Cary Town Councilwoman Gale Adcock reads to children at the opening of The Grove School. CaryCitizen photos by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC- After months of preparation, The Grove School held their grand opening Thursday Feb 25th. An initiative of Knowledge Universe, this preschool in Cary and another in Plano, Texas are models for future Grove Schools across the country.

Their philosophy was summed up by Director of Operations Laura Como -

“What kind of adults would you want your children to be?”

The Grove School puts a focus on literacy, smart use of technology and mindfulness of the earth and environment. After two years of market research, Knowledge Universe was ready to bring this concept to market and picked Cary for our high education level and income.

ECO-MATERIALS

Scott Andersen, Head of School, gave us a tour of the facility during the open house. The building is constructed of eco-friendly materials and many plaques on the walls describe how these materials are sustainable. The space is light and airy, with a great use of wood and soothing colors.

TECHNOLOGY

The wow factor came when the Smart Boards in each classroom were revealed.

These marvels of technology allow the user to “touch” displays projected on the wall, speak to it, move parts and truly interact with a computerized lesson to achieve results. These interactions can then be uploaded and emailed to parents.

Technology in the classroom is very 21st century at the Grove School.

KIDS GROWING FOOD

The outdoor area has a small green house that contains lettuce and broccoli and is used to teach lessons on growing and enjoying organic vegetables. Seedlings were planted in beds nearby with herbs like chives and rosemary.

Everyone knows kids like to dig in the dirt, and here they definitely get the chance!

GOVERNMENT LEADERS

The Grove School has also reached out to the community, and government leaders were on hand Thursday. Councilwoman Gale Adcock read stories to some of the preschoolers and Councilman Erv Portman and State representative Nelson Dollar conducted the official Ribbon cutting.

Look for more innovations as they roll out this concept to other schools across the nation. The Grove School in Cary is likely to prove a laboratory for young childhood education in Wake County and beyond.