnership with families and the community support learning.