Coed Preschool - Garrison Forest School, Inc.
Source: http://www.gfs.org/academics/early-childhood-education/coed-preschool
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:22
Coed Preschool - Garrison Forest School, Inc.
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This is where your child's academic adventures begin! Welcoming boys and girls from 2-years-old through PreK.
The Preschool at Garrison Forest is a truly special place, from our dedicated teachers and the amazing 110-acre campus to the strong curriculum that provides a critical foundation for your child. Our unique position as one division of a school that extends through Lower School and Middle School to an excellent college preparatory Upper School means we can offer an educational program for young children that takes full advantage of the richness of the school as a whole, all while the development of each and every student is being nurtured. The Preschool at GFS honors individual needs and celebrates the joy of learning that we find in each of our students.
Schedule a tour today:
Contact our Admission Office at admission@gfs.org or 410-559-3111!
Did you know that 90% of a child’s brain development happens before the age of 5?
This is the time to invest in your child’s development and future success, and The Preschool at Garrison Forest is the perfect place for them to learn, grow and thrive.
Our teachers share a love and passion for early childhood education, and are truly dedicated to creating engaging learning environments based on best practices and current research in serving the needs of our community’s youngest learners.
Our idyllic, 110-acre campus is the perfect place for young learners to explore, climb, discover, learn and grow! It includes several age-appropriate playgrounds, a pond and pier, two barns and riding/polo arenas, indoor and outdoor fields, gardens, and even a chicken coop.
Being a part of the broader community means frequent interactions with older students who become role models and attendance at campus-wide events and celebrations.
We believe in hands-on, sensory-rich, playful, joyful, cooperative learning that promotes respectful and engaging interaction to build the foundation for lifelong learning.
Program Overview
We offer a 5-day, full-day (8:00 AM-3:00 PM) program, with the same two teachers in each classroom each day.
Mornings are time for academics, with a focus on early literacy, math, and social-emotional skills with a multisensory approach.
In the afternoon, enrichment experiences are led by student interest (topics may include cooking, yoga, dance, building, outdoor adventures etc.).
Special-area classes are taught by the same faculty who teach in our Lower School:
Twos: Music and PE
Threes: Music, PE, Spanish, Library
PreK: Music, PE, Spanish, Library, Art and STEM
Our Preschoolers have full access to our campus and are included in many campus-wide activities.
The school day begins at 8:00 AM, with the earliest drop-off at 7:30 AM; aftercare is available until 6:00 PM (additional fees apply). Our Preschool follows the academic calendar, and we also offer a robust summer program with many options for students 3 and up (additional fees apply).
We welcome you to see the day-to-day for yourself where one helpful gesture and one cheer come together to build the relationships that make the Preschool at Garrison Forest an experience like no other.
Twos
THREES
PreKindergarten
Specials
Aftercare
PROGRAM DETAILS:
Twos
Must be 2 years old by September 1
Cost
Without aftercare (8:00 AM-3:00 PM): $21,185 per year (academic year, late August-early June)
With aftercare included (8:00 AM-6:00 PM): $24,785 per year (academic year, late August-early June)
In the Garrison Forest Preschool Twos classroom, our teachers nurture each child’s developing personality and interests. They provide numerous opportunities for exploration and discovery, guiding the transition from solitary and parallel play to cooperative play. The classroom is a secure, stimulating and caring community where the children are supported in their quests to try new activities and experiences and helped to comfortably follow routines with increased independence and responsibility.
They enjoy hands-on activities and projects, free play with materials designed to engage their interests, Circle Time, snack and gross motor play on the playground. Students attend PE and Music classes which offer additional opportunities for physical engagement, singing, music-making and creativity. From nursery rhymes, poetry, finger-plays, and Caldecott Medal children’s books to playdough and the sensory table, time in the Twos class serves to reinforce and develop the cognitive, social and emotional gifts of each child.
