June Roush Pierson Lab Nursery School

The program enrolls three- to five-year-old children from the campus and surrounding community in its five-morning program, housed in two bright, airy classrooms on the DCC main campus.

Each classroom is staffed by an experienced master teacher and part time faculty member from the college’s Early Childhood and Elementary Education Program.

The play-based curriculum is carefully planned to support children’s growth and development, offering a rich variety of art, sensory, literacy, math, science, and music activities, in addition to block building, dramatic play, and outdoor play. There is an emphasis on developing relationships with others, as master teachers, fieldwork students, and children engage in meaningful conversations and participate in hands-on learning experiences through play.

During a typical day at the June Roush Pierson Lab Nursery School, children are encouraged to move freely throughout the classroom environment. Upon entering the classroom and separating from their primary caregiver, children will be greeted by their teachers. Children will then choose from a plethora of hands-on activities, all of which are carefully designed to support the development of the children enrolled in the program.

The June Roush Pierson Lab Nursery School is accepting enrollment applications for the 2024-2025 school year!

The Program

Children are enrolled for five mornings per week, from 9:00-11:45 a.m. Their morning includes free play in the classrooms’ carefully prepared learning centers, a midmorning snack, whole-group activities, and outdoor play daily. The program is a laboratory school for the ECH/EED students, serving as a fieldwork and observation site for students studying to be early childhood teachers. The school follows the college academic calendar, fall and spring semesters. With no more than thirteen children in each classroom, excellent teacher:child ratios ensure attention to individual needs. Tuition is $2,300 for the academic year.

Enrollment

The school enrolls children for five mornings for the entire academic year. Applications accompanied by a $100 non-refundable deposit reserve a spot for the following year. To arrange a visit, find out more about the program, and obtain application materials, please contact Shelley Squires-Trani at (845) 431-8351, or shelley.squirestrani@sunydutchess.edu. The school holds an Open House for families interested in enrolling for the following year in February.