NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This September, Pine Street School will open its doors to the inaugural class of students enrolled in its Montessori-infused International Baccalaureate program – the first of its kind in Manhattan. Welcoming preschool and early elementary students this fall, and 6th grade beginning in 2015, Pine Street School will build each year until it serves preschool through 8th grade. Students will follow a unique, challenging and engaging inquiry-based curriculum that treats New York City as its classroom and emphasizes language, with Spanish immersion as an option.
“As a mother and educator living in lower Manhattan, I’m overjoyed to present Pine Street School and provide neighborhood families with a new option for education downtown,” said Jennifer Jones, Ph.D., Founder of Green Ivy Schools, including Pine Street School. “Pine Street School is a breath of fresh air educationally, experientially, and architecturally. It’s an open, joyful environment that creates lifelong results: children who are engaged, invested and compassionate citizens of the world.”
Located in the historic Trump Building at 40 Wall St., Pine Street School will have a private entrance at 25 Pine Street and occupy 85,000 square feet spread across three floors. The vast space has been completely re-designed and modernized to create an open environment for students, and every area – including hallways and stairwells – serves as a potential learning space. A Grand Opening Celebration for Pine Street School will be held on Thursday, July 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. for families in lower Manhattan to preview the beautiful new design and innovative education program.
Pine Street School is the second school in the Green Ivy network, following Battery Park Montessori, a preschool that opened in Battery Park City in September 2013. Green Ivy is a modern, progressive, child-centered organization that develops and grows schools based on a foundation of engaged and collaborative learning. Prior to founding Green Ivy, Jones developed 15 schools across the country and consulted internationally on school development and management. She has over 25 years of experience in school-related development, management, fundraising and strategic planning.
Pine Street School’s Education Program
Pine Street School is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme and is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. In the Primary Years Programme, children think and act like mathematicians, scientists, artists, historians and other practitioners. They are encouraged to be not only problem solvers, but also problem posers.
Eileen Baker will lead Pine Street School as Head of School. Baker has worked as a teacher and director of education for more than 30 years and has been in charge of implementing and leading schools to secure authorized International Baccalaureate programs in Turkey, Angola and Indonesia.
“Pine Street School combines the globally recognized Montessori method and the International Baccalaureate methods of education,” said Baker. “The result is something much greater than the sum of its parts. It’s an innovative way to prepare students for the 21st century.”
Pine Street School has a rolling admissions process for potential students and is still accepting applications for the 2014 school year.
Pine Street School’s Architecture and Design
Green Ivy commissioned New York-based architecture firm Perkins Eastman to lead the design of Pine Street School, which includes open classrooms with floor to ceiling windows and moveable walls that can open up to accommodate spaces of 1,200 square feet.
Some of the school’s other features include two multipurpose studios set up for music and movement classes, a dedicated performance space with state-of-the-art acoustics and lighting, and project rooms and workshops to facilitate culinary, scientific and artistic programming.
“Classroom design impacts how children learn, so creating a warm, inviting space filled with natural light was extremely important to us,” said Jones. “Our school design is based on a child’s natural surroundings and imagination. We have nooks for young children to explore and open spaces for students to collaborate. The space gives children a sense of ownership to learn and connect with the world in a way that is authentic to them.”
About Green Ivy
Green Ivy is a new network of private schools based in lower Manhattan. Its schools nurture a child’s natural excitement to learn, explore and connect with the world around them. More information on Green Ivy, Pine Street School (including its Grand Opening Celebration) and Battery Park Montessori can be found at www.greenivy.com.
