OUR SCHOOL

Central Nursery School in Wayne and Villanova is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Private Academic Schools and is incorporated as a non-profit organization. The School was founded in 1964 by Central Baptist Church and in 1985 the School became a separate entity. In 1993 CNS opened a satellite at Christ Church Ithan Episcopal in Villanova. Both churches endorse and support the School’s philosophy and programs as a service to the community. The Nursery School is operated by a Board made up of parents, staff, and community representatives who delegate daily functioning to a Management Team under direct supervision of the Director.

PHILOSOPHY

We affirm the unique worth of each individual child. Our goal is to help the child discover a way of life rather than learning a given body of material. Therefore the curriculum will include those elements which will enable children to discover who they are and, within limits appropriate to the developmental age, learn patterns of behavior which are socially acceptable to peers and adults.

Emphasis will be placed on self-development and discovery through art, music and dramatic play. Children will have the chance to learn more about their world through experiences with colors, shapes, numbers, foods, textures, stories, pets, plants, sand, water, etc.

We strive to maintain a relaxed, supportive atmosphere in which children can gain self confidence and have a happy and successful introduction to the school experience.

CLASSES

Our classes are limited to 16 or 18 children, depending on the size of the room. Each class has two teachers. Our policy is to accept children who will be at least 3 years of age before December 1st of the school year. Parent/Toddler Circle is a program at the Villanova campus for children 15 to 36 months to attend with parent or caretaker. See “Toddler Programs” for more info. Nursery school classes meet in both Wayne and Villanova locations. Two day classes meet Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Three day classes meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings or afternoons. The Expanded Learning groups are five day classes for 4’s and for 5’s who are not ready for kindergarten. Without duplicating the kindergarten curriculum, advanced discovery-learning experiences are planned to meet the needs of the children. Five morning classes are three hours in length; all other classes are two and a half hours. An Extended Day is offered every afternoon until 12:40 or 3:15 p.m. in Wayne, and 2:00 p.m. in Villanova.

TEACHERS

Each class is directed by a certified lead teacher and a highly qualified assistant. Student teachers and volunteer helpers enrich the classroom experience.

PARENTS

Although our school is not a cooperative in the usual sense, we enjoy and value the participation of the parents in a variety of ways such as: · Parents’ meetings · Parenting Skills courses · Parent-teacher conferences · Repairing equipment · Parent-child parties · Family picnics · Nursery School Board members · Classroom and office volunteers · Providing occasional snacks · Substitute teaching · Door opening/greeting

SCHOOL YEAR

The school year is from the middle of September through May with vacations at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. A summer session is also available. For dates and other information, request camp brochure.