Wildwoodcottagebrochure

Wildwood Cottage

The Stanwich School PreK & K

Wildwood Farm - A HistoryIn 1914, Alexander and Clara Dommerich purchased 44 acres of land on

which to build their home, Wildwood Farm. The great estate was built by Charles T. Wills Company, also architects of the New York Stock Exchange,

the Standard Oil Building, and the chapel at West Point. Alexander and Clara raised their four children, two girls and two boys, at Wildwood Farm.

The boulders in the home’s foundation walls were gathered from the property, and still remain today. There were fruit trees, a sizeable

vegetable garden, pastures where cattle grazed, and a piggery, where a pig named Longfellow lived. At the end of the driveway stood a large

garage that housed the chauffeur’s and superintendent’s quarters, horses and cars — this is now St. Agnes Church.

Much of the property was wooded and there were cinder roadways through the woods and many paths. Children from many parts of town came up to play hockey when the pond was frozen. A small shed was

nearby which provided hot soup to the skaters. The woods, paths, pond, and foundation of the shed remain today.

When the Dommerichs bought the property, the North Cos Cob school-house stood just north of the main driveway. Later when the town gave up one-room schoolhouses, the family tore it down, but saved the school bell and hung it in back of their home to summon their children. The bell was

gifted to Stanwich by descendents of the Dommerich family, and now rings in the start and end of every school year.

Wildwood Farm is now home to The Stanwich School.

Wildwood Cottage provides a nurturing environment

within a challenging elementary educational

program for boys and girls in Pre-Kindergarten

and Kindergarten. Wildwood’s curriculum takes

full advantage of the environmental resources right

outside our doors, while our exceptional faculty

help students develop a lifelong love of learning.

The Stanwich School PreK & K

Wildwood Cottage

Wildwood Cottage Schedule

3’s Options• Full-day: Monday - Thursday 8:30-2:45 • Friday 8:30-11:45

• Half-day: Monday - Thursday 8:30-12:00 • Friday 8:30-11:45Option to extend to full day, 1 to 3 days per-week

• 3 Full-days: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:30-2:45

Applicants must be 3 years of age prior to the start of the school year

PreK• Full-day: Monday - Thursday 8:30-2:45 • Friday 8:30-11:45

Kindergarten• Full-day: Monday - Thursday 8:00-2:45 • Friday 8:00-11:45

Early drop-off available for all ages beginning at 7:30am

THE HEART OF STANWICH

BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE

HELP OTHERS BE THEIR BEST

MAKE GOD’S WORLD A BETTER PLACE

OUR PHILOSOPHY

A Unique School Culture

Stanwich is well known for teaching good manners and building strong values and character in each child. Values are taught through weekly story times to incorporate the core beliefs of The Stanwich School. Service to the community is integrated into the program throughout the year, and meaningful morals are an integral part of the daily curriculum.

Love of Learning

The Stanwich School does not “teach to the test.” We believe that a love of learning comes from creating an exciting, well rounded curriculum, not drilling students in compartmentalized subject matter oriented toward testing. Your child is taught to love reading books, ask probing questions, and provide clear answers and ideas.

A Strong Bond Among Teachers, Students and Parents

Parents receive consistent feedback about strengths, weaknesses and any other issues — academic, social or otherwise. Your child’s happiness and progress are our primary goals. Our teachers are mentors and advisors for your child.

Personalized Education

Unlike many schools, students are taught in small groups of 4-6 children who have similar skills. Therefore, your child feels comfortable and can maximize understanding and enjoyment. Learning specialists also provide additional support or enrichment.

As Stanwich parents know, the strong academic program continues throughout all grades. Stanwich students’ test scores consistently meet, and usually exceed, independent school scores across all subjects and grades on standardized tests.

EXTRAORDINARY FACULTY

Our faculty embody the ideals of intellect, integrity and character that The Stanwich School imparts to its students. Teachers spend all day with their students – there is no faculty lounge. They eat lunch, attend

recess, supervise outings and participate in community service with your child.

100% of faculty hold an advanced degree.

ANIMAL EMBASSY

“Hands-on learning” takes on a new meaning at Wildwood Cottage where students touch,

cuddle and admire God’s creatures.

Stanwich has partnered with Animal Embassy — the popular and respected animal rescue and education organization — to create a

Discovery Studio at Wildwood Cottage.

Through naturalist guided sessions, students learn about myriad animals representing

many species and habitats.

A MENAGERIE OF LEARNING

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Personal Development Stanwich’s Wildwood Cottage develops the whole child: mind, body and spirit. Your child’s horizons are broadened through introductory French and Spanish, studio art, and international studies. Children learn the fun of public speaking, with many presentation opportunities. There are regular “Buddy” activities with older students, involving interesting projects. All children are encouraged to take positive risks in a warm, nurturing environment.

STEAMSCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, MATH

OUR STEAM CURRICULAR INITIATIVES PROVIDE EXCITING PROJECT-BASED LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH EMPHASIZE

CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION, CRITICAL THINKING, AND PROBLEM SOLVING.

Daily Morning Assemblies From Monday through Thursday the day begins with a special assembly which provides a strong sense of community among Wildwood Cottage children. Students sing patriotic and inspirational songs, celebrate student birthdays, participate in discussion about one of the Stanwich values, and end assembly with an age appropriate non-denominational prayer. Fridays are half-days.

Parents As Partners You are always welcome to attend morning assembly, especially when we celebrate your child’s birthday and hold public speaking events. Parents may also participate in classroom and library activities. Stanwich Parent Education programs are run throughout the year, which help you understand the development of children at different ages and offer you guidance.

Language Arts

Our PreK curriculum emphasizes reading readiness concepts. Children focus on skills such as letter recognition, using left to right progression and letter/sound relationship. In Kindergarten, students are taught to read phonetically, with special attention to developing a sight word vocabulary and learning basic phonics rules. Depending on each child’s level, a range of phonics readers to early chapter books are used during reading group. Children are taught to write through journaling, completing follow-up questions to books and lessons, and doing literature based writing activities.

Math

Children in PreK explore math concepts through the use of manipulatives. Skills such as patterning, counting, number recognition and problem solving are developed. The Kindergarten math curriculum builds on the PreK program and further extends the students skills. Using a hands-on approach through the use of manipulatives, students continue to develop their number sense and are taught the following concepts: patterning, odd and even numbers, tallying, skip counting, number recognition, addition, subtraction, time and money.

THE SCIENCE PROGRAM EXPLORES NATURE AND

LIFE CYCLES, MEASUREMENT AND HEALTHY HABITS.

OUR HANDS-ON APPROACH INCLUDES OPPORTUNITIES

FOR FARM-TO-TABLE COOKING, DISCOVERING NATURE

IN OUR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM, INTRIGUING

INDOOR SCIENCE LAB ACTIVITIES, TINKERING TIME

AND STEAM CURRICULAR INITIATIVES.

Foreign Language

Complementing the curriculum, students learn introductory concepts in French and Spanish through song and dramatic play. Students learn how to count, name colors, shapes and animals, and learn about French and Spanish culture and traditions.

THE PROGRAM

THE INCREDIBLE, EDIBLE SCHOOLYARD

While the concept of an “edible schoolyard” may have been popularized by iconic chef Alice Waters, the trend of schoolhouse gardening breathes deep

at Stanwich.

In the spring, students grow vegetables from seed and plant them in the school’s

organic garden. Not only do the children learn academic concepts such as life cycles,

they get to bring fresh vegetables into Wildwood’s

kitchen and cook.

FARM TO TABLE

SPECIAL TALENTS & INTERESTS

Throughout the week, students participate in a Music/Drama/

Movement program. During this time, students dance,

sing, learn rhythm and other musical expression. This is

also a time when students are introduced to dramatic acting

and public speaking.

Students also explore their creative side in the art room, learn the love of reading in

the library, and enjoy a varied and dynamic physical education program.

COURAGE!

Library

The students use the library, listen to stories and participate in book exchange. Members of the faculty as well as parents come to read to the children on a regular basis.

Art

Daily, students have the opportunity to creatively express themselves in easel painting, using Playdough, gluing and drawing. Students are introduced to a wider variety of media, including painting, oil pastels, water colors, clay, texture collage, stamping and pattern making, and puppet making.

Music

Students enjoy learning all about music, including rhythms, beat, volume, tempo, mood, and story telling to music. Throughout the year, students learn songs which they perform for special occasions such as holidays and the end-of-the-year celebration. Parents also have the opportunity to enroll their children in an optional private piano program conducted on-site.

THE PROGRAM

OUR SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM GIVES

STUDENTS A VIEW OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

LESSONS ON WORLD HABITATS AND OUR INTERNATIONAL

UNIT EXPOSE OUR STUDENTS TO A GLOBAL COMMUNITY.

Athletics

The PreK children participate in activities promoting gross motor skills through throwing, catching and bouncing balls, balancing, jumping and hopping. In Kindergarten, the athletic skills training program strengthens gross and fine motor skills, balance, agility and spatial awareness. Cooperative sports and games are introduced, which lead to our intramural and interscholastic teams in later years.

WILDWOOD COTTAGE:• Develops the whole child in mind, body and spirit

• Challenges children to achieve their personal best

• Sparks curiosity

• Encourages creativity

• Promotes self advocacy and independence

• Creates opportunities to explore, discover and grow

• Partners with parents to foster a love of learning and an appreciation for the gifts of others

To learn more about our program, call us at (203) 542-0035 or email [email protected]

The Stanwich School Greenwich’s co-ed PreK –12 independent school

257 Stanwich Road • Greenwich, CT 06830203-542-0035 • www.stanwichschool.org