Moonstone Play School
A Place of Freedom for Children.
Child Led, Nature Focused, Play Based and Joy Filled.
Our Philosphy
I believe there is inspiration to be found in many schools of thought around early childhood education. I am inspired by Waldorf, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, The theory of loose parts and the wonderful Bev Bos. In my 20 years of work with preschool age children, I have developed a knowing and an intuitive understanding of children's needs in these sweet, first 6 years of life. Nothing brings me greater joy than witnessing children in joyful flow with each other, nature and themselves. I see my role as a facilitator, nurturer, guide and materials gatherer. Moonstone is a place of freedom for children. The environment is the co-teacher, a "yes" environment, set up thoughtfully, safely and full of loose parts to foster that freedom of exploration, questioning, problem solving and challenges. I strive to provide a predictable rhythm to the day, but within that rhythm the time is theirs to fully engage in play, uninterrupted, allowing them to enter that state of flow, of deep connection with themselves. I see connection to nature as being imperative to the well being of children. We will focus our materials, explorations, celebrations, art and sensory experiences on the natural world. I teach kindness, empathy and caretaking for all living things. I model compassion, respect, calm, connection, listening and nurturing love. Children deserve a teacher who can see them as worthy of respect and who honors their temperament, personalities, curiosities, needs, wants and sensitivities. Because this goal takes a lot of my focus, I keep ratios low and offer a 4 hour, unlicensed program. All of my energy, my heart and my time gets to be directed to the children and helping them have joyful days at Moonstone.
“Receive the children in reverence; educate them in love, let them go forth in freedom.” -Rudolf Steiner
NATURE
Fostering a curiosity about our natural world and a love, compassion and empathy for all living things.
PLAY
Time, freedom and materials for children to explore and make their own in a yes ennvironment.
ART AND SENSORY
Variety of daily art and sensory offerings for children to explore and create in their own time, in their own way.
SCIENCE
Opportunities to question, explore, research, experiment and wonder.
COMMUNITY
Creating a sense of family and community through friendship, connection and community explorations.
LOVE
The foundation of Moonstone, Love. Creating a safe, nurturing space for children to be fully themselves.
OUR PROGRAM
Moonstone Playschool is an outdoor preschool program open Monday-Thursday from 9-1 with 2, 3 and 4 day enrollment options. I enroll fully potty trained children ages 3-6. Please email or call to set up an interview.
Tuition:
2 days =$425
3 days =$525
4 days =$625
Annual Supply Fee=$300
Our school year runs from September- June. Summer session is July through Mid August.
We follow the Olympia School Districts calendar for closures.
Our Ratio:
8:1
Our Day:
9 am Children arrive
9:15 Circle time outdoors
9:30 Outdoor choice time; sand, rocks, garden, mud pit, sensory and art projects, fairy area, toys, books, swings, tree climbing, water play.
10:45 Snack
11:00 Transition to indoor time/ potty (many days we will stay outside, depending on children's needs.
11:15 Indoor choice time; Freedom to explore imaginative play, toys, art and connection with friends.
12:15 Clean up, back outside, wash up
12:30 Lunch, story
12:50 Closing circle or song, goodbyes and ready to go.
1:00 Pick up
“At the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” -Margaret Atwood
Our Activities
Within our predictable rhythm and flow of the day, a variety of activities will be offered. Some examples are listed.
Process Oriented Art: Paint, water colors, collage, clay, glue, puffy paint, rain painting, colored salt creations, rubber band snap painting, marble painting, seasonal art
Free Art: Pens, crayons, pencils, scissors, tape, staples, paper
Sensory Play: playdough, slime, gak, waterplay, bubbles, baking soda/vinegar science, color mixing, shaving cream, clay, sensory tubs or rice, pasta, beans, flour, water, sand, mix! Create! What happens???
Other: Science, Music, Singing, Wool, Beeswax, Sewing, Stories, Walks, Meditation, Movement activities, Games, Toys, Puzzles, Seasonal celebrations, dance, ceramics, Outdoor play in all weather, Neighborhood walks, Community visitors, gardening, cooking, storytelling, puppets, Summer field trips, Roll play/acting, imaginative play, block building, dolls… and more!
“The environment must be rich in materials which lead interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.” -Maria Montessori
About Leigha
I am the owner and teacher at Moonstone Play School, Leigha Pirkle, I have a BA in Psychology from Evergreen State College, with many hours of child development. I have 150 hours of continuing education hours in early childhood education and 20 years of experience as a preschool teacher, 10 being the owner of Chickadees Day School. I have worked in large centers and small in homes and created Chickadees when my daughter was 1. It was a 10 hour per day licensed program. I have taken what I have learned from all of these experiences and created Moonstone Play School. I am very excited to have a preschool that is being created from a place of intention, experience, love and joy.
I live here with my daughter, Annabelle Lee, who is 15 and attends OHS, our dog TaterBug, a cat, Chester and a fish, Piggy. I have been in Olympia most of my life and have deep roots here. My whole family still lives in this community. I feel very lucky.
