Established in 1972, Forest Hill Nursery School (FHNS) offers a unique educational program for 2, 3 and 4 year olds. As a co-op, FHNS parents work directly in the classroom as teacher helpers, and therefore, have the opportunity to aid in the learning process. The classroom routine is centered on the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive needs of young children. In a co-op, you know what your child does in school on a daily basis. By helping in the classroom, parents can more easily reinforce the lessons learned and help their children be prepared for the challenges of full-day kindergarten and beyond. 

We have experienced, degreed teachers and are licensed by the CCA and the Maryland State Department of Education. FHNS is open to families without regard to race, color, creed, sex, nationality or ethnic origin. 

Parent Requirements

• Each parent is required to serve as a helping parent in the classroom approximately once every 3 weeks or 12-14 days per year.

• Helper parents arrive 15 minutes early to set up for the day's activities, and remain after class to tidy up in the classroom for the next class (approximately 30 minutes).

• For helper parent days, some families choose to enter reciprocal babysitting arrangements for siblings.
  NOTE: Siblings not enrolled in school are not permitted in the classroom during class hours.

• Parents must attend the membership meetings that are held in the months of September, November, January, and March. Orientation is held in early September and is mandatory.

• Each parent is also required to serve on one committee to support the logistics of running the school.

• FHNS holds several fundraisers throughout the year and all families are expected to contribute their time and/or talents to these activities.

Additional Information

Your child’s first meeting with his or her classmates may take place during playgroup sessions held over the summer before school begins. (Attendance at playgroup is voluntary, but encouraged.) Parents and siblings are included in these meetings. The summer playgroups enable the children to meet their future classmates and helper parents and to experience group play in an informal setting. 

To help the children adjust more readily to school, a Gradual Entrance Program is implemented each fall. The children, starting off in a small group, become acquainted a few at a time for shorter class sessions. As they adjust to each other, and as they get acclimated to the classroom, they will also begin to feel close to the teacher and working parents. 

Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis and classes are filled according to place on the waiting list. Children must be toilet trained prior to entering preschool.