Thanks for joining us at Open House!

What a wonderful evening we shared at last week’s Open House! We are so grateful to the many new parents who took time out of their busy schedules to visit Coastal Day School. It was a pleasure to welcome you into our space, introduce our team, and share what makes our community so special. We truly loved meeting each of you and appreciated the thoughtful conversations, great questions, and genuine enthusiasm in the building. Opportunities like this remind us how fortunate we are to partner with families who care deeply about their children’s early learning experiences. We are already looking forward to getting to know many of you better in the coming school year!

For the past 19 years, the Leland community has embraced Coastal Day School in ways that continue to humble and inspire us. Watching generations of local families walk through our doors, many referred by neighbors and friends, reminds us daily how fortunate we are to be part of this incredible community. Your trust, encouragement, and word-of-mouth support have helped our school grow, while still holding tightly to the warm, personal feel that defines Coastal Day School. 

We understand that life is busy, and some interested families were unable to join us for Open House. Don’t worry! You can still request enrollment when the online form opens at 7pm on March 1st. There is no commitment, paperwork, or payment required at the time of your request. All submissions are timestamped and spaces offered in the order the requests were received. Any families who are offered a space, and were unable to attend Open House, will be invited to a group tour of our school. After the tour, you can decide whether you would like to move forward with enrollment. Again, families invited to a group tour will not need to complete paperwork or submit payment until after their visit. We want you to feel confident that Coastal Day School is the right fit for your family!

We are truly excited for what lies ahead and hope to welcome many new families into the Coastal Day School community very soon! 

*Have more questions about how enrollment works? Check out our previous blog *here*.

*Are you worried about not receiving a space in our morning program? We understand but have a great alternative!! Read about it *here*.

The Afternoon Advantage: A Different Time of Day, the Same Coastal Day School Experience

When families begin exploring preschool options, many naturally hope for a morning schedule, and it’s true, our morning program at Coastal Day School tends to fill quickly. But our afternoon preschool program isn’t a backup plan or a lesser option. It’s a thoughtful, enriching experience and, for many families, an unexpectedly perfect fit. Our afternoon preschool offers the same high-quality program as our morning classes. Children learn from the same wonderful teachers, follow the same engaging curriculum, and explore the same themes and learning goals. The only difference is the time of day.

One of the biggest benefits of the afternoon program is availability. While morning spots can be limited, afternoon openings are often more accessible, making it a great entry point into our school family. Many families begin in the afternoon program and, as current students, have the opportunity to move into the morning program during re-enrollment the following year.

We also know that parents sometimes hesitate about an afternoon schedule because of nap time and we completely understand that concern. Transitions around sleep can feel challenging at first. What we’ve consistently seen, however, is that children adjust beautifully. Within a few weeks, students settle into the afternoon rhythm and feel comfortable, rested, and ready to learn. In fact, many families find that the afternoon schedule ends up working so well that they choose to re-enroll year after year, not because they can’t move to mornings, but because their child is thriving and the schedule fits their family’s life just right.

Afternoon students and their families are fully part of the Coastal Day School community. They participate in all school-wide events, celebrations, and traditions, building meaningful connections with classmates, teachers, and families across the school. While the morning program tends to be the more popular option, the afternoon program offers the same warmth, care, and sense of belonging. For many children, it’s not just a great alternative, it’s the perfect place to begin their CDS journey.

We invite new families to join us for our Open House on Thursday, February 19th from 6:00–7:00 pm. This is a relaxed opportunity to tour our school, meet our staff, ask questions, and get a feel for the community that makes Coastal Day School such a special place for young learners. Hope to see you then!

 

Enrollment Information for the 2026-2027 School Year

 Happy New Year! As we look ahead to the 2026–2027 school year, we are excited to begin welcoming new families into our Coastal Day School community! This September, we will proudly celebrate the start of our 20th year of serving families in our community, an exciting milestone we are incredibly grateful for! Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful families, many of whom have become lifelong friends, and we are thrilled that you’re considering Coastal Day School for your child.

Our school is home to amazing teachers and students, and we would love for your family to become part of it. The school year runs from early September through the end of May. Children must meet the age requirement for their intended classroom by August 31st.

We invite parents to attend our Open House on Thursday, February 19th from 6–7pm, where you’ll have the opportunity to tour our facility, meet our staff, and ask any questions you may have.
This Open House is for parents only. We also host a separate Open House in the summer for enrolled students to visit their classroom and meet their teacher and classmates.

Enrollment requests will open on March 1st at 7:00pm. A link to the request form will be posted right here on our blog. The form will ask for your name and phone number. Please be sure your contact information is entered correctly before submitting. Requests are timestamped, and available spaces will be offered in the order received. Once classrooms are full, we will begin our waiting lists. For the best chance at a space, we recommend submitting your request promptly at 7:00pm.

Please note that this form is a request for enrollment and does not guarantee placement. No payment or additional documentation is required at this time.

Beginning Monday, March 2nd, our administrative team will begin reviewing enrollment requests submitted on March 1st. Families will be contacted by phone and notified whether their child has received a space or has been placed on the waiting list. Families who are offered a space will have one week to complete registration, which includes submitting a completed enrollment packet and the $200 New Student Fee.

For families who receive a space but were unable to attend the February Open House, we will offer a group tour during that same week. While we are not able to offer tours to families who do not receive a space, if a family is contacted from the waiting list at any point, we will be happy to offer a tour at that time, before any commitment or payment is required.

In the meantime, click *here* for more information on our programs. 

If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! Please feel free to email me at ashley@coastaldayschool.com.

We hope to see you on February 19th and can’t wait to celebrate our 20th year with our CDS families this fall!

Open House for New Families

 

Full Circle Moment

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 

Alexis at Coastal Day School in June 2007 - participating in summer camp games 

Alexis' daughter and I playing on the playground in July 2025

Full circle moment 😊

 

Summer Camp 2025 Enrollment

🌞 Summer Camp Enrollment is OPEN! 🌞

Get ready for an unforgettable summer with Coastal Day School!! 

Why Join Us?

- Engaging and fun-filled activities for ages 5-12 years

- Memorable field trips to amazing destinations daily (full-day camp only)

- A safe and welcoming environment where new friendships bloom

- And so much more!

Don’t Miss Out! Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today!

Please email veronnica@coastaldayschool.com to enroll! 

You will also find links to a waiting list for each week. Click on the week you'd like to add your child to the waiting list. If you have any questions, please reach out to Veronnica at 910-383-3919 or veronnica@coastaldayschool.com.

June 2-6, 2025

June 9-13, 2025

June 30-July 3, 2025

July 7-11, 2025

July 21-25, 2025

July 28-August 1, 2025

August 4-8, 2025

August 11-13, 2025 

Enroll Now!

** Click *here* to access the link for enrollment. Complete the form and then come back to read the rest**

Thank you for your submission!! Your request has been time-stamped and we will begin processing the requests in the order they were received. Our admin team will start making phone calls on Monday morning to fill spaces. If you receive and accept a space, you will then receive a confirmation email with all the information you need to secure your space. Deadlines for fees and paperwork will be outlined in the email. Any missed deadlines will result in us giving that space to the next child on the list. Please check your Spam folders as our emails end up there a lot. 

If you do not hear from us by Friday, March 7th, please contact us. Prior to that, our office staff answering the phones will not be able to tell you where you are on the list. You will need to wait for our Admin team to contact you. 

To help the process go quickly once we are ready to start making calls, please give us some more information about your family with this *link*

Thanks again for your interest in Coastal Day School! We are excited to welcome all our new friends into the CDS family!!