Visiting the school
The best way to experience GSP is to come and see it for yourself.
Most potential families come in for an Open House and/or an individual tour, while school is in session.
Attend an Open House
Open House events are scheduled on an as needed basis and can take place either during the day, or in the evening.
Schedule a personal tour
A personal tour allows parents to experience the different classroom dynamics, teaching styles and, if the child is also present, our hands-on approach. We try to visit all GSP classrooms during a tour to give families a comprehensive view of our facilities.
You can also call the office at 503-626-9089 or e-mail us at admissions@gspdx.org to schedule an appointment. Schnuppertage—classroom visits The Schnuppertage provide more detailed classroom information for newly enrolled families. They are designed to help answer questions, ease anxiety and make the transition into the classroom as smooth as possible. Depending on the age of the child, and the comfort level and request of the parent, visits may range anywhere from a half hour to a half day, with or without a parent present. The visits take place in the classroom that has been identified for the child. Schnuppertage usually take place during the last few weeks before the student starts in the program or near the end of the previous school year. If the family enrolls mid-year, visits will be scheduled a couple of weeks before the child will attend. How often do these visits occur? Generally there are one-two Schnuppertage, particularly for mid-year enrollees or children that are starting later in the school year. To allow families to familiarize themselves with GSP and to be comfortable leaving their child in our care once school starts, we do not want to limit the number of visits. Here is why: Most families have filled out enrollment paperwork and visited our school well in advance and simply want a reminder why they chose our excellent program in the first place. For many preschool parents, this is also the first time their child will be cared for outside the home. The more we can put families at ease ahead of time, the easier it will be for them to separate and feel secure leaving their child in our care. Families may request a visit to more than one classroom to get a more complete picture of our program, classroom set-up and teaching styles. Mid-year enrollees have a series of visits scheduled, to allow them to gradually adjust to the classroom and their new classmates.
