In the morning program, children have weekly Creative Movement, Sign Language, and Music (5’s class). Music class is every other week in the 3’s, and for the 4’s classes. Music/Art is weekly for a third of the year. Our art specialist works with the 3’s and 5’s who stay for the aftercare program.
In addition to our specialists, the classroom teachers offer weekly cooking/baking experiences. We also have a garden for planting and harvesting our own food.
ArtElise Aney guides children as they explore colors, shapes, and composition in our Art Studio. She provides them with different media and topics to aid in their expression, critical thinking, and experimentation. During each session the children will not only gain confidence in their own abilities, they will gain an appreciation and insight regarding the abilities and viewpoints of those around them. Throughout the program Elise will work to impart each child with the independence and tools they need to translate their emotions, stories, experiences, and ideas creatively whether it be working independently or in collaboration with their peers.
MusicBret Ellerton combines movement with sound exploration as a means to teaching the children the basics of rhythm, pitch, tempo, volume, and song writing. Children not only create their own songs and recordings, but also explore various instruments from around the world and make their own.
https://soundcloud.com/newdiscoveryschoolmusic
Marissa Baratian has been teaching dance and movement for young children since 2007. She studied many dance forms as a child including Ballet, Tap and Jazz and as an adult West African, Polynesian and Cuban among others. She has studied Creative Dance and Brain Dance with Anne Green Gilbert and Terry Goetz and Creative Movement with Eric Johnson. She has been a member of Dance Educators Association of Washington and National Dance Educators Organization and values attending conferences for continuing education. Marissa received a BS in Family Community Services from Michigan State University in 1992. She has worked with children in various settings ever since and is especially grateful for her experience gained as a preschool teacher from 1997-2014 at New Discovery School.
American Sign LanguageNicki Mason teaches the children basic ASL signs and phrases through games and stories. Learning ASL is fun, taps into the natural kinesthesia of young children and strengthens cognitive skills. It is also a great way to gain cultural awareness and acceptance of diversity.
Join Hope for an afternoon of storytelling, improv games and acting. Hope has been teaching preschool for over ten years and performs improv regularly at CSz Seattle. She has combined her love for teaching, comedy, storytelling and acting for this Drama Club. Your child will play silly improv games, act out stories and work as a group to create a short play. At the end of the session they will perform their short play for an audience (you 😜).This club is not only fun, but will help expand your child’s confidence, collaboration skills and comfort level speaking in front of others.
Alex Grennan: After graduating with my BAS in Early Childhood Education from North Seattle College in 2019 I decided to continue my education and am now a proud UW alum with a Master of Library and Information Science. I am so grateful to apply my education toward and learn daily from the New Discovery School community. I love using the environment and emerging interests to raise questions and gather information alongside children.
Before coming to NDS I spent 8 years teaching in a variety of early learning centers throughout Seattle, as well as teaching American Sign Language and leading summer camps. I enjoy exploring the outdoors almost as much as I love books and all things library.
