Barnyard Academy

Barnyard Academy is hosting our annual Open House Saturday March 28th from 10am-12pm. We are a nature-based preschool, set on a mini farm in the heart of Greenbrier, offering part-time classes for children age 3-5. We are also pleased to announce that we are finally launching our homeschool enrichment program for elementary age children. Our primary teacher Samantha White holds a master's degree in childhood education and custom designed our curriculum. We are about to enter our 6th year and feel very blessed to have our vision welcomed by the community. Come visit our school, tour the farm and meet our teachers. If you are unable to attend the Open House, you can schedule a private tour during school hours. We only have a few openings for the 2026/2027 school year so we encourage visiting and applying soon.

https://www.barnyardacademy.com

After much consideration we have decided against running a Summer Camp for 2025. Summer Camp has become one of our most popular offerings but after years of use our schoolyard needs to be completely redone, redesigned and revamped. We will need to take the Summer months to re-build and prepare for the start of our school year in August. We hope you'll understand our decision and still consider us in 2026. We plan to be back with an even better program!

Miss Leah-Kate will be offering a week long camp focusing on everything a garden needs to thrive: good soil, good seeds, beneficial insects, and more. She will be offering 1-2 week long sessions (depending on interest) in the month of June and camp hours will be 8:30-11:30 AM to beat the heat. If you're interested, please don't hesitate to reach out at the following number (615) 812-2661. Miss Leah-Kate's program is very in keeping with our mission here at Barnyard Academy and a wonderful way to continue your child's nature education during the Summer months.

Barnyard Academy is hosting an Open House Saturday April 12th from 10am-12pm. We are a nature-based preschool, set on a mini farm in the heart of Greenbrier, offering part-time classes for children age 3-5. Come visit our school, tour the farm and meet our teachers. If you are unable to attend the Open House, you can schedule a private tour during school hours. Space is limited so we encourage visiting and applying for the 2025/2026 school year now.

https://www.barnyardacademy.com

Barnyard Academy is hosting an Open House Saturday April 27th from 10am-12pm. We are a nature-based preschool, set on a mini farm in the heart of Greenbrier, offering part-time classes for children age 3-5. Come visit our school, tour the farm and meet our teachers. If you are unable to attend the Open House, you can schedule a private tour during school hours. Space is limited so we encourage visiting and applying for the 2024/2025 school year now. We only have a few spots left in our afternoon session for Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4. All morning sessions are currently full.

https://www.barnyardacademy.com

Dear Barnyard Academy Families, it is with the saddest of hearts I write to let you know that Hank passed away this past Saturday. Just last week we were pretending that he was the Sun in the middle of our Solar System. We would always stretch toward the middle and touch Hank before yoga. And, he was so much a part of our classroom that if he was not seen circulating for dropped food at snack time the students would ask, "Where's Hank?" Hank was universally regarded by all to be uncommonly bright, clever, loving, loyal, devoted, emotional and possessing the most striking yellow eyes.

Hank joined our family 12 years ago this May. I picked him up from a shelter drop point at as gas station. I had agreed to adopt him sight unseen knowing he was riddled with heart worms. As he sat in the car next to me, with his piercing yellow eyes and crazy hair, I thought he looked like he was part lion or wolf. And I thought to myself, what have I gotten myself into. Little did I know over the course of the next 12 years he would grow into the legend he is.

Hank was a favorite amongst all 5 of my children and absolutely adored by all of our friends and family. Most importantly though, in his senior years, Barnyard Academy's most beloved mascot. Hank would patiently await the arrival of our students at the front door every day. And sometimes naughtily sneak out for a brief jaunt before coming back to rest on the circle time rug. Hank was even featured in his own book. A treasured gift from one of our school families.

Outside of school, Hank was tolerant of all of the shenanigans we get up to in our home. Whether it be a baby goat bugging him in his sleep. Or a duckling wandering the house, he never skipped a beat. When our goat Thumbelina was injured by dogs a few years ago and in distress Hank walked up to her and gently draped his paws over her side. Then he started to make fluttering sounds with his lips and vocalizations that sounded like crying. Several neighbors witnessed this and said they had never seen anything like it, and we all reckon we never will again. She later died of shock and it was clear that he was both comforting her, and grieving.

When I say he literally captured the heart of every visitor to grace our house there is no exaggeration. He was a once in a lifetime dog. And to say I am absolutely shattered is an understatement. Hank was between 14-15 years old yet had so much life left in his eyes. And he will be so very missed but most of all, by me. I'll miss looking into those eyes that once frightened me. And the intense knowing, almost human, stare that looked back at me. Hank, I love you. Love, Sam.

Attached you will find the last photo I took of Hank with one of our students. After that, chronological photos from the day I adopted him through the last 12 years. I will post one of my favorite videos of Hank in a separate post as well.

Wishing all of our Barnyard Academy Families a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year! As many of you know, I'm not much for social media posts but that doesn't mean we haven't been busy here at farm school. Quite the opposite! Looking forward to another adventure filled year! Plus, a few surprises. Please come visit us after dusk. We'll keep our Christmas lights on through the Epiphany. School resumes January 4th for our Pre-K 3 students, and January 5th for Pre-K 4. We are forever grarateful for your continued love and support. See you soon!

We've been having a lot of fun at Summer Camp these past 7 weeks. The time has come to think about the first days of school. August 15th is the first day of Pre-K 3 and August 16th for Pre-K 4. Welcome packets finally hit the post this afternoon.

Class of 2023, today is graduation day. Oh how we will miss you. Your faith in our little school has allowed us to grow in leaps and bounds in two short years. We will be forever grateful to have had the honor to share our vision for our little preschool with your children. How blessed and thankful we are. Love, Miss Sam and Miss Becky

Sneak peek at Class of 2023 graduation photos. We have 20 students graduating from our Nature Scout Program this year! As you may have gathered, I am not much for keeping up with social media but that does not mean we have not been up to more than you could possibly imagine. I plan to update you with details and pictures when we break for Summer vacation. For now, we remain focused on filling our last 4 weeks of school with infinite fun and wonder!

Spring has sprung here on the farm. Daisy gave birth to a kid last week - a boy. And we have chicks and goslings in our incubators and set to hatch in the next two weeks.