Neighborhood

Conveniently located in the heart Fort Greene, GIRAFAS is surrounded by all major subway lines for an effortless commute. The school is just a block away from Fort Greene Park, which our students visit daily to remain in contact with nature, play, and learn.

Our Classrooms

The Montessori way dictates that “The first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as it is possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult.” (Standing, Maria Montessori - Her Life and Work - pp. 267). 

With that mission in mind, we've carefully designed our classroom environment to feel like an extension of our children's homes. Our classroom conditions create a place where our scholars feel welcome, safe, and confident enough to take ownership of their surroundings through learning and exploration. 

This nurturing space, created by our trained instructors, demonstrates the care, respect, and love we at GIRAFAS hold for children. We're well aware of the crucial influence classroom setups can have on a child’s mood and behavior. 

Our space is designed with organic and natural materials, neutral colors, walls without distractions, and proper lighting. The aesthetic beauty and simplicity allow our scholars to focus on the work at hand in the different curriculum areas of the classroom: practical life, sensorial, mathematics, language, and cultural. We've also given great importance to our Peace Corner, in this cozy little nook students can have a peaceful moment. 

Montessori believed that children must be offered what is most beautiful and pleasing to the eye to help them enter into a “more refined and subtle world.” The strategic display of materials in our classrooms invite children to work independently and discover their potential.