December Theme: Literature Across the Ages!
Georgetown Hill will be immersed in fairy tale worlds and folk tale traditions during the month of December!
Ellen Cromwell
The Mother of Georgetown Hill
Ellen Cromwell is a mom of four and a grandmother of seven…but to all of us…she is the mother of Georgetown Hill Early School. Georgetown Hill is proud to continue the legacy of Ellen Cromwell and her loving, play-centered and content-rich curriculum.
November Signature Unit – FOOD!
We introduced Georgetown Hill’s first signature unit—FOOD– in November! Our three signature preschool units (November, February, and May) immerse the entire school in an in-depth exploration of the same topic.
No, Seriously. Eat Breakfast.
Fueling our kids for the day is perhaps the most important thing we can do for them before 9am, second only to making sure they are loved and treasured just the way they are. You might try these nutritious and (even more important for busy weekdays) quick and easy breakfast solutions.
Teacher-Child Interactions and Preschool Quality
For the past few decades, early childhood researchers across the county have been investigating what makes a preschool classroom “high-quality.”
What did we even do on our days ‘off’?
Last Thursday, we got together for our Annual Staff Meeting – that’s right, over 200 Georgetown Hill employees got all together in ONE PLACE! The energy was outstanding, and we are SO EXCITED to start our 2018/2019 school year.
How am I supposed to discipline my young child?
Disciplining your child can be tricky, you want them to learn from their mistakes and to understand why they are being disciplined. Conscious Discipline is a great method to help your child self-regulate.
Tips to Ease the Transition to Preschool
The start of preschool is an exciting and joyful milestone in your family’s life, but certainly, it can come with anxiety and even some fear for both parents and kids. Here are some more tips about making it through those early weeks of school as tear-free as possible.
Are you busy?? Go outside!!
You may be asking yourself how you can spend more time outside, by yourself or with your little one. Here are some of my favorite activities to do, especially now that summer is here!
Director Spotlight – Megan Jackowski
Megan is the Assistant Director at our Darnestown preschool and helps inspire teachers globally at Georgetown Hill.
Director Spotlight – Breanna Voorhees
Breanna was promoted from an incredibly loved preschool teacher to Assistant Director for Apple Ridge back in January!
Play-Based Learning
At Georgetown Hill, Play is the first component of the PLAN Curriculum (Play, Learning, Arts, and Nurturing). Our classrooms are designed to stimulate children’s natural curiosity, exploration, and play through engaging materials and supportive interactions with teachers and other adults.
What do we know about STEAM in early childhood education?
The term STEM was developed by the National Science Foundation in the early 2000’s as an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education. The addition of the ‘A’ for Arts was made in recent years to promote the integration and use of the arts in STEM curriculum.
10 Things to Know about Family Engagement in Early Childhood Programs
It can be difficult to know the best way to engage in your child’s learning. check out these ten helpful tips to help you and your family be engaged in your childs learning.
Director Spotlight – Shelby Monsini
This is Shelby’s first year as a director – but you wouldn’t know it! We think Shelby was born to be a Georgetown Hill Director. Shelby leads our two-room historic schoolhouse in Clarksburg, Maryland. Both our building and Shelby are classic, timeless, and full of character and charm. Shelby encompasses our core values of Child-First, [...]
Director Spotlight – Kristen Raymond
Our next Director Spotlight is Kristen Raymond who directs our Darnestown Preschool location. Kristen is known around Georgetown Hill as our “Cheerleader”! Kristen is 100% “all in” and goes above and beyond her position each and every day. Kristen started her journey with Georgetown Hill as a parent while she worked in an elementary school. [...]
Director Spotlight – Melanie Morillo
Melanie Morillo has been with Georgetown Hill Early School for 16 YEARS!!!!!!!!!! Our infants, toddlers, twos, threes, fours, preschool, and trans-k all adore Melanie, and for good reason. Melanie is so much fun and definitely makes you feel like part of the family.
Director Spotlight – Liliana Winestone
Lil came to Georgetown Hill Early School as an experienced director, seven (7) years ago! There is really no one quite like Lil. She is an amazing leader and genuinely cares about each one of her team members, parents, and students. Lil is a go-getter, has amazing follow through and is a fierce family advocate. [...]
Director Spotlight – Natalie Eades
Natalie Eades is one of our newest directors, and we couldn’t be more excited! Natalie comes to us from a broad background in child care and…. DANCE! We snagged her back in October and we feel like we won the director lottery! If you are around North Potomac, stop by our campus on Dufief Mill [...]
Director Spotlight – Lai Fan Zhang
Lai Fan has been with Georgetown Hill for 12 years. She started with us as an amazing PreK teacher and the kids still love her! Parents love her too! Lai Fan has a ‘get stuff done’ attitude and her institutional knowledge is beyond helpful. She witnessed our founder, Ellen Cromwell’s vision firsthand.
Director Spotlight – Shannon Moodie
Our first ever Director Spotlight is on Shannon Moodie who directs our Montgomery Village campus, Apple Ridge.
Is “Time Out” OUT?
Let me guess. You clicked on this link because you have it all figured out- the grocery store tantrums, the backseat wrestling matches, the refusal to wear shoes- these crises are a thing of the past in your household, right? If you are a parent of a preschooler, we know better! But, the good news [...]
Saying Goodbye: Drop-Off Tips and Tricks
Georgetown Hill is a soft place to land after a stressful morning, and you can count on the fact that your child will receive plenty of hugs and cuddles throughout the day
Ringing in the New Year with your Little Ones
Whether you go out or stay in, it’s fun to have New Year’s traditions with your littles. The following list of ideas can be done on December 31st or January 1 depending on your grown-up plans.
Inside Activities to do with Your Child During Winter
Here are some ideas to make the most of your days, even if they’re darker (literally).
Cheese! Photography Basics for Parents of Young Children
I have seen your kids. They are cute enough to grace the cover of Parent Magazine. And, believe it or not, you can capture magazine-worthy shots with just a few tips.
Minimizing Material Gifts this Time of Year
It is just me or does Christmas, Hanukah, Chanukah, Solstice, whatever you celebrate, start to feel a little too material?
Book Nook – Children’s Book Award Winners
We are excited to share with you some of the 2017 book award winners that you might want to check out at your library or purchase for family’s book collection.
Glub glub…getting your child to drink water
Have you heard the news? Water is the body’s most essential nutrient. Water fuels more bodily functions than we can count, including regulating our body temperature, transporting oxygen and nutrients to cells, expelling waste, maintaining blood volume, and lubricating joints and tissues.
