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www.clns.org
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.
Eligibility
By September 1st of the school year, children must have had their 2nd birthday
to be eligible for the 2s program, their 3rd birthday to be eligible for the
3s program, and their 4th birthday to be eligible for the 4/5s program. An
effort is made to keep a balance of boys/girls and ages. Enrollment may also
be limited based on the needs of the current group. Subject to Board approval,
children turning 3 or 4 in September who demonstrate capabilities warranting
admission to the respective 3s or 4/5s programs may be admitted to those programs
upon the recommendation of the Teacher-Director.
Hours
Four- and five-year-olds attend school Monday through Friday from 9:15 am
to 12:00 pm. Three-year-olds attend school three days a week (Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday) from 9:30 am to 12:15 pm. Lunch Bunch is available from Monday
through Thursday and runs from 12:00 pm to 12:40 pm. Our Extended Day is available
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, from 12:40 pm to 2:30 pm. The two-year-olds
attend school two days a week (Tuesday and Thursday) from 9:30 am to 12:00
pm.
Daily
Schedule
The school day generally begins with a brief free play period before children
join together for the daily gathering. During this time they may sing, play
or move to music, listen to a story, share news from home or talk about events
at school. After a break for a healthy snack, the children enjoy an extensive
outdoor recess where they can run, climb, swing, play in the sandbox or participate
in organized games or imaginary play. The children then return to the classroom
and choose from a variety of developmentally appropriate activities, including
art, dramatic play, building with blocks or other materials, books, games,
puzzles and science discovery. The children work together to clean up and
then choose books to take home and prepare for pick up.
Field
Trip and Visitors
Field trips, visits from guests and the participation of our diverse and talented
parent population offer the children an opportunity to explore and learn about
our community and its rich resources. To enhance these experiences, field
trips and guest visits are designed as an integral part of the curriculum.
For example, in preparation for a tour of the Garrett Park Post Office the
children set up their own classroom post office and wrote letters to their
families to be mailed during their tour.
Parent
Participation
At least one parent from each family assists in the classroom an average of
two or three times each month. In addition, membership meetings are held monthly,
and each family is expected to take responsibility for some aspect of the
school's administration, such as arranging field trips or coordinating the
parent participation schedule. Over the course of the year, two workdays are
planned for families to help set up the classroom in September, and conduct
general maintenance in March.
Tuition
and Fees
Tuition for the 2008-09 school year is as follows: $170 per month for two-year-olds,
$200 per month for three-year-olds, and $330 per month for four- and five-year-olds.
A $75 application fee must accompany each application. If a child is accepted,
the first month's tuition prepayment is due by March 15th to reserve his or
her spot in class. It covers the partial months of September 2008 and June
2009. A second month's tuition prepayment is due April 15th. This payment
covers May 2009 tuition. The two prepayments are non-refundable. When school
starts, families will pay tuition for October through April on a monthly basis
before the 15th of the respective previous months (e.g., October's tuition
is paid in September). Tuition will be pro-rated for children who enroll after
the beginning of school year, with a two-month non-refundable tuition payment
required. A $75 fee for supplies and equipment ($50 for the 2s program) and
a $75 activity fee ($50 for the 2s program) are due the first month of school.
Lunch Bunch is $4 per day for three-year-olds and $5 per day for four- and
five-year-olds. Extended Day is $12.50 per day.
Application
Process
Applications are currently being accepted in a rolling admission process for
the 2008-2009 school year. If you are interested in visiting the school, please
contact Liz Vitchock, our admissions chair, at (240) 205-4579, or liz_vitchock@yahoo.com,
to make an appointment. By mid-February, we will send decision letters to
all families who have submitted applications.
Cedar Lane Nursery School is a member of the Maryland Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools and is the first accredited co-operative nursery school in Maryland by the State of Maryland Department of Education.