Many parents want more than a school—they want a place like Williamsburg Northside, where their children are not simply taught, but encouraged to explore their passions as they develop a strong academic foundation.
Founded in 1999, Williamsburg Northside Schools is comprised of three core programs. The Infant and Toddler Center, which moves to 70 Havemeyer Street this Fall, provides daycare and early childhood education up to age 2. The Preschool, located at 152 North 5th Street, encompasses the 2s and 3s program. The Pre-Kindergarten program is housed with the Lower School for K-4th grade at 299 North 7th Street, a new and beautiful location, which includes large terraces, a science lab, and a middle school-sized gym.
Though the schools are housed in different buildings, the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education unites them with its thoughtful and caring approach to education. Reggio Emilia emphasizes a child’s agency in the learning process—they are encouraged to explore what interests them, developing their passions and collaborative skills through project-based learning. Additionally, teachers might supply provocations to children to help stimulate interesting investigations.
“A core value and critical component to the mission of our school is to be respectful of children. We believe they are strong and capable in their own right,” says Gina Farrar, head of all the Northside Schools. Farrar began her career in education as math teacher at a New York independent school, and has a PhD in psychology, and more than 15 years of experience as a school administrator.
Classes are small, in order to maximize individual student attention. Within the Lower School, which encompasses K-4th grade (and next year, 5th grade), classes are generally no larger than 20 students. At the new 299 North 7th Street building, the classrooms are warm and welcoming, carefully arranged and curated by both the teachers and their students, as the Reggio Emilia philosophy believes that the environment is the third teacher.
“That’s a huge part of the Reggio Emilia philosophy,” says Teresa Smith, Northside’s admissions director. “It’s the romantic Italian [ideal]—children should be surrounded by beautiful things in organized spaces that are inspired.”
Williamsburg Northside is especially unique in its application of Reggio Emilia, famous in preschools and early childhood programs, to an elementary school setting.
Project work is incorporated into the curriculum in the Social Studies course, starting in Kindergarten.
“Usually the teacher spends a good bit of time observing the children and figuring out what they are interested in, so that they can make a project out of it,” Smith explains. For example, a 1st grade class might work through a unit on the “needs and wants of community” by choosing to study food and visiting an organic farm. As students grow older, enrichments are also added to their days—Pre-K students enjoy library time, art, PE, and music; Spanish and science are added in Kindergarten.
“Our goals are slightly different with different age groups…but we do want to challenge and inspire our children in our Lower School to really be excited about learning, and to delve deeply and learn to think abstractly and critically,” Farrar says.
The caring Reggio philosophy, combined with Northside’s individual focus on ensuring each child’s success, provides its students with the skills to achieve wherever they may go next. “I think what I love most is that children come through this program and end up going to a variety of different places, all being very successful,” Smith says.
What also remains constant, from infancy through 4th grade, is Northside’s warm community. Teachers from all three schools meet at least once per week, and look for opportunities to engage all of the programs with each other, such as a shared snack or Thanksgiving potlucks.
And, like the students, Northside parents have built their own vibrant support network.
“I started here a year ago, and the first day that school opened, the parents were just excited to see each other as the children,” Farrar says.
“The inspiration, the philosophy, the quality of the teaching staff, and how we maintain group sizes, those are the things that families are coming here for,” Smith says. “And also the environment—the environment is really important. Parents can see their child living here, five days a week in this beautiful classroom that looks like a little home set up just for them.”
To learn more about Williamsburg Northside Schools, visit willnorth.org.
