Our Philosophy

At Primavera, we embed all of our learning objectives into themes, using the seasons, native plants and animals, math, science, social studies, and social development. ​Our preschool offers a community garden space that allows the children to grow the food that we cook for lunch.  Students are involved in our farm to table approach, cooking their own lunch once a month.   Our indoor space is set up for play, exploration, and skills practice. 

MISSION STATEMENT
 
Our mission is for our children to speak Spanish, connect with nature, construct meaning and think critically while building interpersonal skills and gaining a global connection.


CORE VALUES

We value the ability for our children to learn the life skills needed to successfully manage life tasks such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem solving.

We appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human life cycle.
 
Base our work on knowledge of how children develop and learn
 
Appreciate and support the bond between the child and family
 
Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture,
community, and society

Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague)


I wanted a place where my daughter could be young &
play, explore, learn, and simply enjoy nature.  
But most importantly, I wanted her to feel loved. 
​It's a comforting feeling watching her reach
to hug her teacher in the morning.  {Liz Thomas, parent}

Our Story


​Primavera Preschool was founded by Carla Key and Julia Weidmann. 

In 2010, the two mothers / educators united around a common goal: to impart their knowledge of the Latino culture and Spanish language to their children. When their first borns were one year old, Carla and Julia organized a Spanish immersion playgroup for families living in the intown communities of Atlanta. These weekly reunions created a special opportunity for the mothers, both professional educators, to cultivate a friendship and talk about their common interests in children, education and language learning. Through these conversations, emerged their vision for Primavera Preschool: Atlanta’s first Spanish and Nature Immersion early childhood program.  

Over the course of two years, Carla and Julia worked to develop the school’s learning programs drawing from their combined expertise in Waldorf Education, Language Acquisition, Child Development, Music Education and Nature Connection. The school began in Carla’s and Julia’s homes as a two-day program for toddlers and soon blossomed into a comprehensive early childhood program for all ages.

The Old Stone Church in Candler Park became host to Primavera Preschool after Carla and Julia were invited by the First Existentialist Congregation to use the community’s garden and woodland sanctuary as outdoor classrooms and to transform the church’s basement into a learning space for creative play. A natural partnership emerged as the First Existentialist Community and Carla and Julia shared common passions for education, cultural diversity, community and nature.

In addition to the support received from congregants of the First Existentialist community, many of Carla's and Julia's friends and family members contributed significantly to the building of the school's infrastructure and programs.  The school would not have been possible without the collaboration of many, and most especially:

Jason Key
​Brian Smith
Susanne Key
​Bill & Janet Weidmann
Marian Farias
Elaine Foster
Elane Gale
Richard Backwell
Larry Weidmann
Emily Kehnast
John French
​Tim Pinion & Diana Swan
 As the name itself reminds us, Primavera is the fruit of many hard-working individuals who came together to nourish their children and community by manifesting a place where joyful childhoods and learning could flourish. Inspired by the leadership of Carla Key and Julia Weidmann, today, Primavera Preschool boasts a strong team of teachers who sustain the beauty and growth of this cherished school; once a seed, and now a garden. As Carla’s six year-old daughter once said as she reflected upon her experience as a new kindergartner having already graduated from Primavera:
​
"Mommy, my kindergarten is a big school with a little garden, and now I know why you made
​Primavera for us: so that we could have a little school with a big garden!"  {Harper Key, age 6}