School Mission and Philosophy at the Canterbury Children's Center, a private coeducational elementary school in Canterbury NH, serves students in grades 1-3 from Concord NH and central New Hampshire communities including Gilmanton NH, Loudon NH, Hopkinton NH, Bow NH, Boscawen NH, webster NH, penacook nh, canterbury nh, pembroke nh, providing a unique primary school education and fostering practical, artistic and academic skills, enthusiasm for learning, healthy self-awareness, and respect for others.

Our Mission and Philosophy

The Canterbury Children’s Center is a small independent primary school dedicated to the needs of children in grades 1, 2 and 3. It is located in rural Canterbury, New Hampshire surrounded by 20 acres of fields, forest and wetlands. The physical and philosophical design of the school environment is oriented to the development of the whole child while fostering independence, curiosity and joy of learning.

The school community encourages responsibility, cooperation, respectful interactions and self-discipline. Children work together in a multi-age setting based in the philosophy that children learn through experience, and that knowledge is an integration of ideas and experiences within all the disciplines.

Enrollment is intentionally kept small to allow for an individualized approach to instruction.

A quote from Lillie, former student and intern:

"When I was asked to write about the Canterbury Children’s Center, I had no idea where to begin. How could I write about the place that changed my life, both as a child and again as a young adult returning ten years later as an intern? How could I describe an indescribable place? And how could I ever explain the unexplainable feeling of calm excitement that fills my chest every time I pull up the long dirt driveway? It is far too simple to ever truly explain; you’d have to go see it for yourself.

But, in the meantime, if you promise to understand that the Canterbury Children’s Center is better than anything I could ever describe, I will start with the little things.

The children learn deep within their hearts that every person is as spectacular and as unique as they are, and that difference should be celebrated instead of molded.
They learn that you don’t have to win to have fun and that, in fact, most times it’s better when you don’t keep score. They learn how to solve conflicts between themselves without the help of adults.
They learn that their opinions and questions are valued, welcomed and always important.
They learn that every drawing they make is worthy of a frame and wall space, and that every poem they write is as good as Robert Frost’s best work.
They learn that gnomes write on birch bark with berry juice and love to bake cookies, which they also love to share.
They learn to thank the earth everyday for her gifts and they learn to love dirt and worms and compost. They learn to be fascinated, to be passionate, to be compassionate, to be peaceful.
They learn that every second they are alive, they are learning, and they LOVE IT.
They love Judy and Bill and they love each other and they love every person, animal and plant on this earth.
They cry when they leave because they know that they will never find a place like this again. But they will learn that they can always come back and it will be just as fabulous as they remembered."