Lawrence Community Nursery School

The Lawrence Community Nursery School is the second oldest cooperative preschool in the United States. It was founded in 1948 by a group of parents committed to providing the community with a cooperative interracial nursery school, and continues to provide Lawrence with  a preschool education that is cooperative, interacial, low cost, diverse, accessible, and inclusive. LCNS will not discriminate based on race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

 

LCNS is a play-based preschool where children learn about the world through developmentally appropriate hands-on activities. The main emphasis of our program is social/emotional development—the process of learning to communicate and interact positively and effectively with adults and peers. LCNS utilizes Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) as a framework for teaching the skills children need to navigate peer interactions. Our cooperative atmosphere strengthens connections within the teachers and families, and lends cohesion to all parts of the child’s life.  LCNS also facilitates the acquisition of whole concepts, rather than isolated skills. We focus on receptive and expressive language, creativity, dramatic and constructive play, and large and small motor development. Daily activities engage children through language, art, sensory play, math, science, and knowledge of the world around us. Our goal is to provide a preschool education that:

 

• Fosters social-emotional development of all students, allowing children to share their feelings, and validating those feelings in a atmosphere of trust and respect.

• Models, teaches, and practices empathy and respect in all interactions

• Provides tools for peer interactions and redirection to preferred actions

• Upholds every person’s right to autonomy, through giving tools to speak up for one’s own autonomy, modeling and teaching consent.

• Includes parents in all aspects of their student’s education, and provide peaceful parenting tools to be used at school and home

• Works together with our community of families to provide an environment where people of all religions, races, sexual orientations, and gender identities are respected and diversity is celebrated.

• Teaches our children how to stand up for what they believe in

• Takes care of our environment through gardening, recycling, and using sustainable items.

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KTWU's Sunflower Journeys Episode About LCNS