Village Nursery School

At Village Nursery School, we are dedicated to providing a warm and nurturing first school experience for young learners. Our co-operative nursery school is situated in the heart of Yarmouth, Maine, and we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive and engaging classroom environment that fosters academic and social growth.

Our program is unique in that it provides an opportunity for students and parents to come together in the classroom setting. Each school day, one parent works in the classroom to assist the teachers, creating a fun and easy day for the parent and a joyful experience for the children, who love to have their parent as the "working parent." The classroom commitment tends to be 1 day per month, and each family also volunteers for a role in the operation of the school, enabling each family to find a comfortable role.

Village Nursery School is co-taught by Betsy Manganello and Helen Anderson, who bring a wealth of diverse yet complimentary strengths and talents to the program. Betsy has years of classroom experience and expertise as an art teacher, holding a Master of Science in Education. Helen has made a career of understanding human development and working with families, holding a Master of Social Work. Together, they are committed to preserving and enhancing the Village Nursery School experience.

Classes Available

We offer classes for both 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds, with a focus on providing each student with a comfortable and fun first school experience. Our curriculum is designed to develop social skills, fine and gross motor skills, introduce shapes, colors, and numbers, recognize students' own names, and learn letters. Our activities follow monthly themes that include topics such as All Around Maine, Things with Wings, Farms and Food, Musical Instruments, How Things Work, In the Neighborhood, Let's Get Messy, and Celebrations.

Our 3-year-old class, the 2-Day Class, meets on Thursday and Friday from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. Children should be 3 years old by Oct 15th to join the 2-Day Class. The maximum class size is 12 students.

Our 4-year-old class, the 3-Day Class, meets on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Children should be 4 years old by Oct 15th to join the 3-Day Class. The maximum class size is 14 students.

Curriculum

Our curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive and engaging learning experience for young learners. We focus on developing social skills, fine and gross motor skills, introducing shapes, colors, and numbers, recognizing students' own names, and learning letters. Our activities follow monthly themes that include topics such as All Around Maine, Things with Wings, Farms and Food, Musical Instruments, How Things Work, In the Neighborhood, Let's Get Messy, and Celebrations.

Since Village Nursery School is a co-operative preschool, parents have often shared their unique talents and experiences with the children. The children have had foreign language classes, cooking classes, and presentations about other countries including Kenya, Sweden, Venezuela, and England.

Enrichment Programs

We offer a range of enrichment programs to provide a well-rounded learning experience for our students. Our music program with Diana exposes children to music, dance, singing, instruments, rhythm, and beat every other week. We also offer field trip opportunities to local attractions such as Hansel's Orchard, Portland Ovations performances at Merrill Auditorium, visits to Pineland & Wolfe's Neck farms, the Royal River Park & Camp SOCI, Chewonki's traveling natural history programs, and walking field trips in our neighborhood.

A Typical Day at VNS

A typical day at Village Nursery School begins with drop-off at 9:00 am, followed by free play in the outside school area. During this time, children may engage in activities such as painting, chalk, science observation tools, sandbox, climbing structure, obstacle course, tricycles, cross-country skis, sleds, snowshoes, boat, castle playhouse, and water table, depending on the weather and time of year.

Circle time follows free play, where the class sings their morning greeting song and gets instructions for doing the project of the day. Project time typically involves going inside to complete an art project or other activity related to the monthly theme.