PROGRAM DETAILS: Threes
Must be 3 years old and potty-trained by September 1
Cost:
Without aftercare (8:00 AM-3:00 PM): $21,185 per year (academic year, late August-early June)
With aftercare included (8:00 AM-6:00 PM): $24,785 per year (academic year, late August-early June)
In the Garrison Forest Preschool Threes classrooms, the children continue to explore their world and growing independence as part of a secure, stimulating and caring community where respect for peers, adults and materials is nurtured. The children learn to comfortably follow routines with increased independence and responsibility, enjoying an enriching classroom environment that is enhanced by Specials classes in Music, Gym and Library.
The curricula nurture the inquisitive nature of young children. With a multi-sensory approach, they are encouraged to speak, listen, comprehend, follow directions, and develop a longer attention span. Stories, poetry, songs and related activities enhance vocabulary and expressive language skills, reinforce the ability to classify and sequence, nurture an appreciation for literature and introduce print and phonemic awareness. Fine and gross motor skills are developed as precursors to writing. Planned and spontaneous experiences foster the development of mathematical concepts such as spatial relations, shapes, patterns, counting, numbers and measurement. Through hands-on activities, skills are developed with a true enthusiasm for learning. The activities all serve to reinforce our academic, social and emotional goals for the children.
PROGRAM DETAILS: Pre-Kindergarten
Must be 4 years old by September 1
Cost:
Without aftercare (8:00 AM-3:00 PM): $21,185 per year (academic year, late August-early June)
With aftercare included (8:00 AM-6:00 PM): $24,785 per year (academic year, late August-early June)
The teachers have specific classroom goals, and central to those goals is the premise that each student should be supported and challenged as an individual, participating in small group instruction that is flexible and personalized. The Language Arts program focuses on speaking and listening skills, reading readiness, writing readiness and oral comprehension. Vocabulary development and phonological and phonemic awareness are important aspects of the program. The children are helped to follow multi-step directions, comprehend oral stories and participate in group discussions. Activities that develop gross and fine motor skills prepare the way for letter and word formation. Children are exposed to more specific reading skills as they are individually ready, and all students are encouraged to value and understand the place of literacy in their world.
In Math, the children develop a conceptual understanding of the way numbers work. Along with Smartboard technology, the children use numerous manipulative objects as they participate in activities with classifying, sequencing, patterning and predicting, areas that are important to the development of logical thought. Number awareness and seriation are promoted in activities in which the children count, measure, practice one-to-one correspondence and learn to recognize numerals.
Specials classes in Music, Gym, Science, Library, Spanish and Art support and enhance the classroom goals.
Specials classes in science, art, music, library, physical education and Spanish are taught by full-time specialists, typically in dedicated classrooms, labs, and studio space.
Beginning in the Twos class, all students enjoy P.E. classes with an exceptional teacher who is an expert in the physical education and development of young children. Our Preschool students improve their stamina and physical coordination in a state-of-the-art gym, a Preschool gym, or on turf and grass fields.
Our separate Preschool and Lower School Library houses 8,000 volumes and 35 subscriptions for young readers. It is home to weekly story times for students in our Threes and Pre-K classes.
Our vibrant music program includes weekly classes that incorporate rhythm, rhyme, singing, experiences with instruments and participation in a musical play for parents.
Science lessons focus on biology and the natural sciences that capture the interest of young children so well. Learning about spiders may involve a hunt for webs outside. Exploring plant growth can include forcing bulbs and charting their growth. Most importantly, everything is fun!
Our aftercare program is available until 6:00 PM for families who need additional coverage. Children remain in the Preschool and enjoy outdoor time, quiet play, reading and other activities as an extension of the school day. See “Programs by Age” above for cost information.
While the Preschool program follows the academic calendar, we do offer options for summer programming for our littlest learners. This allows families to essentially create a full year of coverage. Pricing varies for summer programs, and offerings are usually announced by the first of the year.
Click here for our Summer at Garrison Forest webpage.
Meet Your Preschool Administrative Team
SANDI UEHLINGER
Head of Early Childhood Education
(410) 559-3220 |
sandiuehlinger@gfs.org
CHRIS SHRIVER
Preschool Administrative Assistant
(410) 559-3221 |
christineshriver@gfs.org
Shondra CowLinG
Lower School Counselor / Director of Counseling
(410) 559-3290 |
shondracowling@gfs.org
Skip To Main Content
This is where your child's academic adventures begin! Welcoming boys and girls from 2-years-old through PreK.
