The open house for the newly expanded preschool at Sandy Spring Friends School showed me that the program checks all the boxes when it comes to helping parents raise bright, confident, and kind humans.
Often, it was the thoughtful details that impressed me most.
The preschool, which welcomes 3- and 4-year-olds, offers a wide range of scheduling options to accommodate families’ needs. Whether your child needs a half-day, full-day, extended-day, or three-day schedule, SSFS offers the flexibility families need to balance their children’s development with work and other responsibilities.
Learning is woven naturally into play, with a thoughtful balance of structured and unstructured activities both inside and outdoors on the school’s beautiful 140-acre campus. Children enjoy outdoor recess year-round, and visits to the campus farm and pond are regular parts of the preschool experience.
Because Sandy Spring Friends School serves students from preschool through 12th grade, younger children have opportunities to interact with and be inspired by older students.
Through the school’s Buddy Program, students from age 4 through first grade are paired with seniors in the Upper School. The older students help younger children learn about the school and feel connected to the larger SSFS community. Buddies attend school assemblies and other activities together, developing unique friendships that can inspire preschoolers as they begin their educational journeys.
SSFS uses an inquiry-based approach to learning, encouraging children to explore, remain curious, ask questions, and develop the confidence to solve problems.
Quaker values are also at the heart of the SSFS experience. Children learn that kindness matters and are encouraged to practice compassion, peaceful problem-solving, ethical decision-making, and respect for others. Students also participate in moments of reflection, practicing stillness, thoughtful listening, and awareness of their inner voices.
The school’s facilities are remarkable, including a full-size rock-climbing wall, an outstanding library, and a state-of-the-art performing arts center. And did I mention the pond and working farm?
There is so much to love about the Sandy Spring Friends School preschool program.
To explore whether SSFS might be the right fit for your preschooler, join the school’s staff for an open house on August 12 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
