Do you still have that special craft your child made in the 3’s class? Or maybe you have something you made in the 4’s? Tarrytown Nursery School is celebrating its 60th year and they want to hear from alumni!
In the summer of 1949, eleven enterprising moms organized a playgroup on the Hackley School grounds, where they took turns watching the children once a week. This group, the fledgling Tarrytown Nursery School, quickly grew and was soon chartered by the State of New York as a non-profit, cooperative school. As the school’s membership expanded, it relocated a few more times. Finally, in 1971, it moved to its current location – the undercroft of Christ Episcopal Church on West Elizabeth Street – where it continues as an independent, non-profit, and non-sectarian pre-school. In June of 1976 the school was registered with the New York State Department of Education.
The School provides young children between the ages of two and four with a happy and productive pre-school education. A flexible curriculum encourages children to develop self-confidence, gain some degree of independence, and get along with others their own age. Bright, airy classrooms and an outdoor playground are the setting for your child’s exploration, discovery, creativity, and self-expression.
As members of the cooperative, parents have an opportunity to observe and participate in their children’s experiences and to share their own special talents and interests with them. The staff is made up of highly qualified teachers and assistants who work together and with the parents to ensure the best possible pre-school education for all students.
The cooperative aspect of the school allows parents to not only take part in the school’s operations, but to participate in the classroom as a class parent. Not only do parents get to see their children’s delight as they explore and learn new things, but they also get to know their child’s school friends and get to join a wonderful, lifelong community of families who have taken part in the Tarrytown Nursery School experience. Tarrytown Nursery School children also have formed life-long friendships and go to kindergarten and beyond as well-socialized independent little thinkers.
Special people have made it possible for the school to be around this long – the wonderful teachers, the parents who have shared the responsibilities all these years and local companies. Thank you to all of the families and alumni who have made this achievement possible. This year, the school would like to give special thanks to Agro’s Landscaping for helping get the yard ready for the new playground.
Do you have stories or memories of Tarrytown Nursery School? The Nursery School will be showcasing some of your special memories at its 60th Anniversary Celebration in March. Join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tarrytownnurseryschool to keep up with school events and news and share some of these memories.
Do you want your child to become a part of the Tarrytown Nursery School tradition? The Nursery School is hosting open houses in November. The schedule is as follows: Tuesday, November 17th, 9:30am – 4’s class; Wednesday, November 18th, 9:30am – 2’s class; Thursday, November 19th, 9:30am – 3’s class; Friday, November 20th, 5:00 – 7:00pm – all classes. Also, for the first time, starting in January 2010, the school is offering Mommy/Daddy & Me classes for children 1-2 years old with a caregiver. You can find more information at www.tarrytownnurseryschool.org
Thank you to all that have made these 60 years so great!
