Private Kindergarten & Elementary School in Seattle, WA

Giddens School:
Giddens School is an private, independent school offering education programs for preschool through to fifth-grade children. We are centrally located on 20th Avenue South in Seattle in King County, WA. At Giddens School, we nourish a diverse community and provide children with an academically rigorous education steeped in social justice. We provide children a strong, academic foundation to prepare them for their 21st century world. Our staff and families nourish a wonderful sense of self and a genuine love of learning in our students.

Preschool Through 5th Grade Education Programs:

- Preschool Program: 
Our Preschool classes are driven by content which emerges from our school wide theme, the children’s interests, needs, and curiosity. Giddens teachers are attuned to all aspects of each child; social emotional growth, gross and fine motor skills, identity of self, and the ability to make connections with the world. All of our preschool children receive specialist times in music, Spanish and library in addition to all of the units covered in class. Our Preschool classes accept children beginning at 2.9 years old.

- Pre-Kindergarten Program:  
This program involves small group reading and writing times, math instruction, music, Spanish, science, library, P.E. and, of course, play time. Our Pre-Kindergarten children are a wonderfully happy, curious and social group of students. They inhabit that lovely space between the world of preschool and kindergarten, and so have specific needs and goals that differ from each.

Our Pre-Kindergarten classes provide a strong year for children to learn about some of the higher expectations that await them in Kindergarten academically, while providing them with the time that they need to adapt socially and emotionally.

- Primary School Program (Grades K - 5): 
Our mission-appropriate curriculum in grades K-5 provides both a nurturing environment and powerful learning opportunities through consistent and creative instruction in reading, writing, math, and integrated studies. Our commitment to research- based instruction and materials, alignment, social responsibility and collaboration affords students and staff a strong learning community which is ever growing!

Small class size affords our students the time and direct instruction they need to excel here and then at any independent or public middle school in Seattle. Multi-age classes speak well to our mission. At Giddens, we combine Kindergarten with First Grade, Second and Third Grades are together, and Fourth and Fifth Grades are together. In this configuration, we find that children have great opportunities to lead, to learn from peers, and to move a the pace that best attends to their needs in each subject area.

Specialist Classes:
In addition to our strong core curricular programs, we offer every student in the school Spanish, Music, PE / Movement, and Library as a means of exploring the many talents and interests our children have. In addition, teachers and children meet regularly in the School Garden, our “outdoor classroom,” with our Environmental Education Specialist. Last year Giddens School received The Sustainable Schools Award in the state of Washington, the first independent school to do so.

Extended Day Programs:
Giddens offers exceptional before and after school programs for currently enrolled students. We provide engaging and enriching activities that are connected to your child’s school day. Our hours are as follows:

- Before School AM Extended Day:  7:30 am - 8:30 am
- After School PM Extended Day:  Dismissal - 6:00 pm