ON CAMPUS
THE NEW JK VILLAGE OPENS DOORS TO MORE CONNECTIONS
O
ur youngest Cougars in Junior
for morning meetings, play time, group reading
Kindergarten joined the Collegiate
lessons and group projects. Positioned near
School community at the beginning of the
the south end of Nunnally Hall, the Village
year in a brand new JK Village.
incorporates the cherished JK meadow and playground, where students enjoy discovering
The Village, which was designed with the guidance
and connecting with nature and the outdoors. A
of teachers and constructed over the summer,
new central carpool drop-off and pickup unique
creates a space for JK students to gather in an
only to parents with JK students has also been
environment conducive to learning and exploring.
incorporated into the design. “What we’ve added
“Seven years ago, when our JK program began,
keeps the classrooms fluid to accommodate all the
the teachers were eager to find more ways to bring
activities the students do,” Mrs. Miller says. “It
together all of the classes,” explains Debbie Miller,
makes for a great learning environment, and it
Head of the Lower School. “Now, with the JK
will lend itself to lots of community building and
Village, there’s this little world where the children
interaction with teachers and children.”
can learn, play and get to know each other.” With the new Village, students are able to explore
4 SPARK | On Campus
That little world now features classrooms with
the avenues of their interests with peers from all
new furniture, carpeting, storage and educational
JK classes. “We have an amazing space here,” says
equipment, and part of the Village involves a
Tia Owen, a JK Teacher. “It’s a home, and we all
rotunda where the JK classes can join together
treat it like a home.”
