Where Play Is At the Heart of Learning

Founded in 1959, Cedar Lane Nursery School is a co-operative nursery school where parents work together with dedicated teachers to create a joyful educational experience for their children. At the heart of our school is respect for children and their ability to learn through play. Under the leadership of Cedar Lane's teacher-director Bernadine Occhiuzzo, we encourage our children to explore, experiment, ponder, and create. The school's program and physical resources offer children ample opportunities to develop a sense of belonging, competence, purposefulness, and responsibility.

Cedar Lane is a non-sectarian school housed in Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, located in a beautiful wooded setting adjoining Rock Creek Park. Our three classrooms are spacious and bright with reading nooks, easels, room for large block and vehicle play, as well as dramatic play, science and other activities that encourage learning through play. The school has a large playground with a variety of equipment, including swings, a sandbox, and several different kinds of climbers, allowing for active and imaginative outdoor play.

Parents at Cedar Lane play an integral role through their participation in the classroom and in all aspects of the school's administration. The degree of parent involvement and the school's size, limited to a total of 35 two-, three-, four-, and five-year-olds, make possible an intimate and nurturing program focused on each child's developmental needs.