The Preschool at Garrison Forest is a truly special place, from our dedicated teachers and the amazing 110-acre campus to the strong curriculum that provides a critical foundation for your child. Our unique position as one division of a school that extends through Lower School and Middle School to an excellent college preparatory Upper School means we can offer an educational program for young children that takes full advantage of the richness of the school as a whole, all while the development of each and every student is being nurtured. The Preschool at GFS honors individual needs and celebrates the joy of learning that we find in each of our students.
Schedule a tour today:
Contact our Admission Office at admission@gfs.org or 410-559-3111!
Did you know that 90% of a child’s brain development happens before the age of 5?
This is the time to invest in your child’s development and future success, and The Preschool at Garrison Forest is the perfect place for them to learn, grow and thrive.
Our teachers share a love and passion for early childhood education, and are truly dedicated to creating engaging learning environments based on best practices and current research in serving the needs of our community’s youngest learners.
Our idyllic, 110-acre campus is the perfect place for young learners to explore, climb, discover, learn and grow! It includes several age-appropriate playgrounds, a pond and pier, two barns and riding/polo arenas, indoor and outdoor fields, gardens, and even a chicken coop.
Being a part of the broader community means frequent interactions with older students who become role models and attendance at campus-wide events and celebrations.
We believe in hands-on, sensory-rich, playful, joyful, cooperative learning that promotes respectful and engaging interaction to build the foundation for lifelong learning.
Program Overview
We offer a 5-day, full-day (8:00 AM-3:00 PM) program, with the same two teachers in each classroom each day.
Mornings are time for academics, with a focus on early literacy, math, and social-emotional skills with a multisensory approach.
In the afternoon, enrichment experiences are led by student interest (topics may include cooking, yoga, dance, building, outdoor adventures etc.).
Special-area classes are taught by the same faculty who teach in our Lower School:
Twos: Music and PE
Threes: Music, PE, Spanish, Library
PreK: Music, PE, Spanish, Library, Art and STEM
Our Preschoolers have full access to our campus and are included in many campus-wide activities.
The school day begins at 8:00 AM, with the earliest drop-off at 7:30 AM; aftercare is available until 6:00 PM (additional fees apply). Our Preschool follows the academic calendar, and we also offer a robust summer program with many options for students 3 and up (additional fees apply).
We welcome you to see the day-to-day for yourself where one helpful gesture and one cheer come together to build the relationships that make the Preschool at Garrison Forest an experience like no other.
Twos
THREES
PreKindergarten
Specials
Aftercare
PROGRAM DETAILS:
Twos
Must be 2 years old by September 1
Cost
Without aftercare (8:00 AM-3:00 PM): $21,185 per year (academic year, late August-early June)
With aftercare included (8:00 AM-6:00 PM): $24,785 per year (academic year, late August-early June)
In the Garrison Forest Preschool Twos classroom, our teachers nurture each child’s developing personality and interests. They provide numerous opportunities for exploration and discovery, guiding the transition from solitary and parallel play to cooperative play. The classroom is a secure, stimulating and caring community where the children are supported in their quests to try new activities and experiences and helped to comfortably follow routines with increased independence and responsibility.
They enjoy hands-on activities and projects, free play with materials designed to engage their interests, Circle Time, snack and gross motor play on the playground. Students attend PE and Music classes which offer additional opportunities for physical engagement, singing, music-making and creativity. From nursery rhymes, poetry, finger-plays, and Caldecott Medal children’s books to playdough and the sensory table, time in the Twos class serves to reinforce and develop the cognitive, social and emotional gifts of each child.
