Embrace Play-Based Learning at Maple Street
Maple Street School uses a play-based, emergent curriculum which encompasses deep studies that derive from classroom discoveries. The focus is to develop critical thinkers and problem solvers, while supporting students’ social-emotional well-being. We strive daily to create a deeper connection to oneself, family, the classroom and the community at large. We celebrate and recognize that we are all different, different learners, but we are all together in learning, growing and caring for each other.
Program Options
We offer flexible scheduling to meet diverse family needs:
Full-time and part-time options
Universal Pre-K For All participation
Tuition assistance programs
Core Day Programs
Our Multi-Age Approach
At Maple Street, we embrace the power of multi-age learning environments where children grow and develop at their own pace. By thoughtfully combining age groups, we create natural opportunities for leadership and cooperation while carefully attending to each child's individual developmental needs, interests, and challenges. This approach builds a vibrant community of learners where children develop confidence, creativity, and a genuine love of learning that will serve them throughout their lives
Individual Growth & Assessment
Developmental Assessments are performed by parents and teachers throughout the year to ensure you child is meeting their milestons and receiving the best support possible. Throughout the year, teachers and parents collaborate to track each child's development through thoughtful observation and assessment. This partnership ensures every child receives the support they need to thrive in our program.
We offer age-specific activities at the Maple Street School based on each student’s needs and learning goals. Children develop skills and interests at different times throughout the school year. As a staff, we look at the whole child and seek to support each child’s individual educational experience.
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For our youngest learners, we create a nurturing environment that supports their natural curiosity and developing independence. Through simple, engaging projects, children explore sensory experiences like finger painting, play dough manipulation, and hands-on art. Physical activity is essential at this age, so we provide plenty of opportunities for climbing, dancing, and running. We gently encourage developing communication skills and self-help abilities, from putting on coats to using the bathroom independently.
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Our three-year-olds engage in increasingly complex projects that connect them to their community and themselves. Neighborhood studies might involve observational walks that inspire collective art projects, while self-reflection activities lead to creative self-portraits and family storytelling. Through cooking, planting, drama, and exploration both in and outside the classroom, children develop a deeper understanding of their world.
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Four-year-olds bring enthusiasm and creativity to their learning journey. In our language-rich environment, children create their own stories, engage in dramatic play, and participate in child-initiated studies ranging from insects to architecture. While preparing for kindergarten, we maintain our focus on fostering a love of learning through play, friendship, and discovery.
Early Drop Off
We offer early Drop off at 8:00 AM daily for families with early commitments, or childrens who woudl benefit from quiet 1-1 transition time to school. Early drop off is in you child’s regular classroom before your teacher’s prep period. This allows you child ot have quiet time before the day begins with their teachers, in their regular classrom. Early drop off is enrolled monthly, but drop in dates may be available
Extended Day Programs
After School
Program Overview
At Maple Street, our after school program (3:30-6:00 PM) is available to current families and the lager community, it embraces our core belief in the power of multi-age learning. Maple Street Afterschool is a thematic & integrative arts program that focuses on process over product in a highly creative, child centered/child lead and safe learning environment that focuses on the pedagogies of Bank Street, Reggio and True Play which make up the “Maple Street Way.” Open to the larger community, Maple Street Afterschool has been nicknamed “The funkiest preschool on earth!” due to the nature of in house and community events, arts specialists, true play in an urban environment, integrated arts through literacy programming and Alumni Reads series. Maple Street Afterschool is open to both enrolled families and community kids!
Alumni Reads
We’re excited to announce out Alumni Reads Program: in addition to our specialists, we invite Maple Street Alumni students to come and lead story time with our afterschool students. Our alumni reads program is one of many ways we share how proud we are of our students, and foster lifelong connections with our alumni.
