April & May Admissions Events

Grade School Open House
Wednesday, April 9 from 7-8:30 PM
Parents are invited to share in a discussion about the New Amsterdam Grade School curriculum.  Join us to learn more about how we can meet the needs of your child as they enter into their primary school years.  Parents only please.  RSVP admissions@newamsterdamchildhood.org.


Pre-School/Kindergarten Open House
Thursday, May 1st from 7-8:30 PM
See our classrooms, meet our teachers and share in an in depth discussion about our Waldorf inspired approach to early childhood education.  Parents only please.  RSVP admissions@newamsterdamchildhood.org.

Pre-School Sample Session
Saturday, May 3 from 9:30-11 AM
The Sample Session is an opportunity for parents and their children over the age of two to spend time in one of our classrooms, meet our teachers and learn more about our unique approach to early childhood education.  We will share in an activity and a circle, and their will be time for questions.  Sample Sessions are limited to six families.  RSVP admissions@newamsterdamchildhood.org.


Grade School Open House
Saturday, May 3 from 11:30 AM-1 PM
Parents are invited to share in a discussion about the New Amsterdam Grade School curriculum.  Join us to learn more about how we can meet the needs of your child as they enter into their primary school years.  Parents only please.  RSVP admissions@newamsterdamchildhood.org.


Pre-School/Kindergarten Open House
Tuesday, May 13th from 7-8:30 PM
See our classrooms, meet our teachers and share in an in depth discussion about our Waldorf inspired approach to early childhood education.  Parents only please.  RSVP admissions@newamsterdamchildhood.org.


Pre-School/Kindergarten School Tour
Scheduled as Needed
Briefly observe two of our classes and then share in a discussion of your observations. 
Space is limited.  Parents only please.  RSVP admissions@newamsterdamchildhood.org.


The New Amsterdam School is Growing
As we begin to grow our grade school programs we are also growing our preschool and will have more space than ever before for new families in the Fall of 2014.  With the addition of new classroom space we will expand our offerings to include two Mixed Age Kindergarten classes and two 5-Day Nursery classes while continuing to offer our Bridge, 3-Day Morning Nursery and 3 & 5-Day Afternoon Nursery classes. 


There is still time to apply for next year.  Please contact me if you would like to attend one of our upcoming events and learn more about our school.


We also have limited space in our current 3-Day Morning and 3 & 5-Day Afternoon Nursery Programs and in our Mixed Age Kindergarten Program.  If your child is between 3 and 6 years of age consider joining one of our classes this Spring!

New Amsterdam at the NYC Green Festival

Saturday April 26th at Pier 94
11:30am-12:30pm Panel Discussion:  Greening Our Schools
11:30am-6pm Children's Corner


Panel Discussion:  Greening Our Schools
Inhabitat is hosting a panel discussion at the upcoming NYC Green Festival to tackle the challenges faced by parents today when trying to choose the best green education for their kids. Inhabitat’s founder and editor-in-chief Jill Fehrenbacher (who is also a Kindergarten and Parent-Child Parent at New Amsterdam) will be moderating the talk and will be joined by Amie Hamlin, Executive Director of New York Coalition For Healthy School Food, Aimee Arandia Østensen, 2nd Grade Teacher and Co-Leader of Go Green Committee at Manhattan Country School; and our own Elea Robinson, teacher and founding faculty New Amsterdam School.


Children's Corner
The New Amsterdam School Children's Corner is a peaceful play area for children and their families to relax and unwind in the midst of the busyness of the Green Festival. Based on New Amsterdam School's Waldorf approach to child development, activities in the corner will include puppet shows, crafting, storytime and seasonal songs.
Children and parents will enjoy free play and activities in our interactive area at the Green Festival.  Meet our teachers and learn more about our programs.
Tickets are available at http://greenfestivals.org/nyc/admission


We would love to have our families join us at the event and some complimentary tickets are available.  If you would like to participate please contact Karen.Talluto@newamsterdamchildhood.org.

School-Wide Family Garden Day this Saturday 1/12

Breaking News!

Our school has just been cleared for our next...


School-Wide Family Garden Day at El Jardin del Paraiso

This Saturday, April 12th  from 10:00 am to Noon


Come on out, get dirty and have some fun!
This will be a rock, stick, stone and mulch morning, with BYO-picnic lunch to follow. 

All families and age groups are invited.  Our garden projects and events are all funded, supported and run by parents like you so we need your help!


We'll be working throughout the garden on different tasks cleaning up after our very busy little gardeners. Throughout the fall and winter months their daily work takes quite a toll on all the community areas. We will be digging and scouting for river rocks that have been lost to return them to their home in the stream and around the pond as well as sorting, carting, repairing walls, creating stick teepee's and moving the earth about.


We do this in order to prepare for the many school events that are planned for the 2014 season ahead: Garden Plant Dye Cafe, Picnics, Spring Fair...


As always we invite you all to consider becoming garden members and having a personal family membership to El Jardin del Paraiso. Their official annual membership and work day will be Saturday, April 27th, so this is a great chance to check it out before then! 


Thank you so much from the Garden Committee, the Teachers and Faculty of New Amsterdam, and of course the unspoken gratitude of the young souls who romp with spirit, vigor, and delight in a clean garden through out the year!


RSVP's  to garden events are always greatly appreciated.  Please feel free to ask questions or RSVP- Shoshanas@mac.com and see you soon in the garden!


The Garden Address is 311-321 E. 4th Street (between Avenues C & D).

Garden Plant Dye Morning

Tuesday  April 22nd 10am-Noon
El Jardin del Paraiso Garden (Enter on E 4th Street between Avenues C & D)
Please come and join our Garden Plant Dye Morning!


This is a two hour workshop where you will experience the true natural colors of plant dye.  Plant dyes are like "whole food colors."  They are truly nutritious and medicinal.


The cost is $100 for the workshop with a rainbow silk veil or $50 with a rainbow silk play cloth (additional dye materials available upon request.)  All proceeds go to supporting New Amsterdam School Tuition Assistance.


Children are welcome to come to the garden with you under your own responsibility and supervision.


For registration and questions please call Kaori Fuller at 914-467-9750 or email kaori.fuller@newamsterdamchildhood.org

New Group Forming 5 to 10 Year Plan Committee

For Parents and Friends of New Amsterdam

Open Invitation To Join A Newly Forming Group: The 5 to 10 Year Plan Committee

On Wednesday May 14, 2014 4:00-6:00pm there will be an opportunity for anyone who is interested to come observe The 5 to 10 Year Plan Committee’s work thus far.

The Towards Societal Wholeness Group has merged with a faculty committee to develop a comprehensive and thorough plan for New Amsterdam, built upon the ideals of the social mission of Waldorf Education: to grow individual and group capacities, to develop gift consciousness, and to bring about a renewal of the education for the human being.

Due to the nature of this work, we are asking for a full commitment from all participants. We meet every Wednesday, 4:00-6:00pm and select evenings and weekends through the end of this school year.

May 14th will be a warm, getting acquainted with the 5 to 10 Year Plan Committee as well as an opportunity to hear and experience some of Rudolf Steiner’s social ideas.  

If you plan on attending, please email Meaghan: meaghan.witri@newamsterdamchildhood.org

We will provide childcare, please RSVP so we can arrange accordingly.