Why School for Friends?

My daughter is getting ready to head to college soon, yet I can still recall the emotional conflict I had as a parent the first time she ran happily from me to her teacher instead of clinging to my arms in tears. I was both devastated and delighted at her burgeoning independence. And I remember another parent saying to me, “Wouldn't you rather that she feels loved and safe with her teachers than afraid to go to them?” and that really hit home as a new mom.

When I joined School for Friends, that memory came flooding back to me. I was once again reminded of what it feels like to be a new parent dropping your young child off to school for the first time. You want to know that they will be more than just safe — you want them to be known and seen and supported in every way possible. School for Friends does that better than any school I've ever worked in, spanning over 25 years in independent school education. It is a magical place, filled with care and warmth and kindness. The kind of community where everyone who enters it feels welcomed and loved.

We are more than daycare, we are more than school, we are where community, care, and curiosity meet.

I hope that you have the chance to experience the love, care, and professionalism that all our teachers bring to their work with children and feel what I felt all those years ago — a sense of peace knowing that your child is being so deeply cared for each day. Our educators nurture independence and autonomy, build empathy and emotional intelligence, promote purposeful play, and inspire imagination. The foundation that we build in these formative years deeply influences the adults our students become. They approach life with curiosity, purpose, kindness, and confidence. They are empowered to be peace makers.

We love partnering with families on this journey as your child develops resilience and independence, and we are grateful for the trust families give us. It is an honor.

Katie Gibson
Head of School