Next month marks a very special milestone for Coastal Day School. We will celebrate our 19th year of learning, laughter, and adventures with the amazing students and families who make up our little school family.
Over the years, we’ve welcomed countless preschoolers on their very first day of school, holding hands with their parents, a little nervous, but full of curiosity. We’ve watched those tiny hands grow steady and confident. We’ve seen our students discover new skills, new friendships, and new dreams. We’ve celebrated birthdays, milestones, and the everyday victories that matter so much in these early years.
Over time, we’ve had the privilege of seeing our students move on to bigger schools, new adventures, and bright futures. Many have come back to visit, walking through our door a little taller each time, greeting us with those same radiant smiles we remember. They tell us about sports teams, school plays, college acceptances, and the friends they’ve made along the way. Every visit is a reminder that the bonds we form here last far beyond the preschool years.
But this year, something amazing is happening… a first in our history.
This fall, we are welcoming a brand-new preschooler who holds an especially dear place in my heart, because her mom, Alexis, was once one of our kids. Alexis spent many years here in our after-school program, growing up within these same walls, playing on the same playground, and laughing in the same classrooms. She was part of our Coastal family long before she ever imagined becoming a parent herself.
And now, all these years later, Alexis is bringing her own child to CDS.
When I saw her walk through our doors again, this time holding the hand of her little one, I had to take a moment to let it sink in. It was one of those “pinch me” moments that make you realize just how precious the work we do truly is. It was as if time folded in on itself, the past and present meeting in the most beautiful way.
This is what it's all about. It’s the joy of seeing a child grow up, step out into the world, and then choosing to return, entrusting us with the next generation. It’s a living reminder that the love, care, and guidance we pour into these years really does ripple forward, touching lives we may not even see yet.
I feel so blessed to be part of this incredible journey. So lucky to watch generations grow, learn, and thrive, and to know that Coastal Day School is more than a place to prepare for kindergarten. It’s a place where roots are planted, where friendships are born, and where children are truly known and loved.
As we step into our 19th year, my heart is full of gratitude. Thank you to every child, parent, and family who has been part of Coastal Day School’s story, past, present, and future. You are why we do what we do, and you are the reason this little school feels like home.
Here’s to the next chapter and to the joy of watching the circle continue.
💙Ashley
