The Gardner School of Lincolnshire
Nationally Accredited Through NAEYC With Curriculum-Based Learning
Our learning atmosphere at The Gardner School of Lincolnshire includes a careful blend of traditional and Montessori educational styles, centered around curriculum-based lessons, child-directed activities, and structured play. Your child will have access to Creative Curriculum, World of Wonders Curriculum, and Learning without Tears Curriculum. We are proud to have achieved the honor of national accreditation through the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAEYC).
Safe and Secure Environment With Two Security Checkpoints
The Gardner School of Lincolnshire values safety and ensures a secure environment with its multiple security checkpoints, giving parents peace of mind.
Now enrolling! The Gardner School is thrilled to join the northern suburban Chicago community of Lincolnshire with our seventh preschool in the greater Chicago area. More than a traditional preschool or child care facility, The Gardner School of Lincolnshire offers year-round full- and part-time child care, with early childhood education programs for children 6 weeks old through 5 years. The school’s stimulating and educationally-engineered new space is designed to meet the needs of our most important client—the children. Our lead teachers at The Gardner School of Lincolnshire are highly-qualified and have a passion for helping young children learn and thrive. We are excited to bring our award-winning early childhood program to Lincolnshire families.
School Features
- Academically-focused learning with research-based curriculum
- NAEYC Accredited
- Real-time updates through the parent communications app with photos, nap and feeding times, school announcements
- Clean, safe and secure environment with two security checkpoints
- Inviting classrooms with four-year degreed lead preschool teachers
- Delicious, healthy meals in the Kids’ Café
- On-site supplemental enrichment classes (sports, music and arts, computers, foreign language) in our enrichment studio and computer lab
- Open-door policy for daily check-ins
- Expansive indoor and outdoor playscapes
- Private nursing room
Academically-focused Programs
Camp Gardner
Infants
Pre-K
Preschool
Toddlers
Twos
Kindergarten
Enrichment Classes
Amazing Athletes
BeSmart Computers
Cooking
Dance
Gymnastics
Karate
Music
Lincolnshire Campus Leadership
Sarah Smith
School Director
How long have you been with TGS?
I have been with TGS since January of 2017.
Roles Served with TGS:
I started as the Enrichment Coordinator and then served as the Assistant Director at TGS Northbrook. Currently, I’m the Executive Director for TGS Lincolnshire.
What is your educational background?
I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Child LIfe from The University of Iowa and a Master Degree in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University Chicago.
What makes you laugh about kids?
I love how honest kids are. I always joke with parents that I am going to write a book containing all the funny things I hear the children say throughout the day.
What is your favorite part of the day at TGS?
I love being at the front desk when the children arrive and leave, especially Monday mornings. I love when the children stop to tell me about their weekend or what their favorite part of the school day was. Interacting with the families is one of the main reasons I love working in early childhood education.
What do you love most about TGS?
I love that TGS is more than just a child care center. It’s an actual school for the children and I know they are learning so much each day. I also love getting to interact with the families on a daily basis.
What is your fondest memory of TGS thus far?
Our Spring Fling and Graduation program in May was one of my favorite memories at TGS so far!
What is the funniest thing you have ever heard come out of the mouth of a TGS Student?
My first week at TGS I walked into one of the Exploration classrooms in the afternoon and saw a little girl standing at the window with a huge smile on her face. I asked her what she was looking at and she took a huge sniff of the air and told me that she could smell her daddy coming.
What inspires you?
I love to be a role model for the children I work with. They are the reason that I fell in love with my career in early childhood education. It’s wonderful to interact with all the children on a daily basis and hear all about what they are learning in the classroom and enrichment classes. My friends and family also inspire me. They believe I can do anything and have been very supportive and continue to be as I continue to work towards my career goals.
What is your passion or passions?
I love working with young children and seeing them achieve their developmental milestones. The look on their faces when they achieve those goals is inspiring.
What does the term ‘Where Learning Begins’ mean to you?
