Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Trusted Early Childhood Education in Minneapolis
Grace Neighborhood Nursery has been dedicated to nurturing the growth and development of young children since 1961. Our philosophy centers on providing a play-based learning environment that fosters emotional, social, intellectual, creative, and physical development. We believe in tailoring our curriculum to meet the unique needs and interests of each child, creating a joyful learning community that values individuality and collaboration. As a non-profit organization, we offer scholarship assistance to ensure accessibility for all families. Our experienced team of educators combines diverse early childhood philosophies to create a rich, emergent curriculum that responds to children's natural curiosity.We maintain strong home-school partnerships through active parent involvement and regular communication. Located in Minneapolis, we serve families from Uptown and surrounding communities, offering programs for children aged 2.5 to 6 years. Our commitment to quality education is reflected in our ongoing community engagement and innovative programs like our Poet-in-Residence initiative. We provide a safe, inclusive environment that does not discriminate based on race, religion, or national origin. Our programs include extended day options, enrichment classes, and summer camps to support working families.
Services
Preschool Classes
Extended Day Programs
Enrichment Classes
Summer Camps
Grace Garden
Details
- Year established: 1961
Highlights and features
- We have over 60 years of experience in early childhood education
- Our play-based curriculum fosters natural curiosity and lifelong learning
- We offer scholarship assistance to ensure accessibility for all families
- Our experienced teachers hold degrees in child development and education
- We maintain a low teacher/child ratio of 1:10 or less
Services
Preschool Classes
Our preschool classes serve children aged 2.5 to 6 with flexible scheduling options. We maintain a low teacher/child ratio of 1:10 or less. Our curriculum combines play-based learning with structured activities to support holistic development.
Extended Day Programs
We offer Early Risers (8-9 AM), Lunch Bunch (noon-2:30 PM), and Discovery Class (12-3:30 PM) programs. These options provide additional learning opportunities and accommodate working families' schedules. Transportation is available within a 3-mile radius.
Enrichment Classes
Our enrichment offerings include World Cultures Class, Field Trip Program, and STEM-focused Discovery Class. These programs expand learning beyond the classroom through cultural exploration and community adventures. Summer camps are available for enrolled children.
Grace Garden
Our outdoor spaces include playgrounds, gardens, and neighborhood parks. Children engage in nature-based learning through exploring Painter Park and Bryant Square Park. The garden program supports hands-on environmental education and physical development.
Poet-in-Residence
This unique program brings a local poet into classrooms to foster early literacy skills. Children explore poetry creation and participate in 'Poem in Your Pocket Day' in April. The program has been part of our curriculum since the early 2000s.
People
Barb Murphy
Director
Director with 30 years of experience as an Early Childhood Specialist at the University of Minnesota. Holds BS and MS in Child Development from Northern Illinois University.
Shannon Sullivan
Teacher
Teacher with BA in Liberal Studies/Early Childhood from Viterbo College. Certified Montessori and Music Together Teacher since joining GNNS in 2013.
Monta Hayner
Teacher
Teacher with BA in Psychology from Reed College and Pre-K licensure from the University of Minnesota. Has been with GNNS since 1998.
Claire Thometz
Teacher
Teacher with BA in Political Science and International Relations from Denison University. Certified in French language and culture from University of Paris.
Julia Klatt Singer
Poet-in-Residence
Poet-in-Residence since 2008 with BA in Sociology and MA in Liberal Studies. Develops our unique poetry education program for early literacy development.
Questions
What ages do you serve?
We serve children aged 2 years 9 months to kindergarten entry (5-6 years).
Is potty training required?
Three-year-olds do not need to be potty trained to attend GNNS.
What is your teacher/child ratio?
We maintain a teacher/child ratio of 1:10 or less in all classrooms.
Do you offer extended day programs?
Yes, we offer Early Risers, Lunch Bunch, and Discovery Class extended day options.
Are scholarships available?
Yes, we offer scholarship assistance to up to 20% of our families.
What curriculum do you use?
Our curriculum blends play-based learning with emergent and Big Ideas approaches tailored to children's interests.
