Our Story - LeafSpring School

Our Story

Since 1989, LeafSpring Schools has provided the highest quality early education childcare and after school recreation available. No other program offers our level of excellence as well as a licensed nurse staffing a separate Get Well Place (clinic for mildly ill children). Our proprietary leadership program works hand-in-hand with our play-based curriculum allowing children to learn early, live well and lead.

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1989

Gail W. Johnson, RN, MSN founded LeafSpring Schools (Rainbow Station)

While on the faculty of the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing, Gail saw firsthand how families went into crisis mode when their children had acute or chronic health conditions that made it difficult for them to fulfill their job duties.

As a solution, Gail opened LeafSpring Schools (Rainbow Station) and created the Get Well Place™, a clinic staffed by a licensed nurse to care for mildly or chronically ill children while their caregivers worked. This support was extended to the entire community, regardless of whether children were enrolled in the school or not.

1996

The Village, a unique school-age recreation program, was conceived.

The Village was created to resemble a town square where school-aged children could experience the freedom they crave within a controlled educational environment that fosters their growth, curiosity and leadership.

The Village creates an atmosphere in which children are free to choose age-appropriate activities in a safe, fun, and stimulating environment staffed by recreation counselors.

2000

Franchising launched.

In 2000, the franchising option officially launched.

2013

Camp Blue Sky introduced.

Camp Blue Sky offers the perfect summer solution. Kids aged 5-13 get an age-appropriate Summer Camp program where they can have all the fun they dreamt about during the school year while experiencing the world in a structured and active environment.

2016

INSPIRED, a proprietary leadership program, is introduced.

INSPIRED was designed complement and enhance the existing play and values-based curriculum, PLAYWORKS. The INSPIRED curriculum consists of 6 literacies, or areas of study: Social Literacy, Health Literacy, Environmental Literacy, Civic Literacy, Entrepreneurial Literacy, and Financial Literacy.

2017

Rainbow Station becomes LeafSpring Schools

In order to continually evolve and improve, Rainbow Station rebrands as LeafSpring School as it launches plans to expand.

 

Learn more about our name change.

2022

Two new literacies added to the INSPIRED leadership program

The Resilience and Mindfulness literacies were added to the INSPIRED leadership program, making the total number of literacies eight.