Our School Programs

Spuyten Duyvil Preschool offers a variety of programs to meet the needs of parents and families in our community.  We are unique in allowing families to structure their child’s educational and childcare schedule in consideration of their individual work and personal needs. Financial aid is available for eligible families.

You are invited to visit our wonderful school and see for yourself if Spuyten Duyvil would be the place for your child to best flourish!  Be our guest for an open house or a guided tour.

Programs for Threes and Fours

Our school is open from 7:30 am – 6:00 pm.  This allows for Early Drop-off and Late Pick-Up beyond 3K Nursery and PreK 4 hours. Now that NYC has expanded its funded universal childcare programs to include both 3 and 4-year olds, all application is done through the Dept. of Education. Both 3K and 4K lotteries open early in the new year. Current 3’s children receive priority placement in the following year’s 4K. There is NO application directly through the school anymore.

Extended Time

To accommodate varying schedules of different families, we offer early drop off at 7:30 am and late pick up until 6 pm for additional private fees. Families may contract for whichever days and hours best suits their personal needs.

Afterschool Add-ons:

Children in PreK4 are also invited to enroll in our Afterschool Add-ons for additional fees. Currently we offer Suzuki Violin and Drumming Circle classes once a week after 3:00. This is separate from the Extended Day program and open to all 4-year olds.

Additionally, art educator Dolores Zorriguieta works together with 3K and 4K in Somos Artistas, a weekly SPANISH IMMERSION after school visual art class focused on the use of various media and open-ended techniques. The class is included if your child is enrolled in aftercare that day of the week. Otherwise there is a small fee.

Here is a sample of how Dolores works with kids from her YouTube video series: 

Expanded Curriculum

In addition to the fully rounded, active program provided in the classrooms each day, our daily curriculum has been further expanded to enrich your child’s well-balanced preschool experience:

Dance & Movement Class

We provide a 50-minute weekly Movement session to each class. These are led by licensed neuro-motor therapist, Mary Cartales. The children are led in age-appropriate activities based on Mary’s long experience working with children. As Mary has taught us as a staff developer as well, repeated and structured movement strengthens neural pathways in the brain which many researchers and educators now understand is critical to well-developed language and academic success. Also, we all love to dance!

Chess

All children receive a weekly class in playing chess.  Spuyten Duyvil works with a unique program developed by Chess@3.  Children work with instructor Max Berry in half-class groups for a half-hour each.  Classroom teachers play and learn alongside the children.

Nature Studies

 Nature is alive and well throughout our large and active front yard, including our Looking and Sensory Gardens the Orchard and Farm. Over the past 12 years this front lawn has evolved into a vibrant and productive learning space for environmental and nature exploration: planting, harvesting, life cycles, composting. Children work weekly year-round in small groups with instructor and outdoor areas caretaker Michelle Byron, and are immersed in the authentic work of growing food and maintaining healthy grounds.

Family members are encouraged to volunteer in this work as well. Spuyten Duyvil has developed supportive relationships with the Bronx Botanical Gardens, NYRP, and DSNY composting programs.

Art Club

Long-time Spuyten Duyvil teacher Grazia LaRocca comes in once a week to offer open-ended, process-focused art activities. While a product may result, the emphasis is on the child’s interaction with the medium- watercolor observational painting, printmaking, table painting, collage. Having an experienced teacher working exclusively with her Art Club students within the busy classroom, allows for more attention to the child’s experience.

Vacation Camp

All Spuyten Duyvil students are invited to sign up for specialty vacation camps during school breaks (February and Spring). Focus topics have been Science Discovery and Art. Teachers from our regular program staff the camps with full extended hours as needed; fees depend on days and hours.

Before/Aftercare Tuition Rates for 2024 – 2025

We offer many combinations of days and times to accommodate the wide variety of family needs. The tuition list linked below shows possible schedule options. Check in with Director to confirm your schedule and cost. If your child is attending only during 3K or 4K hours, there is no fee. This is only for early drop-off and afterschool care.

Spring Programs

Urban Explorers

Urban Explorers is a spring term program for children eligible for 3K or 4K in September. Spuyten Duyvil Preschool’s urban naturalist, Michelle Byron, will lead a small group of children through developmentally appropriate, hands-on seasonal experiences centered around inquiry and exploration of the natural world. They will be based in Sputen Duyvil’s rich and unique farm and garden space at the school. Learn more.

Independent Summer Programs at SDP

Spuyten Duyvil Preschool rents its space during summer vacation to independent, privately run summer programs that share the same philosophy as SDP.