Neighborhood Cooperative Nursery School

Play is at the heart of our curriculum. Playing indoors and outdoors. Playing with paint, playdough, shaving cream, and bubbles. With trains, tools, and musical instruments. Playing dress-up, playing board games. Children learn through play and at NCNS we give them a safe, enriching environment in which to do it.

Each day is designed to provide a combination of structured activities and self-directed play. This helps children develop the skills they need to participate in a group while giving them opportunities to independently explore the wide variety of materials in each classroom.

Each day also includes a healthful snack, provided by the parent-helper, as well as plenty of fresh air and exercise on our playground. Our Bike Room accommodates children's physical play when foul weather keeps us indoors.

Specialists
NCNS enlists specialists to help introduce students to music and dramatic play. The curriculum for each age group includes 30 minutes of music and 30 minutes of guided dramatic play each week. Actor-educators from Winchester's Kidstock! Theater lead the children in creative storytelling and imaginative play. Children also have the opportunity to sing, listen, move, and explore instruments with educators from Winchester Community Music School (3 year olds) and The Real School of Music (4 and 5 year olds).

Year by Year
3-Year Old Classes
The main objective for the three-year old class is socialization and individual social and emotional development. We strive to provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating classroom environment in which each student can grow socially, emotionally, and intellectually at his or her own pace. Activities help develop both gross and fine motor skills. Our daily routine includes free play, stories, songs, counting, guessing games, art projects, felt board activities and sharing time.

4-Year Old Classes
The purpose of this class is to provide children with a stimulating environment in which they can build friendships and pursue knowledge in preparation for kindergarten. Children spend time engaged in whole class activities, working as part of a small group, and exploring independently. Activities include matching, sorting, building, art projects, science experiments, and circle time/class meeting. The curriculum supports each child's cognitive, emotional and physical development.

4- and 5-Year Old Classes
This class expands the learning experience in an environment that encourages exploration and independence in preparation for kindergarten. The curriculum incorporates themes drawn from nature, science, literature, baking, math, and geography, among others, with special attention given to ensure the lessons build on interests expressed by the children. Each child is able to construct knowledge at his or her particular level of understanding through exploration, self-expression, and social interaction. Collaborative learning situations foster creativity and interactive participation.

Construction Club
Construction Club is a curriculum-based extended day option for four- and five-year olds, designed to "build on their knowledge" through a variety of experiences and activities. Construction Club is project-based and incorporates weekly themes drawn from science, math, baking, literature and geography, among others. This highly-interactive learning experience includes field trips into the Winchester community. Construction Club meets until 3 p.m., helping to prepare children for the longer days of kindergarten.

Circle of Friends
Circle of Friends is the name of our class for 3 year olds on Friday mornings. The program, piloted in 2009 – 2011, brings together both classes of 3 year olds. Two teachers and one or two parent-helpers lead the combined class. Circle of Friends meets in our largest classroom, offering children a rich and diverse array of materials. The program fosters children's social and emotional development through cooperative play, teamwork, and creative arts.