There are birthdays — and then there are milestones worth celebrating!
This August, The Goddard School of South Kingstown is celebrating 20 years of helping local children learn, grow and discover the world around them right here at South County Commons.
The school first opened its doors in August 2006, beginning what would become two decades of early childhood education and countless memories for South County families.
A South Kingstown Story From the Beginning
The story behind the school is a local one.
On-site owners Gina and Clay both grew up in South Kingstown and attended local schools before eventually returning to Rhode Island to raise their own family.
In 2004, they began working toward opening The Goddard School of South Kingstown, and two years later, in August 2006, they welcomed their first families through the doors.
Twenty years later, they’re still here.
Over the years, many children have entered The Goddard School as infants, toddlers and preschoolers before eventually heading off to kindergarten and the next chapter of their education.
And while a lot can change in two decades, the school’s focus on creating a nurturing environment where children can learn through curiosity, exploration and play has remained at the heart of what they do.
Learning, Playing and Growing
Today, The Goddard School of South Kingstown offers programs designed for children from infancy through Pre-K, with classrooms and learning experiences tailored to different stages of early childhood development.
The school’s educational approach encourages children to explore their natural curiosity while developing the social, emotional and academic foundations they’ll carry with them as they grow.
The South Kingstown location also offers enrichment opportunities including American Sign Language, music appreciation, secondary languages, yoga and mindfulness, along with outdoor play and other activities that make learning fun.
But perhaps the best measure of 20 years isn’t found in a curriculum or classroom.
It’s in the generations of South County families who have walked through those doors.
20 Years of Being Part of the Commons
For South County Commons, milestones like this one are especially meaningful.
Our businesses aren’t simply names on storefronts. Over time, they become part of the community around them — places where people celebrate milestones, build relationships and, in this case, quite literally grow up.
For 20 years, Gina, Clay and The Goddard School team have been part of that community, welcoming local families and helping some of South County’s youngest residents get their start.
As another school year approaches, we’re especially happy to celebrate this milestone with one of our longtime South County Commons businesses.
Congratulations to Gina, Clay and the entire team at The Goddard School of South Kingstown on 20 years!
Here’s to the thousands of little moments, big milestones and first days that have filled the past two decades — and to all those still to come.