Since its establishment in 2014, our school has been consistently responding to the desires of our preschool families who have longed for an expansion of our educational offerings. They sought continuity in the exceptional learning environment provided by Heritage Museums & Gardens, our STEM-focused curriculum, and the expertise of our dedicated educators into the elementary years. Additionally, parents have emphasized the significance of play-based learning and the invaluable experiences gained through interactions with nature.

In 2019, we proudly introduced a full-day Kindergarten program that immediately reached full capacity within its inaugural year. During the challenging times of the fall of 2020, amid the pandemic’s peak, we went above and beyond by offering a five-day, in-person Kindergarten program. We achieved this by harnessing the advantages of our small class sizes and our customary practice of outdoor learning.

Attending elementary school within a museum and botanical garden offers a truly distinctive educational experience. Our elementary school consists of three grades, each with a maximum of 14 students, fostering individualized support, a tight-knit community, and the versatility of a larger group totaling 30 students. We view each classroom as a cohort that will journey through these formative years together.

As one family eloquently expressed, “I’m grateful that my young student gets to swim in this pond, before jumping in the ocean.”

In our philosophy, we emphasize the importance of granting early elementary students the freedom to play, explore, engage in physical activity, and cultivate a passion for learning. Learning isn’t confined to desks or classrooms; in fact, our students spend an average of 2.5 hours outdoors daily. Our STEM curriculum is hands-on and capitalizes on the natural world to provide immersive learning experiences. Furthermore, elementary students benefit from dedicated literacy, math, STEM, and outdoor adventure learning blocks.

Our teachers collaborate closely with families to provide each child with the appropriate engagement and encouragement necessary to foster a love for learning and school.

Our program is a full day allows for care from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

• Flexible drop off included with all enrollments from 8:30-9am
• Our school day is from 9am – 3pm.
• Flexible pick up included with all enrollment from 2:50pm-3:20pm
• Add optional after care 3pm-4:30pm

Please note:

• We are open for a regular week of school during what is typically February public school vacation week.

• Beginning in 2025, we will be closed for April vacation.
• We follow Sandwich Public for weather related closures. If there is a weather delay, we open at 10am.

Enrollment

• We accept up to 14 students each school year.
  • BONUS! For the 2024-2025 school year, we had significant interest from our current PreK so we are going to offer two classes next year with up to 25 total students.
• Our PreK students are accepted first during a priority enrollment period.
• Enrollment or the waitlist opens to the general public in January.
• We have students from Sandwich and many towns on and off Cape Cod.

Classroom & Teachers

• Our elementary wing has three classrooms: Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2. Our Kindergarten classroom is bright and welcoming.
• Our Kindergarten teacher is licensed and has a BA in Education, learn more here.
• Our elementary teachers work as a three-teacher team to brainstorm and collaborate to create a truly special elementary program. While it is a gift to have a small class size, the K-2 community can gather as a group of 30 students for different outdoor activities and foster friendships beyond their individual classrooms.
• Our elementary support teacher floats between the classrooms assisting teachers and students as needed.
• If you are interested in a tour. Learn about upcoming opportunities and sign up by clicking here