Every day, a new adventure
Welcome to Dogwood, where exploration is our foremost teacher...where outdoor classrooms provide sensory-rich experiences...where the wonders of nature lead to new discoveries each day.
Our Director
Greetings and welcome to the Dogwood community! Thank you for your interest in learning more about our school.
At Dogwood, we are a play-based, primarily outdoor school. While we use Creative Curriculum, we also bring together a broad range of approaches and techniques from around the world, such as Waldorf, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Forest School. Children are different, and we provide an opportunity to meet the needs of all learners. Perhaps more importantly, we continuously evolve by researching approaches to learn and grow our program. We originally moved outdoors due to COVID out of necessity. We embraced the outdoor setting and innovated to create a wonderful educational experience that went beyond what we could do indoors. We are now an outdoor school by choice.
Have a look around, and please reach out to me with any questions. I look forward to connecting in the future.
Lisa
Welcome!
Lisa Robbins
About our Director
I've been an educator for 33 years now as a teacher and administrator in both public and private schools. I have also taught classes on a variety of early childhood topics to teachers throughout the US.
My undergrad degree was in Early Childhood Education from William Paterson University. I also have two masters, one is an Ed.M. from Columbia University and my second is an MA in Special Education from LIU. I’ve also done post-grad work at Bank Street College. My studies included visits to schools in Australia, New Zealand, and England to study early literacy approaches. I’m also a certified Montessori Teacher.
My family. Married 26 years to Jason and have six children ages 16-25. So yes, I get the craziness and stress of raising a family!
Stay grounded, be grateful, and try to connect each day.
Our approach
Our mission is to develop a lifelong love of learning in each child
The Philosophy
Integrated, blended approach using practices from Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emalia, and others.
Hands-on, experiential emphasizing nature and outdoor classrooms.
Continuously evolving to improve though research and experimentation.
The Teacher
Understanding and respect for each childs individuality - their special gifts, natural interests, unique personality, and learning style.
Build on these to create fun, enriching learning experiences.
The Environment
A home-like environment which promotes emotional security where children feel safe to explore.
Natural and engaging classroom materials to promote curiosity and exploration.
FAQs
What programs do you offer?
We offer a traditional preschool program which follows Chester’s public school calendar along with with a separate summer camp program.
What ages do you serve?
2 year olds to 6 year olds.
What are your hours?
We operate from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM during the school year offering both half day and full day options.