Suburban Nursery School is a cooperative preschool located in Bethesda, Maryland

We joyfully serve 2, 3 and 4-year old children from Bethesda, Bannockburn, Glen Echo, Cabin John, Potomac and the greater Washington, DC area.

LEARNING BEGINS HERE

Our Philosophy

We know that nursery school fills very important needs in the lives of young children. Nursery school provides children with an expanded world of people, objects, and ideas that are open to creative exploration. It is a safe environment to form social contacts with others of the same age, and to learn the give and take of group play. During these vital years, children need wise and understanding guidance to help form good habits, and warm and loving support to create a sense of personal worth.

Our Program

Our program emphasizes personal responsibility and the sensory experiences that help integrate children into the larger world. Children freely choose from a variety of materials. These may include but are not limited to playdough, blocks, books, manipulatives, water, and sand. Children are encouraged to participate in art projects, cooking projects, the care of plants and animals, dramatic play, and puppetry. They learn to manage their own clothing, pour their own juice, and care for themselves, for each other and for the equipment they use.

Each day has a consistent schedule that includes free play, specific projects, story time, snack time, and large muscle play on either the outdoor playground or in our well-equipped “rainy day” room. Field trips are also a part of the Suburban Nursery School program and work in conjunction with specialists and visitors from the community to aid in expanding the children’s experiences.

Our Staff

Our teachers have varied backgrounds and bring to our school an unusual combination of professional education and practical experience. Our staff also includes music and creative movement teachers who introduce the children to song, movement, and an expanded repertoire of body awareness.

Our Parents and their Participation

Suburban offers a unique opportunity for parents to be a very real part of their child’s first school experience. Each and every parent participates in their child’s class, and an elected board of parents governs the school. We feel that having parents in the classroom every day adds a loving and supportive element to the educational benefits that come with a child’s participation in school. For more detailed information about what is expected of you as a Suburban parent, please review our co-oping agreement or visit our co-oping page to see comments from current and former parents. Onsite sibling care is available to the co-oping parent to accommodate younger siblings.