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A Brief history of Our School!

&= nbsp; Many times during my term here as Director, parents have asked me about the scho= ol, how it became a co-op and if we are affiliated with either of the churches = that we rent from. So, I thought you might find this history interesting. We sure have changed! But much like the parents who began this school because they wanted a safe place for their children to socialize and have fun with other children, we still ascribe to this same philosophy. Read on and remember ev= ery day we make history. Treasure this time with your children because some day= you may look back and see that these are the good old days. – Lynda Merch= ant

1950’s Moms Made It Happen! &= nbsp;

= In 1959, a group of mot= hers from the Mamaroneck United Methodist Church, at 546 East Boston Post Road in Mamaroneck, organized an informal pla= ygroup call the Mamaroneck Methodist Cooperative Nursery School. It = was a cooperative playgroup, designed to provide both play experiences and a litt= le bit of religious education for children of church members. After a year, a teacher/director was hired to oversee the program.

1960’s The Nurs= ery School Grows Up!

&= nbsp; The general population = became more interested in the nursery school experience for the preschool child. A= nd, at that time, preschool education was often an important part of church programming. The school, though non-sectarian and open to all, was underwri= tten by the church. A six week camp was organized for the summer months.

1970’s Separation and Independence!

&nbs= p; In 1974, due to increas= ed enrollment from outside the church, it was decided that the nursery school would incorporate as a completely separate unit from the church. In 1976, t= he school received its Absolute Charter from the State Education Department of= New York Board of Regents. Its name was changed to Mamaroneck Communit= y Nursery School. Cla= sses were added and more age groups were accommodated. Accordingly, the staff increased and, where possible, head teachers were expected to have degrees = in early childhood education and/or certification by the State of New York Education Department.

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1990’s Safety, Accreditation and a Second = Site!

= In 1994, the nursery sc= hool received accreditation from the National Academy of Early Childhood Program= s. The Academy recognizes early childhood programs that provide developmentally appropriate programs for preschoolers. Around this time, the school started offering parenting education workshops and its address was formally changed= to 501 Tompkins Avenue. In 1995, the Westchester Board of Health licensed the six week summer camp.=

In the last 1990’s, it became clear that the facilities at MUMC could not accommodate the number of families interested in our programs. So, in 1998,= we offered a 2-year-old program at a second site, St. Thomas’ Church, at 168 West Boston Post Road in Mamaroneck. And in September of 1999,= our entire 2’s program moved tot his site, allowing us to accommodate more 3-year-olds at the MUMC site. Also, at this time, we instituted our Communi= ty Playgroup and Kids’ Club at St. Th= omas”. =

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2000’s More Opportunities Than Ever!

We now enjoy more space, more staff, more programs – and the company of almost 250 children in the course of a week.

&= nbsp; In 2006, we moved from St. Thomas= church to St John’s= Lutheran Church at 122 Fenimore Road also in Mamaroneck. This new location al= lows for a separate site for our Playgroup and Kids’ Club programs both in= the morning and afternoon. In order to accomplish this goal the two year old nursery school program was moved to the 501 Tompkins Avenue Site.

We offer a tuition reimbursement program for staff attending educational classes/workshops. We also offer a tuition assistance program for parents of four-year-old children. But primarily what we offer is this: a quality educational experience for the preschool children in our community.

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