We are thrilled to partner with Coast Episcopal School for this post. The opinions are our own. We strive to provide information that local moms will like and trust.
Like many parents, I had mixed feelings when it came time to choose a school for my children. I know how important early childhood education is to prepare our “babies” for the real world, but that thought didn’t make ripping off the band-aid and sending them to school any easier. I am so grateful we found Coast Episcopal School because I can honestly say that my children look forward to school, and, as a parent, I look forward to sending them. Here are 5 reasons why I knew Coast Episcopal was the right choice for our family:
The Coast Episcopal community feels like family.
From the moment I laid eyes on the little yellow cottage that houses Toddler Town and the white picket fence that surrounds the Preschool, I knew I wanted to send my children to “Coast”. Beyond the story book appearance of the school exterior, my children and I felt at home from the moment we walked through the doors. The teachers and students are so much more than educators and classmates. They are an extended family that truly cares about each individual and their experience and education.
Coast provides the highest quality education and experience.
The faculty at Coast Episcopal is committed to providing the highest quality education and academic excellence in a loving, Christian environment. This isn’t just a statement on their website. It’s a mission that I see being fulfilled every school day. The smaller class sizes allow for more one on one and “individualized” education. The standards are high and proven to prepare students for higher education and life. They do this not just through educational curriculum but by preparing each student emotionally, spiritually, creatively and physically for academic and social excellence.
Coast provides an unrivaled continuity of care and education.
One of the biggest factors in choosing Coast Episcopal (after the quality of education and family feel) was the continuity of care and instruction that my children receive.
When we were choosing a school, my oldest child was a preschooler and my youngest was just over a year old. Students can begin as early as 18 months at Toddler Town, followed by Preschool and then Elementary School.
Being able to send my children to school together on similar schedules was a huge bonus for our family. As a stay-at-home mom, I chose to initially send our boys to the half day Toddler and Preschool programs to provide stability in their routines and then added the extended care Preschool and Kindergarten to keep schedules the same and allow myself more opportunity for part-time work. Friends who use the full-time care options for work love the programming available to their children in aftercare program.
I am touched seeing elementary students stop in Toddler Town and Preschool to give their former teachers hugs on orientation day. Knowing that our children are receiving personalized education and care from toddlerhood to teenage years on the same secure and beautiful campus was a huge relief.
I can attest to the personalized care and education both of my children receive at Coast Episcopal. We frequently receive text updates from their teachers, and both were able to receive early intervention for speech disorders after their teachers identified areas where they were struggling. I might add, not only did I miss some of these signs, but a previous evaluation at another facility had also missed the specific area of language processing one of our sons was struggling with. I’ll be forever grateful to Coast Episcopal for providing the support to ensure that our children succeed to the best of their abilities.
It’s fun to learn at Coast Episcopal through enrichment programs.
They set the bar high for education and good times at Coast Episcopal! In addition to fostering a creative learning environment, Coast offers enrichment through its Lagniappe programs, field trips and special events throughout the year. Lagniappe is a collection of after-school fine arts and interdisciplinary classes intended to broaden the student’s educational experience. The selection of classes offered varies from session to session. Lagniappe offers everything from private guitar and tennis lessons to dollhouse making and American Sign Language. Field trips throughout the year venture out to museums, pumpkin patches, and all the way out to the Appalachian trail. I’m particularly fond of the Mardi Gras parade the Preschool puts on every year and the Buddy Program they use to connect 5th graders and kindergartners as they navigate their path through the “big school”. The Toast to the Coast Gala is the ultimate date night event of the year with open bar, food tastings from over 30 local restaurants, live and silent auctions and dancing well past midnight. This fundraiser helps provide educational opportunities for the students.
Coast Episcopal fosters lifelong friendships and a love of learning.
It’s easy to get to know the Coast Episcopal community and make friends. Children and parents feel welcome, and the loving atmosphere fosters lifelong friendships along with a love of learning. Our children have so much fun at school that they beg to go to the aftercare program so they can spend more time with their friends. When your children yearn to go to school, it makes any mother’s heart happy. The tight-knit community is so welcoming and inclusive of all students and families, and there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year to get to know everyone outside of school.
My children have grown so much since starting at Coast Episcopal. Not just in size but in confidence and character. They’ve grown into brave and compassionate little boys. My rowdy little guys are excited to go to school every day and light up (and line up) when they see their teachers and friends. They’ve developed grit and determination to overcome speech challenges and received specialized attention to meet their learning goals. Their little spirits receive daily nourishment and tender loving care that they share with us when they come home. Most importantly, they are continuing to develop empathy, a love of learning and solid skills to successfully navigate the world outside of the classroom and playground. I’m grateful to have such a wonderful school to send my children to, and they’re delighted to be Coast Episcopal kids.
