Classes & Tuition
A Community Learning Through Play
Creative Play
Age: 2.5 to 3 years old
Days: Monday to Friday (2 day minimum)
Time: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Number of Students: Limited to 9
Co-op Requirement: Generally 1-2 times per month
Creative Play creates an environment for young children to explore, learn, and grow through hands-on play. Guided by an experienced early childhood teacher, children aged 2.5 to 3 have the opportunity to play with a variety of age-appropriate materials, participate in a peer group, discover new activities, test new ideas, and practice new concepts such as social interaction and using language to communicate with peers. The class introduces a balanced structure (replicated in other Co-op classes) of group activity (music activities, story time, dramatic role-playing), snack time, free play (varied art activities, activities for fine motor development), and outdoor play. Parents are encouraged to stay in the classroom for as long as their children need them to ease separation anxiety. For many children, this is their first school experience, and we want them to feel comfortable, allowing their natural enthusiasm to flourish. A happy, successful school experience at this age paves the way for positive feelings about school.
New for the 2024-2025 school year is lunch for the Creative Play class. Children bring their own lunches and are supervised by one or more teacher’s assistants. Children who stay for lunch are provided another opportunity to practice self-help skills in a relaxed, social atmosphere where they can share and communicate feelings and ideas with schoolmates.
Discovery Pre-K
Age: 3 years to 5 years
Days: Monday to Friday (3 day minimum)
Time: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Number of Students: Limited to 20
Co-op Requirement: Every 4-6 weeks
Discovery Pre-K is a mixed-age class, offering a full, five-day program for children ages 3 to 5 years old. A mixed-age classroom is used widely in preschool settings and research shows that it offers benefits to both the younger and older children. Younger children learn from their older peers and aspire to master the skills demonstrated by the older children. Older children get opportunities to lead and teach their younger counterparts while simultaneously reinforcing their own abilities.
For our three-year old students, this class also provides a valuable introduction to the school for first-time students and a natural progression for Creative Play alumni. For our 4-year-old students, the Pre-K curriculum is a rich one, preparing the child for Kindergarten and future school years. Our morning DPK program runs through lunchtime, and parents may also choose to enroll their child in an optional afternoon DPK session that offers children a full-day school experience five days a week.
The DPK teachers will tailor activities throughout the curriculum content areas for the needs of each child based on age appropriate goals and individual child development. Each subject unit throughout the year – for example, studying the seashore – recognizes and encourages the linked growth objectives through various activities.
Afternoons and Aftercare
Students in our Creative Play and DPK classes are able to stay for our afternoon session, which runs from 12:30pm to 2:45pm.
Aftercare runs from 2:45pm through 4pm.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition is based on the class (Creative or DPK), number of sessions (AM or PM), and the inclusion of after care.