George Cottage

Eight Weeks through Four Years

The George Cottage is the Early Childhood Program at St. Martin’s Episcopal School for children 8 weeks through four years old. The program is inspired by methods developed in the infant and toddler centers of Reggio Emilia, Italy.

George Cottage’s approach emphasizes exploration and hands-on learning based on the interests and needs of the children in each group. St. Martin’s youngest students learn and grow in a safe, secure setting designed to promote social skills, decision-making, and play. 

The faculty is a community of veteran educators who participate in ongoing training to remain at the forefront of early childhood education. Low student-teacher ratios and minimal staff turnover combine to create a family of familiar faces as children progress through the program.

George Cottage is an environment rich with exploration, discovery, and growth — the first steps toward a lifetime of learning.    

Our Curriculum

The educational philosophy of the George Cottage is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, which emphasizes allowing children to follow their natural curiosity and creativity to stimulate a love for learning. As a result, we strive to provide an open-ended and child-centered curriculum that emphasizes learning through play, listening, moving, touching, and observing.

In addition to their regular activities, George Cottage 2s and 3s attend co-curricular classes in Library,
Religion, Movement, STeaM, Art, and Life Skills. This introduces them to new concepts and faculty
members and helps them practice transitions between activities, which helps them as they grow and prepare to
move into Lower School.

Our after care program provides working parents the opportunity for extended care as well as enrichment
options for students in a nurturing and safe environment. At the end of the school day, George Cottage
students may attend after care and play outdoors and take part in games and other fun activities. Additionally,
after school enrichment classes, known as Beyond the Bell, can be scheduled for a nominal, additional fee.

Why George Cottage?

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Questions About the Admissions Process?

Email [email protected] or call Admission Assistant Joette Monaghan at (504) 736-9917.