Where Play Is At the Heart of Learning

Founded in 1959, Cedar Lane Nursery School is celebrating its 48th year as a co-operative nursery school where parents work together 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 two 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 20 three- and four-year-olds, make possible an intimate and nurturing program focused on each child’s developmental needs.

Hours

Two year olds attend school two days a week (Tuesday and Thursday) from 9:15 am to 11:45 am.

School hours are Monday through Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. for the morning program. Three-year-olds attend school three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), and four-year-olds attend school four days a week (Monday through Thursday).  Lunch Bunch is available from Monday through Thursday and runs from 12:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 


Finally, our Extended Day is (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Daily Schedule

The school day generally begins with a brief free play period during which children may chose from variety of developmentally appropriate activities. These include art, dramatic play, building with blocks or other materials, books, games and puzzles, as well as special projects such as cooking or experimenting with magnets. The children then help clean the room and then join the teacheron the rug for circle time. 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 and then 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 for a final story 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.

Parent Participation

Parents participate as teacher’s assistants in the classroom on a rotating basis. In addition, regular membership meetings are held, 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 co-oping schedule. Over the course of the year three workdays are planned for families to help set up the classroom in September, conduct general maintenance during the year and close the school in June.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the 2006-2007 school year is as follows:  $170 per month for two year olds, $200 per month for three year olds, $265 for four year olds. A $75 application fee must accompany each application.  If a child is accepted into Cedar Lane Nursery School, the first month’s tuition is due by March 15 to reserve his or her spot in the class.  A $75 fee for supplies and equipment and activity fee of $75 for 3/4 year olds and $50 for 2 year old are due the first month of school.  The first two tuition prepayments are non-refundable. The first prepayment is due at time of admission.  The first month's tuition covers the two weeks of September and the two weeks of June.  May 2007 tuition is due at the June 2006 membership meeting.  Subsequent payments are due at the membership meetings, starting in September.  Lunch Bunch is $5/day and Extended Day is $12.50/day.

Application Process:

Applications are currently accepted in a rolling admission process for the 2007-2008 school year. If you are interested in visiting the school, please call Beth Boa, our admissions chair, at (301) 962 5055 to make an appointment. By mid-February, we will send decision letters to all families who have submitted applications.

Our school:

The program at Cedar Lane Cooperative Nursery School is concerned with the development of the whole child: that is his/her physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development. Activities and play are combined as a medium for learning. The curriculum is broad in scope and flexible, in order to provide for the varied needs and developmental levels of each child in each year of the program. Activities are planned to engage three and four year old children in constructive, creative experiences and learning. The curriculum also reflects the individual strengths and abilities of the participating parents as integral parts of the ongoing program.

How our parents participate:

Parents co-op every other week and hold a school job. Parents also participate in three workdays per year, and drive on some field trips (if possible).

Additional fee information:

Application fee                                  $75
Supplies and Capital Equipment fee       $75

Activity fee                                      $75 for 3/4 year olds and $50 for 2 year old (Due in September)

Additional services provided:

- Field trips approximately once a month for 3/4 program
- Ongoing Parent Education

How to find us:

Cedar Lane Cooperative Nursery School is housed in the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, on the Bethesda/Kensington border. The Church is located in a lovely wooded setting adjoining Rock Creek Park, at the intersection of Beach Drive and Cedar Lane.

How to contact us:

For more information about our programs contact our Admissions Chair:

Doreen Bunten
(301) 530-5443

 

About our credentials:

Our preschool is licensed by the Montgomery County Child Care Administration and our program is approved by the Maryland State Board of Education. We are a full member of the Maryland Council of Parent Participant Nursery Schools (MCPPNS). Cedar Lane Nursery School is the first cooperative nursery school accredited by the Maryland State Board of Education.

Other info about us:

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, creed, color or national origin.

 

CLNS Inclement Weather Policy

 

 For school closings due to inclement weather, CLNS follows Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). If MCPS is closed due to inclement weather, all CLNS classes will be canceled. 

 

If MCPS starts two hours late, CLNS’s two year old program will be canceled.

Also, if MCPS starts two hours late, the three’s class on Fridays will be canceled.

 

If MCPS starts two hours late, the 3s and 4s may have class (Mondays-Thursdays).  The Teacher/Director will determine if there is an adequate adult to student ratio based on the availability of the cooping parents by 7:30 a.m.  If there is an adequate ratio, the Teacher/Director will decide whether or not to open school on time or slightly delayed.  The Teacher/Director will then activate the Phone Tree in order to inform all parents about the status of the school opening.

 

To check the status of Montgomery County, go to www.schoolsout.com or check radio or television. CLNS may offer additional days of classes if Montgomery County uses its allotted number of snow days. 

 

http://clns.org