play space. Shared facilities with Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church include the church Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. Mount Vernon completed construction of the 60,000 s/ft Upper School building in July 2019. The 4-story building can accommodate approximately 400 students in grades 9-12 as well as by students and faculty of all grade levels and divisions. The building was constructed through the collaboration of several local and regional businesses including: Flags of Origin, MJO Studio, FLIK Dining, and View Dynamic Glass. The Upper School Building spaces are outfitted with furnishings from VS America, Hay, Bend Goods, Industry West, and West Elm. The interior features are hand-painted wayfinding and murals by Atlanta artist Chris Sturdivant. Academics Mount Vernon offers an educational experience from infants to grade 12. Mount Vernon uses inquiry-based learning methods to engage students in project work, design thinking, and visible thinking routines, with the goal of creating an environment in which learners can develop strong empathy and problem solving skills. As a means to actively work toward furthering educational processes, Mount Vernon has partnered with organizations such as the Buck Institute for Education, the Stanford d.School, IDEA, and Harvard University’s Project Zero. Design thinking Through design thinking, project-based learning, and maker design and engineering efforts, students engage with their community in order to solve real problems affecting organizations (both private and non-profit). Students have collaborated with for-profit and nonprofit organizations to create bio-engineering solutions, draft digital blueprints, redesign corporate collateral, and consult. School divisions The Mount Vernon School Preschool serves children from six weeks of age through 5 years of age. Nationally accredited by NAEYC (the National Association for the Education of Young Children), the school offers class sizes and teacher:child ratios below the national average. The Preschool is open from August–May and follows The Mount Vernon School’s calendar for breaks and teacher professional learning days. Open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for half-day students and 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for full time students. Early drop off is available for both full and part time students beginning at 7:30 at no additional fee. The Preschool and Early Preschool Programs focus to promote optimum development of each child enrolled. There is no defined separation between learning and caring, play and work. Individual child development goals are drawn from NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) and the Project Approach, which include: Promoting all aspects of development including: