The Goddard School of Concord has celebrated its local debut with a week of community awareness and anti-bullying activities which culminate Saturday with a grand opening event.
The preschool and childcare center, which enrolls children from 6 weeks old to 6 years old, opened last month and has about 25 students currently enrolled.
The center is one of about 370 across the country and among several in this area, said Mandy Cash, who owns the only Concord franchise with her husband, John Cash.
“Our philosophy is learning through play,” Cash said. “We are big believers in children learning through (their) interests.”
She added that the school hires teachers with backgrounds in early childhood education or who have degrees in the field, and the teachers are hands-on, designing lesson plans that meet the needs of each child.
“Finding those things that excite the individual child makes learning fun,” Cash said. “Instead of knowing they’re going to work with the children on learning to write names, (the teachers) might pull out shaving cream (for students) to learn how to write in it. They find creative ways to make learning fun for the children.”
This week, the Concord franchise and the Goddard Schools around the nation have celebrated Community Games, which is focused on anti-bullying and community awareness, said Teri Harris, education director for the center.
The school has provided parents with information on bullying, and there is an electronic book on the Goddard School’s website about the topic, Harris said. Anti-bullying will continue to be a focus of the school, she added.
“It helps children to be kind, respectful and understand each other’s differences,” Cash said.
To celebrate Community Games, Goddard also received visits from local firemen and police officers, students wrote thank-you notes to soldiers, and the school created a school flag, Cash said.
“Giving back to the community is a big focus throughout the week,” Cash said.
The school will also give back with a donation to the Humane Society of Concord & Greater Cabarrus County at its grand opening Saturday.
In addition to the donation, teachers from Goddard School will be at the event conducting art projects and games with children. There will also be local businesses there.
The school’s current families and the public are invited to attend, Cash said.
“It will be a great opportunity to see our school, meet our teachers and families that are already enrolled and learn about businesses in the community,” Cash said. “We are just really excited to be a part of the community.”
The event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow, at the school, located at 10080 Edison Square Drive N.W. in Concord.
For more information about the center, call 704-947-9011.
Contact reporter Jessica Groover: 704-789-9152
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