Little Gate
McGehee's Little Gate is a coeducational early childhood program that provides a Reggio Emilia inspired environment, with the child as the protagonist, collaborator and communicator; the environment at Little Gate serves as the third teacher and the design of the classrooms and space is focused to encourage encounters, interest and relationships; the teachers are the researchers and offer not only their expertise but continuous dialogue and discussion of the work of the children with the children; the children's learning process is documented to share with parents; and at Little Gate the parent is partner. Our parents participate and play an active role in their children's learning experience.
Philosophy
Our primary goal is to develop the whole child, intellectually and emotionally and hands-on learning is emphasized in our child-centered and Reggio Emilia inspired approach. Developing and expanding perceptual abilities, readiness skills, communications skills, and creative expressions, as well as gross and fine motor coordination are some of the areas in which your child will grow. Little Gate students learn through their play, their senses, and their shared experiences.
Enrollment
Enrollment is limited in order to maintain our student:teacher ratio of 7:1 or less.Parents are offered flexible schedules: half-days to full days, two, three, or five days a week from 8:00am to 3:00pm. Optional care is available before or after school. Healthy snacks and hot lunches are served daily.
Teachers
Our teachers are facilitators. They create and enhance environments where children build, collaborate, converse, experiment, and create. Teachers are sensitive to the needs of young children and provide thoughtful supervision and interaction. Professional development plays an important role for our teachers with regularly attended conferences and seminars.Their goal is to help develop the whole child - physically, emotionally and socially.
Parents
Our parents are our partners in the school especially as we embrace the Reggio Emilia approach as our inspiration and our parents become involved in the school's activities as often as possible.
Children
One important aspect of Reggio Emilia is the use of open ended materials in environments both inside and outside the classroom to promote individual growth and intellectual curiosity. Open ended materials inspire their creativity and so what may seem like an ordinary object to adults is not predefined in the mind of the child. A cork and popsicle stick may become a playground slide, rice may become ice cream and snowballs, styrofoam might be used to create a space station and so on. At Little Gate children are allowed to tap into their creativity and use the childlike vision an adult may not possess.
Little Gate students begin to develop independence, responsibility and self-confidence. A lot of time is spent playing because it is such an important part of the learning process for this age group.
With a curriculum base at Little Gate, children are introduced to language, math, science and social studies concepts through hands-on meaningful experiences.
Location
McGehee's Little Gate is part of our Garden District campus, located at 1538 Philip Street. Our location (near the CBD, the Crescent City Connection bridges and I-10) gives us the opportunity to serve the Greater New Orleans area.
Admission
For more information, please contact our Little Gate Director at (504) 523-9911. Parents and applicants for McGehee's Little Gate will need to tour, interview and pay a non-refundable application fee of $50. No testing for admission is required.
Parents who wish their daughter(s) to continue at the Louise S. McGehee School for Pre-Kindergarten - 12th grade education must formally apply and follow admissions procedures by contacting the Director of Pre-K and Kindergarten Admissions at (504) 561-1224.
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