Daily Schedule
Each afternoon follows a thoughtful rhythm that includes circle time, healthy snacks, and intentional arts activities. Children participating until 6:00 PM enjoy additional choice time and open play opportunities. Our weekly themes enhance these daily activities:
Weekly Special Themes
Music Mondays
Nature Tuesdays
Movement Wednesdays
Theater Thursdays
Language Fridays
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After School runs daily from 3:30-6:00 PM, with flexible pick-up options at 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM. Families can choose between our Z-Train program at 21 Lincoln Road or our Owls program at 626 Flatbush location.
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Early Pick-up & Extensions: Families may pick up their children early without advance notice, though this might affect participation in ongoing activities. For those needing to extend their time from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, we offer same-day extensions for a $10 fee. Please notify the school and complete the extension form.
Late Pick-up Guidelines: We maintain strict pick-up policies to respect our staff's schedules. No grace period is offered for late pick-ups. After 5:00 PM, families incur a $10 fee for extension to 6:00 PM. Pick-ups after 6:00 PM are charged at $5 per minute. We ask families to call the school immediately if running late.
Attendance Communication
Clear communication helps us maintain program quality. Please notify administration and your child's head teacher as soon as possible regarding any absences from After School. This allows us to adjust staffing and accommodate potential drop-in requests.
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We operate on a monthly enrollment system. Around the 15th of each month, families receive sign-up forms for the following month. Registration must be completed by the month's end to ensure appropriate staffing. All MSS families can participate in After School, regardless of their day school schedule. Upon successful registration, families receive a confirmation email and monthly welcome letter.
Drop-in Options
While we encourage monthly registration, we understand the need for occasional drop-in care. These requests are subject to availability and require advance contact with the school via phone or email. Once approved, families must complete our drop-in form to finalize attendance.
Community Kids Inquiry Form
Our afterschool is open to the larger community, if you’re interested in enrolling in afterschool, please fill out this inquiry form.
Emergent Curriculum
Our carefully planned emergent curriculums engage and build upon the child’s current knowledge, and based on the interests of the children. This demands a high degree of trust in our teacher’s creative abilities, and sees the child as a learner who is actively seeking knowledge. At Maple Street we get to know students and their interests. We think about what we know about our interest and what we would like to know. We ask big questions and do research as a class.
Outdoor Play
Weather permitting; we have outdoor play every day. We go to the Imagination Playground with all children, and to Lincoln Road Playground or Prospect Park with Children over 2.9 years old.
Hands-on activities
Flexible environments allow teachers to be responsive to the interests of the children, freeing them to construct knowledge together. We embrace our studies through Art, Music, Movement, Math, Social Emotional Development, Self, Family, Friends and Community.
Engage their
growing curiosity
Maple Street School uses a play-based, emergent curriculum which encompasses deep studies that derive from classroom discoveries. The focus is to develop critical thinkers and problem solvers, while supporting students’ social-emotional well-being. We strive daily to create a deeper connection to oneself, family, the classroom and the community at large. We celebrate and recognize that we are all different, different learners, but we are all together in learning, growing and caring for each other.
Tuition Rates 2024-2025
5 Days
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Half Days are only available to incoming 2 year olds.
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Children typically acclimate to full-time daycare within a few weeks, as consistent routines and supportive caregivers help them feel secure and build confidence in their new environment.
Maple Street Recommends full-time care, which provides children with consistent routines, more opportunities for social interaction, and extended time to develop relationships and skills in a stable, enriching environment.
3 Days
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Half Day schedules are only available for incoming two year olds
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Part Time schedules are subject to availability.
Maple Street Recommends full-time care, which provides children with consistent routines, more opportunities for social interaction, and extended time to develop relationships and skills in a stable, enriching environment.
2 Days
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Half Days are only available to incoming 2 year olds.
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Part Time schedules are subject to availability.
Maple Street Recommends full-time care, which provides children with consistent routines, more opportunities for social interaction, and extended time to develop relationships and skills in a stable, enriching environment.
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Half Days are only available to incoming 2 year olds.
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Part Time schedules are subject to availability.
