The addition of the Williamsburg Northside School and Infant & Toddler Center, located at 70 Havemeyer Street, to Williamsburg Northside Preschool is another chapter in our 20-year history of serving the Williamsburg Community and the needs of its families. In May of 1999 the director of a school for special education students owned by MetSchools, Inc. was faced with finding childcare for her own impending family. This inspired the creation of Williamsburg Northside Preschool. This preschool/daycare classroom was opened in at 70 Havemeyer Street with just four children enrolled. By 2001 four classes were opened and there was an additional 80 families on a waiting list. To meet the needs of all of those families, Williamsburg Northside Preschool moved to its current location at 152 N.5th Street in May of 2002.
Since then our school has grown and matured along with our students. At our N.5th Street building we offer a rich preschool experience, inspired by the teachings of Reggio Emilia as well as enrichments during the school day and afterschool programs. And on the 1st floor at 70 Havemeyer Street we have opened a nurturing and stimulating Infant & Toddler Center. The Williamsburg neighborhood is thriving and full of young families seeking quality educational options for their children. Again, we continue to do our best to meet those needs and so, Williamsburg Northside School is born.
At WNS, WNP and the Infant & Toddler Center we pride ourselves on the creation of an integrated and multi-age community. We are growing, but currently we meet the needs of students and their families from the age of 3 months through 5 years old. In future years we will offer our programs through grade 5. Our schools are housed in two separate buildings. Currently, our preschool programs for 2’s and 3’s fill our building at 152 North 5th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn while our Infants, Toddlers, 4’s and 5’s can be found at our newest location at 70 Havemeyer Street, just 2 blocks away. At WNS you will find our Infant & Toddler Center on the first floor as well as a well-equipped outdoor space behind the building. Currently, the second floor is where the Library, Pre-kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten classrooms are found. Our Gym and Atelier are found on the third floor. Enrichment rooms and multi-purpose rooms can be found throughout, offering flexibility to service providers and teachers.
The Reggio Emilia Approach
