Our school year runs from the Monday after Labor Day through mid June. Our summer program runs from mid June through either the end of July or very beginning of August. Our program offerings for 2024-2025 are:
Toddler Playgroup:
Our Toddler Playgroup is a non-separation program held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-11am where toddlers get the chance to experience a gentle introduction to school. An experienced teacher provides developmentally appropriate materials and a simple structure, including art, movement, and music activities.
We hold three 10-week sessions in the fall, winter, or spring.
All separation classes are M-F
Morning session: 9:00-12:00
Extended session: 9:00-2:30
Full Day: 9:00-5:30
Early drop off at 8:00 or 8:30 is available.
2’s (Snail Room):
Our 2’s program is focused on gently helping children adjust to a school setting and fostering a love of learning and exploration. Teachers support 2 year olds through hands-on sensory experiences, social emotional learning, and dramatic play themes. The 2’s also engage in simple versions of “projects.” Projects are ongoing studies on subjects of interest to the children in the class and are part of a whole child approach to teaching. Projects the 2’s group has explored in the past include wheels, subways, toothbrushes, and babies. Engaging in a curriculum centered around a subject children love helps to set the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
3’s and 4’s (Fish Room):
Our 3’s and 4’s program is centered around community building, meaningful inquiry, and more in depth projects. In this mixed age classroom, children are able to learn from each other, guide one another, and engage in complex play. Teachers support each age group, providing certain individualized times for 3’s and 4’s, and also bringing the age groups together to collaborate. Children continue to be introduced to hands-on materials and experiential learning. Children moving to Kindergarten are prepared through a curriculum that includes literacy, numeracy, science, and social studies taught through a developmentally appropriate lens.
There has been research and writing done on the benefits of a mixed age classroom. This article summarizes some of those benefits and references the work of Lilian Katz (professor and educator) and Lev Vygotsky (developmental psychologist).
Summer Camp
A six week program from mid-June through July.
Physical Setting
Our well-equipped classrooms allow us flexibility in responding to the children’s need for large and small group experiences, active and quiet play. The different areas of the classrooms provide opportunities for art, dramatic play, sensory and scientific inquiry, block building, large motor play, working quietly with puzzles or construction toys, and enjoying books. There is an active play “Climber Room” that all classes use for large motor play, as well as a gymnasium in the building for active indoor play in inclement weather. For daily outdoor play we have easy access to Riverside Park and to Columbia University Campus. We are licensed by the NYC Department of Health and follow its strict regulations for safety and health.