Campus School

Sweet Briar College maintains a Campus School for two purposes: to provide a laboratory setting for college students to augment their studies in Early Childhood Education and Child Development, and to provide quality, developmentally appropriate early education for 4 and 5-year old children from Sweet Briar and the local community.

Each semester the children in the Sweet Briar Campus School enjoy the work and efforts of approximately 18-20 students enrolled in college courses in Education and Child Development. The students are supervised and mentored by college faculty and Campus School teachers. It is a unique and special learning environment for all involved!

The School offers the following:

• School (8:30 am - 1:00 pm)
• Preschool for 4 year-olds
• Kindergarten for 5-year olds
• Afternoon Program (1:00 pm - 5:30 pm), 4 and 5-year olds from morning classes

Our Philosophy

We at the Sweet Briar College Campus School are committed to developmentally appropriate practice in facilitating the learning and growth of the whole child in all areas of development: physical, emotional, social, and cognitive.

We are dedicated to positive child guidance methods that enhance self-esteem, self-reliance and initiative in each child.

We strive to develop and celebrate the unique gifts of each child while helping each child celebrate and value differences in others.

We believe firmly in the value of a child-centered, play-centered curriculum with an opportunity-rich environment for the child to explore and investigate.

We believe in creating a print-rich, language-rich environment that creatively encourages the development of both receptive and expressive language.

We believe children need our supportive, positive guidance in learning effective means of solving problems and interfacing socially with others.

We believe that the world is our classroom and take many field trips on and off campus throughout the school year so children can learn through real experiences. We also endeavor to bring many resources availabe on campus and in the community into our classroom.

We believe that as the child's advocates at school and at home work together, the stage can truly be set for the child to reach his or her fullest potential for growth and development.