Good Shepherd School | Paper Pinecone
Details
Facility Type: 
Preschool
About the Program: 
Founded in 1945, Good Shepherd Episcopal School (“GSES”) is a parish day school ministry of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Located just west of downtown Austin, Texas, GSES currently serves 146 children from age two through Kindergarten and employs a staff and faculty of 32 professionals. GSES’ educational philosophy centers around a play-based, character-enriching early childhood program focused on educating the whole child. In 2015, the school opened a brand-new facility, completed as part of a $22 million, shared capital campaign with The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. For generations, our school has been an important ministry of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Through this partnership, Austin children have had the opportunity to spend their early years supported by a caring, Christian community as they begin their educational journey. The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, serves approximately 3,500 members, comprising 1,300 households. In 2016, the parish launched a second-campus worshipping congregation, and plans to open an early-childhood center serving a broad socio-economic base from that new site’s Central-Southeast location. This summer, the Rev. Morgan Allen, enters his ninth year of ministry as Rector, and he leads a staff of four full-time priests; four assisting clergy; and seventeen lay staff members. GSES’ new facility coupled with a strong relationship with The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and supportive, involved families, provide an environment that lovingly nurtures children through their early years. At Good Shepherd, we believe that play is the work of childhood. We structure our day, our classrooms, and our outdoor playgrounds to provide spaces for free exploration and discovery. In these places, children work on learning self-regulation and social skills, understanding properties of various materials, developing questions to test, and discovering how to create something new. Our teachers guide children’s exploration by providing materials and settings that inspire their curiosity in themes that are chosen by the teacher and follow the expressed interests of the children. The activities presented within each theme vary based on the age of the child and the developmental readiness of the children in that particular school year. Our curriculum grows as the children grow. Math is introduced in the form of number awareness in the Twos and Threes level classes and grows into teacher-directed small group activities and games in the Fours and Pre-Kindergarten level. In Kindergarten, the math curriculum is taught daily and includes written as well as oral hands-on activities that solidify their learning. Literacy growth happens through daily reading of high quality children’s literature, modeled and practiced writing development, opportunities to expand their speech and language skills, and phonemic awareness. Starting with the children’s names and those of their classmates, the children learn how to associate letters to sounds and practice these skills in their environment. Two other curricular areas strengthen our community. Enjoying the fun of singing and dancing is the goal of our weekly music class. Our music curriculum exposes children to rhythm patterns, tonal changes, and the sequence inherent in song through a fully interactive, and age appropriate class that each child attends with their teacher. Our chapel curriculum introduces and recaps lessons from the all-school Wednesday chapel service (held Thursday for children attending two days a week) providing teachers with ideas to bring the stories to life in their classroom’s day to day activities. Other curriculum areas that grow with the age of the child are science, physical education, service opportunities, and Spanish Instruction (provided to all Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students weekly.)
Philosophy and curricula: 
Traditional
Offerings: 
Pre-K
Kindergarten
School Year
Programs: 
Half Day AM
Full Day
Schedule: 
5 days
Hours: 
7:45 am - 3:00 pm
Religious affiliation: 
Christian
Enrichment activities: 
Junior Chef Cooking Class, Krafty Kids, Whiz Kids, Space Station, Spanish Enrichment, Artists in Training, Yoga for Youngsters, Little Explorers, Bookworms Prices vary for enrichment programs.
Application Fee: 
$125.00
Wait List & Priority Enrollment Details: 
1. Active GSES students (i.e. students who are already admitted and in attendance during a regular school year) will have first priority. 2. Siblings of active or former GSES students will be given second priority. 3. Children of parent(s) who are communicants in good standing of the Parish (as defined below), but who have not yet had children attend GSES, will be given the next priority. 4. Children of alumnae of GSES and/or grandchildren of communicants in good standing of the Parish will be given the next priority. 5. Finally, consideration will be given to other applicants from the community at large.
Total Capacity: 
136
Public or Private: 
Private
Home-based or Center: 
Center
License #: 
95170
Financial Aid Offered: 
Yes

Rates subject to change without notice.

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