Briarcliff Nursery School was established in 1947 as a non-profit parent cooperative and has owned its present site since 1955.

Our Philosophy

Young children acquire knowledge when they are actively engaged in concrete hands-on experiences. We believe knowledge is constructed rather than copied and takes place through the child’s active participation.

Our program provides both a nurturing and stimulating environment that promotes the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of young children. The curriculum is planned for the age span of the group with special attention to the different needs, interests and developmental levels of the individual children.

Our goals are to:

  • Provide materials and create situations which arouse curiosity, stimulate thinking and promote intellectual development
  • Help children develop independence and enable them to function on their own with confidence and security
  • Promote social development by helping them be respectful of the needs and feelings of others and by developing their ability to interact successfully and cooperatively
  • Promote emotional development by giving the children a chance to express themselves through the arts
  • Help children develop a lifelong love of learning

 

Parent Cooperative

Being part of a cooperative school gives our parents a unique opportunity to get to know other families in the school as they work side-by-side on events and projects integral to the school. Cooperative opportunities exist across many core operational functions including: social, fundraising, substitution, library, maintenance and newsletter. Some involve work at the school, some from home to match with each family’s schedule & preferences. Additionally, parents may opt out of participation for an additional fee.

The school is supervised by a Board of Trustees, which governs the school according to its bylaws.  The Executive Committee assists with all operations of the school including fundraising, maintenance, setting tuition, and planning social events for families.  The school director is responsible for the educational programming, curriculum, and managing classroom teachers.