Gifft Hill School will be holding Open House Days throughout March for prospective new students interested in enrolling for the 2019-2020 school year. The only preschool through 12th grade school on St. John, Gifft Hill serves children from St. John and St. Thomas. Current and prospective families are invited to visit to talk about education options for their children.
“We believe in using the school’s gardens, the island’s National Park, and the ocean as living laboratories to inspire and engage our students with creative project-based instruction,” said Dr. Paul Johnson, head of school. “The opportunity to educate and broaden the horizons of our students is a privilege our entire faculty values.”
In his recent State of the School letter to the Gifft Hill School community, Johnson noted that enrollment had increased from about 130 at the beginning of the school year to over 150 currently. The school expects to have about 160 students by the end of the school year and to start next year with 180 students.
Open House Days are designed to be “drop-in” style, and all are welcome to visit on whichever day/time they find most convenient. Staff and faculty will present a brief overview of programs for specific age groups each day at 8:30 a.m., and they will remain available to answer individual questions throughout the day. The schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, March 6: All day 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lower Campus: Early Learning Center (preschool and pre-K)
Upper Campus: Middle School
Thursday, March 7: All day 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lower Campus: Primary School (Kindergarten, grades one and two)
Upper Campus: High School
Friday, March 8: All day 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lower Campus: Intermediate (Grades three, four, and five)
Upper Campus: Middle and High School
Starting the week of March 11, Open Houses will be held on both campuses every week for anyone who would like to visit to discuss education options and financial aid.
Tuesday: All day 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Lower Campus (preschool to fifth grade)
Thursday: All day 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Upper Campus (Middle and High School)
About Gifft Hill School Founded in 1978, Gifft Hill School believes in using the school’s gardens, the island’s National Park, and the ocean as living laboratories to inspire and engage its students with creative project-based instruction. As a member of National Association of Independent Schools, the non-profit school provides education to over 150 students from St. John and St. Thomas in preschool through 12th grade on the island of St. John.
After the storms, Gifft Hill School waived tuition and opened its doors beyond its student body to offer a sense of normalcy to as many children as possible, and to support parents as they rebuild. In the 2018-2019 school year, thanks to philanthropic support, over 80 percent of Gifft Hill’s student body receives financial aid as the community continues to recover. Website: www.giffthillschool.org
Contact Paula Smail at paulasmail@giffthillschool.org