PROGRAM DETAILS: Threes
Must be 3 years old and potty-trained by September 1
Cost:
Without aftercare (8:00 AM-3:00 PM): $21,185 per year (academic year, late August-early June)
With aftercare included (8:00 AM-6:00 PM): $24,785 per year (academic year, late August-early June)
In the Garrison Forest Preschool Threes classrooms, the children continue to explore their world and growing independence as part of a secure, stimulating and caring community where respect for peers, adults and materials is nurtured. The children learn to comfortably follow routines with increased independence and responsibility, enjoying an enriching classroom environment that is enhanced by Specials classes in Music, Gym and Library.
The curricula nurture the inquisitive nature of young children. With a multi-sensory approach, they are encouraged to speak, listen, comprehend, follow directions, and develop a longer attention span. Stories, poetry, songs and related activities enhance vocabulary and expressive language skills, reinforce the ability to classify and sequence, nurture an appreciation for literature and introduce print and phonemic awareness. Fine and gross motor skills are developed as precursors to writing. Planned and spontaneous experiences foster the development of mathematical concepts such as spatial relations, shapes, patterns, counting, numbers and measurement. Through hands-on activities, skills are developed with a true enthusiasm for learning. The activities all serve to reinforce our academic, social and emotional goals for the children.
PROGRAM DETAILS: Pre-Kindergarten
Must be 4 years old by September 1
Cost:
Without aftercare (8:00 AM-3:00 PM): $21,185 per year (academic year, late August-early June)
With aftercare included (8:00 AM-6:00 PM): $24,785 per year (academic year, late August-early June)
The teachers have specific classroom goals, and central to those goals is the premise that each student should be supported and challenged as an individual, participating in small group instruction that is flexible and personalized. The Language Arts program focuses on speaking and listening skills, reading readiness, writing readiness and oral comprehension. Vocabulary development and phonological and phonemic awareness are important aspects of the program. The children are helped to follow multi-step directions, comprehend oral stories and participate in group discussions. Activities that develop gross and fine motor skills prepare the way for letter and word formation. Children are exposed to more specific reading skills as they are individually ready, and all students are encouraged to value and understand the place of literacy in their world.
In Math, the children develop a conceptual understanding of the way numbers work. Along with Smartboard technology, the children use numerous manipulative objects as they participate in activities with classifying, sequencing, patterning and predicting, areas that are important to the development of logical thought. Number awareness and seriation are promoted in activities in which the children count, measure, practice one-to-one correspondence and learn to recognize numerals.
Specials classes in Music, Gym, Science, Library, Spanish and Art support and enhance the classroom goals.
Specials classes in science, art, music, library, physical education and Spanish are taught by full-time specialists, typically in dedicated classrooms, labs, and studio space.
Beginning in the Twos class, all students enjoy P.E. classes with an exceptional teacher who is an expert in the physical education and development of young children. Our Preschool students improve their stamina and physical coordination in a state-of-the-art gym, a Preschool gym, or on turf and grass fields.
Our separate Preschool and Lower School Library houses 8,000 volumes and 35 subscriptions for young readers. It is home to weekly story times for students in our Threes and Pre-K classes.
Our vibrant music program includes weekly classes that incorporate rhythm, rhyme, singing, experiences with instruments and participation in a musical play for parents.
Science lessons focus on biology and the natural sciences that capture the interest of young children so well. Learning about spiders may involve a hunt for webs outside. Exploring plant growth can include forcing bulbs and charting their growth. Most importantly, everything is fun!
Our aftercare program is available until 6:00 PM for families who need additional coverage. Children remain in the Preschool and enjoy outdoor time, quiet play, reading and other activities as an extension of the school day. See “Programs by Age” above for cost information.
While the Preschool program follows the academic calendar, we do offer options for summer programming for our littlest learners. This allows families to essentially create a full year of coverage. Pricing varies for summer programs, and offerings are usually announced by the first of the year.
Click here for our Summer at Garrison Forest webpage.
Meet Your Preschool Administrative Team
SANDI UEHLINGER
Head of Early Childhood Education
(410) 559-3220 |
sandiuehlinger@gfs.org
CHRIS SHRIVER
Preschool Administrative Assistant
(410) 559-3221 |
christineshriver@gfs.org
Shondra CowLinG
Lower School Counselor / Director of Counseling
(410) 559-3290 |
shondracowling@gfs.org