The term ‘Where Learning Begins’ demonstrates the importance of early childhood education. Early Childhood is one of the times in a child’s life that they are learning and developing the most. The children need a place where they can learn at their own pace, learn in their own way, and be respected as an individual while gaining the confidence to be comfortable with themselves. TGS helps the children develop a love for their future schooling and is a place where they can develop self confidence and courage to try new things.
Melissa Thomas
Assistant Director
How long have you been with TGS?
I have been with TGS since July of 2019.
Roles Served with TGS:
I worked as a Lead Infant Teacher for a few years. I then became a Pre-K Teacher to gain more experience working on both sides of the school. I was promoted to Enrichment Coordinator and I am now Assistant Director.
What is your educational background?
I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northeastern Illinois University.
What made you decide to have a career in education?
I love being around children and I love helping them feel good about themselves. I wanted to be that voice inside of their heads that helped them to be their best.
What makes you laugh about kids?
When they mispronounce words in the cutest way possible.
What do you love most about working with infants through the age of 5?
I love baby smiles and toddler dance parties. I love walking into a 3/4/5 year-old classroom and feeling like a celebrity because every child has something important to tell me.
What is your favorite part of the day at TGS?
Snuggles from the infants and when a child goes out of their way to give me a hug on their way in or out of the building.
What do you love most about TGS?
I love the community that has been built here between the staff and families. It has been an amazing school to grow in for both me and my son.
What is your fondest memory of TGS thus far?
One of my students made me a card for Teacher Appreciation Week. She drew a picture of me with a cape and said I was a superhero.
What inspires you?
I feel inspired watching and helping others achieve their goals and milestones.
What is your passion or passions?
I am passionate about books. I collect books and love to read. I love reading to children and sharing my love of reading with them.
What does the term “Where Learning Begins” mean to you?
Where Learning Begins means that the education your child receives at this school will carry them through their entire learning career. TGS provides an amazing starting point for children as they continue their educational journeys.
How important is early childhood education?
It is the foundation of every learning experience a child will engage in for the rest of their lives.
What would you tell new parents who are apprehensive about leaving their infant in the care of someone else for the first time?
I always used to tell new parents to check in as much or as little as they need to in order to feel comfortable. We will send lots of extra pictures and updates during the first week to help ease parents’ hearts and minds during the transition.
What TGS Parents Are Saying
This Gardner School is fantastic. It starts with the leadership at the top and is felt all the way down, but you cannot miss the attention to the detail and just how great this school is.
First, they are great with the kids. Seems basic, but needs to be said. From the 2 rooms through every room we have experienced the teachers and staff know how to make kids happy, healthy, safe, smart, etc.
Second, the actual programs at this school are unmatched. The core programs in the classes are fantastic and are some of the best planned out things I have seen any school offer for kids this young. Not only that, but the extracurricular actives offered are diverse and awesome. Yes... they do cost extra money, but (a) you easily get the value out of it, (b) you get to expose your kid(s) to things you may not have the time to outside of school because of things like work and (c) the kids love them.
Third (and I'll make it last), the communication is unbeatable. I cannot oversell this! The staff and teachers are always receptive to conversations, feedback, etc. (I talk to Sarah more than I talk to my mom)… and the teachers are great with the app they use. Even if something doesn't go accordingly to plan at the School it isn't a complete disaster because the School actually communicates with you and you feel fully in the loop. The pictures, updates, etc. on the app make getting through the work day so much easier.
Anyway, as a growing family we have moved from Morton Grove to Highland Park and have experienced different daycares/Schools. All have positives, but the Gardner School is far in away the best school ever. This location in particular has something special about it! There is literally no one in my life I wouldn't recommend this school to. No one asked me to write this review, but I really do feel passionately about the school and want to support it in anyway I can. Best decision you will ever make.read more
And, even though the school is fairly new (opened in July, I believe), it's already a well oiled machine.read more
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