Full-Day Preschool Program - Garden Room
The curriculum in our three-year-old classroom is play-based and child-centered; we follow the child's lead and guide them in exploration. At this stage in development we focus on fine motor control, strengthening fingers and hands through activities like play doh, fingerpaint, lacing, and small manipulatives, preparing the children to hold a pencil and a pair of scissors with confidence and ease. Building relationships with our students is key and we take pride in our classroom community. At Climbing Tree Community School community building is a priority.
Lead Teacher - Jenienne Grinnell
Hello, Fellow Humans of the Climbing Tree Community, I am Ms. Jenienne!!! I am so happy to be able to spend my days with your tiny humans! A little bit about me...Children are my inspiration. I am a mother of three. I am a native Tucsonan and have spent all my years on this planet appreciating the beauty of the Sonoran Desert and I bring this into all of my lessons with children. I am passionate about supporting and guiding young minds and have been doing so professionally for nearly five years. I enjoy encouraging children to explore the world around them and facilitating experiences that help them gain confidence and independence. I understand that young children learn through play and that real learning is messy and unpredictable. Embracing chaos is the key to a happy teacher. I am currently working on my associate's degree in Early Childhood Education with plans to transfer to the U of A to earn my bachelor's degree. Music, nature, gardening, reading, mess-making, laughter, and joyous learning are my absolute favorite things.
Teaching Assistant - Carmelita Rivera-Levin
I’m Carmelita! I was born in Philadelphia, but have spent most of my life in Tucson. I am currently pursuing my Associate's in Fine Arts from Pima College, and I love doing anything Artsy. My current favorite mediums to create with are Oil, Watercolor, Clay, and beadwork. A goal I have is to inspire every child that they are an artist too, and to help them tap into their creative genius. I discovered how much I loved working with young children while working as a children's art teacher in Nogales. I have only had the privilege of working at Climbing Tree for a short time but I have treasured my time here so much that I am making plans to get my degree in Early Childhood Development!