We understand children learn by making observations and asking questions. Lots of questions! In the Reggio Emilia style, our expert teachers engage the girls through hands-on projects and real life experiences that are relevant to them. Learning centers play an important role in the girls’ academic development. The centers integrate different aspects of the curriculum to develop thinking and motor skills. EC girls rotate through the centers daily, gaining independence and time management skills that will serve them well when they progress to higher grades.
Fred Rogers
“Play is really the work of childhood.”
A secluded oasis of learning
Tucked away in the Northwest corner of Hutchison’s lush campus is the Abston Early Childhood Center, a state- of-the-art facility constructed in 2001 that houses Little Hive (2 year olds), Pre-Kindergarten (3 year olds), and Junior Kindergarten (4 year olds). Classes are small, and parents can choose from full-week or partial week programs. Students enjoy the quiet EC playground nestled away near a wooded area, but frequent jaunts to other corners of Hutchison’s 52-acres are mini learning expeditions.
Whether they are visiting the upper school science lab for Junior Kindergarten’s annual dissection of a sheep’s heart, or wandering over to the farm to pick up something they will write about later in their journals, the excursions are learning opportunities, a chance to explore and feel independent in a secure setting.