A Virtual Tour of Newtowne’s Learning Environments
According to the Reggio Emilia philosophy, the environment is the “third teacher”; at Newtowne, we take great pride in our learning environments. Newtowne School is located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts and embedded in the heart of Harvard Square, which offers a wealth of opportunities for exploration and engagement with the larger community. Inside our school, spaces and materials are carefully curated to inspire joy, creativity, and inquiry as children play.
We invite you to take the following virtual tour to learn more about the learning environments that Newtowne School offers.
First Church of Cambridge
Newtowne is located in the beautiful First Church of Cambridge (FCC), which was built nearly 400 years ago. Newtowne school has a long-standing amiable relationship with FCC and benefits from a building steeped in history and tradition. For instance, each spring, Newtowne students are invited to help ring the church bells at noon on Harvard University’s graduation day- a prominent local tradition and Green Dragonfly rite-of-passage.
Newtowne Playground
Located outside of the Garden Street entrance of FCC, this playground is dedicated to the Newtowne School during school hours. Slides, large stumps, and boards afford opportunities for gross-motor play while children’s imagination and dramatic play flourish in the hobbit house and mud kitchen. Planned enhancements for the playground in 2020-2021 include raised garden beds so classes can embed environmental sustainability themes into their curriculum.
Orange Sea Star Classroom
The Orange Sea Star class includes children from 22 months to 2.9 years old. Students may attend three or five days per week. Many of the Orange Sea Star children are entering a school setting for the first time, so the room is designed for children to find each other and build personal connections. Lamps and mirrors help to create inviting, cozy spaces that evoke the warmth of home and welcome the Orange Sea Stars to their new school environment.
Purple Fish Classroom
The Purple Fish class includes children from ages 2.9 – 3.5 years old. Students have the option of attending three or five days per week. The Purple Fish classroom is the only classroom that contains a raised loft - an adaptable classroom feature where children often develop complex dramatic play scenarios that enhance their symbolic thinking, language, and social skill development.
Blue Otter Classroom
The Blue Otter class includes 3 to 4 year old children who all attend school five days per week. This bright, airy classroom is marked by large windows that overlook the greenery of Lesley Yard and children can be inspired by the beautiful outdoors as they play in their classroom. One of the largest classrooms in the school, this space supports children’s developing sense of community as they are offered increased responsibility in caring for different parts of the room.
Green Dragonfly Classroom
The Green Dragonfly class is for 4 to 5 year old children who attend school five days per week. In their final year at Newtowne school, Green Dragonflies are preparing for the transition to kindergarten. The unique shape of this classroom naturally affords comfortable nooks where children can break off from the everyday classroom buzz to focus on a project or cozy up with a book as they authentically practice the skills that will continue to serve them as they move forward with their schooling.
Atelier
The Atelier, or studio, is used for small groups of children to come together to share ideas and construct. Designed to spark curiosity and foster creative thinking, many consider this space the “heart of the school.” Transparent canisters full of natural objects, loose parts, and tools line the shelves and create a whimsical, magical atmosphere. With the guidance of our Atelierista, students investigate materials and execute their plans as in the context of open-ended opportunities.
Workshop
The Workshop, or Recycle Atelier, is a space where children can do large-scale project work in small groups. Collaboratively, they invent and build creations with recycled materials that have been collected by families or donated by local businesses, such as cardboard boxes, tiles, styrofoam shapes, and more.
Kitchen
As part of the 2017-2018 FCC renovation, the church kitchen was redesigned and has become a perfect space for Newtowne students to cook and bake. Groups of children can sit at the large island-style counter to easily observe and contribute to the science, satisfaction, and sense of community that food preparation affords.
Sanctuary
A powerful and peaceful room filled with stained glass windows and a large pipe organ, this space offers a peaceful spot for Newtowne students to practice mindfulness or take in an impromptu concert by students and faculty from the Longy School of Music.
Sage Hall
Located in the spacious basement of the FCC church, this private space is commonly used during inclement weather for gross motor play - from bicycle-riding to loft-climbing to large block construction. It is also used as a light studio, a place for viewing video documentation, and a creative movement space.
Margaret Jewett Hall
This large open space can be used by any members of the FCC community. Newtowne reserves this hall during the school days for creative movement and gross motor activities. On certain weekends and evenings, it’s reserved for family and community events such as our Pancake Breakfast or Winter Bash.
Chapel
The chapel is a small, intimate space connected to Margaret Jewett Hall where students can go to stretch or practice yoga in large or small groups.