Gaia continuously restructures physical spaces and in keeping with the conservation of Earth’s resources, classrooms are bright and cheerful with natural light and fresh air.
The airy and spacious art courtyard incorporates art, collage, 3D construction, a romp and roll gym, carpentry, water play, sandpit, block play, a place for dance, yoga, movement, concerts, and lunch.
In bare feet and unbroken contact with the earth and sky, children and staff work, play, and explore a sheltered ‘discovery garden’ that contains over a dozen species of animal, bird, insect, and plant life, ensuring that life’s discoveries are made in an authentic and natural environment. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers are not used to encourage a green environment. Gaia also shares an empathetic connection with CUPA and is committed to the rehabilitation of animals thereby allowing children to witness and understand this process first-hand.
Gaia has an extensive borrowing library of close to 12,000+ age-appropriate books, curated and collected meticulously over the past 15 years. We focus on developing strong reading habits in our children and have adopted a daily D.E.A.R. approach (Drop Everything and Read) to encourage children to become independent readers using Reggio’s approach.
