Welcome to
New Paltz
Play School
COVID-19
Play School is open and following the strict guidelines set forth by the Ulster County Department of Health and New York State.
Please Note: Children 2 years old and older are required to wear a face covering at Play School.
2021-2022
Registration
Fall 2021 Registration. Click the link above to download the Fall 20221 Registration Form. Contact us at newpaltzplayschool@gmail.com with any questions.
Summer 2021 Registration is Closed
The Summer program is full. See you in July!
We are planning to have our Summer School program this year! It will be July 6-July 29. Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday mornings from 9:00-12:00. The tuition would be $230.00 for the 4 week class. If you are interested in signing up your child for less than the 4 weeks, the cost per week is $57.50 x number of weeks your child would attend. We realize families may be away during the month of July and we want to offer the Summer program based on your needs.
Please complete the registration form and enclose a $100.00 (non-refundable) deposit by June 1st. The balance of $130.00 is due July 1st. Please mail to: Nancy Vance, 6 Schreibers Lane, New Paltz, NY 12561
Preschool Vaccination Requirements
Children attending pre-K in New York State must receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule. For a list of required vaccines, see the school immunization information found on the NYS Dept. of Health website.
Our Programs
We offer half-day programs for 2, 3 and 4 year-old children. Our classrooms are open from September to June, as well as during our 4-week summer session.
Two-Year-Old Class
The 2's class is so much fun! Our young artists use materials like finger paints and paint-sticks to make their masterpieces. Playtime is a mix of big gross motor toys like cars and blocks, as well as our kitchen with its tea-set and pretend food! After snack we have book-looking time, followed by circle-time with songs and games. Then outside we go to the playground!
Three-Year-Old Class
The 3's build on their 2-year-old experience with even craftier crafts, show-and-tell, classroom jobs, and after plenty of practice with the magic rope, Library Fridays! Visiting the Elting Memorial Library for a short story-time and a new book to bring home each week is a special opportunity that our 3's just love!
Four-Year-Old Class
Our 4's are the top of the school! They build on their previous years' learning with new experiences: morning meeting, learning centers, letter-learning, pre-writing and pre-reading activities to prepare for Kindergarten! Of course there's still plenty of time for playing dress-up, constructing block towers, and lots of crafting!
Donations
As a non-profit preschool, we are always carefully balancing our tight budget--we have hard-working staff to pay, classrooms to maintain, and supplies to purchase. Play School is so grateful for the generosity of our supporters, who help us keep our doors open!
Our Roots
Founded in 1968 by Helen Karsten, Play School has been open to children in our community for over 50 years! After all these years, we still hold true to our founding principal: learning through play!
Curriculum & Goals
-To provide young children the opportunity of interacting with teachers, materials, and children of similar age
-To develop, during informal play experiences, self-confidence & indepedence
-To aid children in the growth of social & multi-cultural awareness, physical acuity & mental activity
-To help children develop a good self-concept
-To assist children in making the transition from home and parent to school and teacher
-To offer an inclusive, anti-bias, multi-cultural, welcoming environment
-To bring children together in a "play" environment, rather than an academically inclined atmosphere
-To make children aware of community services & help them to develop a community mindedness
-To develop language skills
-To develop an awareness of art, music & nature
-To learn respect for the rights of others & how to handle feelings towards oneself & others
-To encourage the development of good manners.
