Program

Pre-Kindergarten

The PMFS Pre-K program welcomes children into classrooms designed to spark creativity, imagination, and the joy of investigation.

Play is the work of Pre-K students

Pre-Kindergarten at Plymouth Meeting Friends School is a joyful play-based program committed to nurturing children and a lifelong love of learning. Classes are composed of a mixed-age group of children ages 3 to 5 years old. Pre-Kindergarten presents a rich environment designed to encourage curiosity and motivate children to wonder and explore. Throughout the year, teachers support each student’s cognitive, physical and social emotional development through a blend of guided and self-directed learning opportunities. Play is the work of Pre-Kindergarten students; and play in all of its variety is at the center of learning. During indoor and outdoor play opportunities, students attend to and analyze tasks, engage in hands-on activities, projects and experiences. Pre-kindergarteners gain knowledge, build on their imagination, problem-solve, and negotiate their interactions with others. Teachers serve as facilitators and use observations from play to plan and help children meet developmentally appropriate goals. Our Quaker principles and our commitment to social justice and stewardship are woven throughout the Pre- K classroom culture and daily life.

Pre-K students benefit from being part of a larger school setting

The PMFS Pre-K program is nestled into the lower campus alongside Kindergarten. Pre-K has a dedicated play space and garden where students can experience their school world in an intimate and familiar setting as well as the greater campus for explorations. Our youngest students know themselves as part of the continuum of students, participating in many events alongside their older peers; they form cross-grade relationships with upper grade students through buddy classes as well as shared outdoor playtime. Students have daily enrichment classes to enhance their experience, including Gym, Spanish, Science, Music, and Library taught by PMFS specialist teachers.

Pre-K Fast Facts

Enrollment Requirements

A child must be three years old by September 15 of the year they enter the program.

All children must be have toileting independence when they begin school. This is a developmental milestone that is an important sign of school readiness. Read more about toileting independence here.
Schedule

The Pre-K school day runs 8:00 – 3:00 pm. (Before school care begins at 7:30 am and is free for all students. Students may attend our after-school program, Beyond-the-Bell, until 6:00 pm for an additional fee.)

The Pre-K program follows the PMFS school calendar, September – June.
Enrollment

Part-time enrollment options are available. Children may attend: 3, 4, or 5 full days.

Financial Aid is available.

Click here for more information about the Admission process.

Click here to see the Pre-K Curriculum Overview

Classroom Highlights

List of 8 items.

3

playgrounds

2 'little' and 1 'big'
1

train

for climbing and play
3-5

year old students

in a mixed age setting
7

specials classes

on rotation each week
1-2

classes

depending on yearly enrollment
18

children in a class

(well, up to that number)
2

welcoming teachers

per class
umpteen

puddles to jump in

(only when it rains)

Erin, PMFS parent

In a preschool program, we wanted a program that was play-based, emphasized nature play, and that was child-led without lacking structure. Plymouth was the clear winner… We have seen such a shift in our daughter’s confidence this year! What I am so happy about is that her confidence has not grown at the expense of her sense of compassion or care for others; rather, they have grown together. The Quaker testimonies are woven throughout life at Plymouth and it is a powerful influence in how our children interact with the world.