Maple Street Recommends full-time care, which provides children with consistent routines, more opportunities for social interaction, and extended time to develop relationships and skills in a stable, enriching environment.
Additional Days
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Early Drop Off begins at 8:00am in your child’s day program classroom.
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Afterschool is billed on a month-to-month basis. Sign up for what you need! Drop-ins are available if we have space and adequate staffing.
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Late fees will be applied of you child is picked up any later than 6:00, at the rate of $1/min, with a minimum charge of $10.
Extended Days
Sibling Discount
10% off the lesser tuition amount
FAQs
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No! Your child does not need to be potty independent to start at Maple Street. Maple Street Teachers are Potty Professionals and we will work with you and your child to make their potty learning journey smooth and fun!
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Yes, Maple Street asks all families to keep all lunch and snack free of peanuts and tree nuts.
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Please send your child with a delicious nutritious snack for the morning and lunch each day. No peanuts or tree nuts! There are refrigerators and microwaves available for student lunches as needed.
Bottles are not allowed without a doctor’s prescriber’s note. Children may use labeled sippy cups when they are sitting. Please so not send in Candy, soda, peanuts, or tree nuts.
Breastfeeding is encouraged at Maple Street, please feel free to breastfeed in the lobby or classrooms. Additionally, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and need special accommodations such as grown-up sized chairs, please let us know.
Lunchboxes left at school will not be cleaned by the staff, please don’t forget to pick up your child’s lunch box!
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Please send children in play clothes that are weather appropriate and can get messy, as Maple Street is a creative, messy place, and close toed shoes that they can run in. Sneakers are preferable. (please no flip-flops or party/dress-up shoes).
Additionally, please bring a spill-proof water bottle that closes and seals with a covered lid, and label it with your child’s name.
Maple Street is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please do not allow children to bring jewelry or anything else of value that may get lost or stolen.
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Please bring the following with you on the first day of school, labeled with your child’s name, and be prepared to replenish throughout the year as necessary.
A full change of clothes including a shirt, pants, socks, underwear and a sweater in a ziploc bag. Please label each article of clothing with your child’s full name.
A blanket and crib-sized sheet with your child’s full name in a sealed ziploc or other sealable plastic bag.
Sunblock
Diapers (if your child wears diapers), and diaper ointment with your child’s name on it.
Wipes
A family photo
Thoroughly check your child’s cubby each day for soiled clothes, sheets, an lunchboxes. Staff are not responsible for dirty items.
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Please do not bring:
Pillows (They are not allowed by the Department of Health unless you have a physician’s note)
Unlabeled clothes, sippy cups, and other items that may get lost.
Fancy clothes or jewelry that may get lost, dirty, broken, or stained.
Toys that are large, difficult to share or may be used as weapons. Teachers should be consulted if children want to bring in toys.
Lunchboxes left at school will not be cleaned by the staff, please don’t forget to pick up your child’s lunch box!
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If you would like your child to celebrate his or her birthday with the school, you may bring a snack for the entire class. Please do not bring anything but the snack (no decorations, toys, etc.) For those children whose birthdays fall during the summer, pre or post birthday celebrations can be arranged with your child’s teachers.
If your child will be having a party outside the school, please be sensitive and do not distribute invitations in school unless the whole class is invited.
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If your child will be absent, please contact the school to inform the teachers. If your child misses school, there will be no make-up days of any kind.
Please keep your child at home when a fever is present, if s/he has unexplained rashes, vomiting and/or diarrhea, conjunctivitis (pink eye), or other contagious diseases, such as chicken pox, lice, impetigo or ringworm. Please keep your child home when mucus from a cold is extensive or cloudy.
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Maple Street does not admit children who are unvaccinated except in the case of a medical exemption. A standard health form filled out by your child’s doctor must be submitted prior to the first day of school, and then again on each birthday. Health forms and other forms are maintained in a confidential file, away from the classrooms.
For more detailed Health information, please continue to the Health section below.
