Educating Through Purposeful Play

The Mary Meyer School Preschool Program consists of a Morning Class and an Afternoon Class.
The Morning Class runs from 8:35am-11:30am, Monday through Friday for children who will turn three by December of their current school year.
The Afternoon Class runs from 12:35pm-3:30pm, Monday through Friday for children aged 3.5 years to 5 years old.
In each class, there are not more than 20 students under the care of three full-time educators.

At Mary Meyer School, we believe that reasoning, solving problems, exploring ideas, experimenting and reaching conclusions, engaging in creative work, and interacting with others helps to educate more fully than mere training through academic drill and memorization. Teachers plan activities that are meaningful to children as they think about numbers, develop literacy or work out social/emotional relationships. The teachers actively support children to think and develop at their own pace. Mary Meyer School students learn to expect fairness, consistency, affection, and respect from teachers. They discover the joy of mastering skills and basic knowledge, and how to apply them. Mary Meyer School provides varied opportunities for each child to live and learn as fully as possible at each stage of their growth.

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"Our children have left Mary Meyer School, excited about school, curious to learn, and a better friend."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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"I love Mary Meyer School and love doing art with my teachers!"

Mary Meyer School Student

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"When you walk in to the little schoolhouse it’s just like a big warm hug."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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"Mary Meyer School is a place your child will want to come every day and be excited about coming, regardless of the type of child they are."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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"When you are here with the rug and the bathtub, and the play areas and the kitchen, it really feels like an extension of our house. That's what a preschool should be, somewhere where your child naturally feels like they are going to an extension of what they already know."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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​"I like a lot of the books there. Thank you for teaching me!"

Mary Meyer School Student

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​"There isn’t pressure to meet any sort of level or expectations, but it is all just about fostering and environment that promotes care and courtesy and a passion for engaging with each other and with the school."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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​"My daughter ended her first school experience loving school, and for that we are so indebted to Mary Meyer School."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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​"I love my teachers and playing all day at Mary Meyer School!"

Mary Meyer School Student

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"​Thank you Kevin for listening endlessly and caring deeply about our whole family not just our little one at Mary Meyer School this year. You are a true friend."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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​"The teachers take such joy in teaching and getting to know each child individually."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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The Role of the Teacher

Mary Meyer School believes in helping children find the capacity for empathy, kindness and listening. We help children learn patience with themselves and others. Teachers assist children in making and sharing friendships and foster an environment where they learn how to behave responsibly in a group. Teachers also facilitate activities that capture the interests of children while helping them to take safe risks and have new experiences. Above all, the teachers strive to make Mary Meyer School a place where children feel self-confident and loved.

Everyone at Mary Meyer School is committed to making a child’s first school experience positive and joyful. Our teachers are trained in early childhood education and posses a deep commitment to the needs of young children. With a child to teacher ratio of 6 to 1, Mary Meyer School provides an intimate environment where each child is known and valued for their unique contribution to the classroom. We want to be an active part of your child’s life, and we welcome an open communication with parents.

There are two formal parent/teacher conferences per year to discuss a child’s progress and  teachers are available to meet informally to discuss a child’s experience. We are just as likely to contact you to discuss a particular concern as we are to tell you a great or funny story about your child’s day. 

Typical Daily Schedule

Activity
Time
Arrival and Free Play
30 minutes
Meeting. We sing the “hello song”, acknowledge our friends and discuss the daily jobs. There may be a presentation of new projects, activities, or a group conversation about topics of interest to the children.
15 minutes
Work Time. Children explore the classroom and develop eagerness and curiosity as learners. They take initiative, practice appropriate communication skills by engaging in cooperative play, learn to take turns with materials and use the classroom environment purposefully and respectfully. The varied areas of the classroom allow students to explore the domains of language arts, physical development, mathematics, science, social studies and fine arts.
50 minutes
Clean-Up
10 minutes
Book Time. Children look at books independently during "quiet book time", sing songs and listen to a story read to them by a teacher.
10 minutes
Hand Washing and Snack
20 minutes
Outside Play in our Playgarden Classroom
35 minutes
Dismissal. Children collect belongings, sing our “goodbye song” and then are dismissed to parents, guardians or caregivers.
10 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions most frequently asked can be found in the information below. Of course, if there is anything else you would like to know please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to hear from you!
What is a play-based pre-school?
We believe that children learn through purposeful play. The activities and curriculum designed by our educators support science, math, literature, small and large motor work, social and ecological responsibility and presentation and public speaking skills. When children play, they are experimenting. Play is about self-discovery, self-analysis and self-awareness. Children are learning about themselves and they are learning about their friends while teachers observe, ask questions and offer support and guidance.
What programs do you have?
Our Preschool Program consists of a Morning Class and an Afternoon Class.

The Morning Class runs from 8:35-11:30am, Monday through Friday. The Afternoon Class runs from 12:35-3:30pm, Monday through Friday. In each class, there are not more than 20 students under the care of three full-time teachers. Visit our Preschool Program page for more information.

We also offer a Parent & Toddler Program for children ages 21-33 months. Visit our Parent & Toddler Program page for more information.
How old does my child need to be to attend Mary Meyer School?
Children eligible to apply for the 2025-2026 Morning Class should be born between December 2, 2021 and December 1, 2022.

Children in the Afternoon Class must be born between September 2, 2020 and July 31, 2022.
​What is the annual tuition?
​The annual tuition for the 2025-2026 Preschool Program school year is $14,500 per child. Please visit our Tuition page for more information.
​How early can I apply for admission?
We only accept applications one year in advance of entrance. For example, to apply for the 2025-2026 school year, you should apply in the fall or winter of 2024-25. Our application fee is $50.

​​Our online application can be found HERE.
How do you select new students?
 In admitting applicants, the school aims to strike a balance between factors such as the ages and backgrounds of the children. We seek a diverse student body, and we encourage applications from families of all backgrounds. Priority enrollment is offered  to siblings or children of former Mary Meyer School students.
How many spaces are typically available for new families?
Each year, approximately half of our student population is comprised of new families joining our Morning and Afternoon Classes.
​How are the Morning and Afternoon Classes different?
The Mary Meyer School curriculum is designed to meet a student's developmental stage and our teachers effectively differentiate instruction for each class.
​Does my child need to be potty-trained?
No, children do not need to be potty-trained. Mary Meyer School believes that toilet training is specific to the individual child and therefore is not a requirement of admission to the school.
​​How do you handle parent and child separation?
We believe that it is equally important to help parents separate from their children as it is for children to separate from their parents. It is a key component in our work at the beginning of the school year.

We have a gentle entry into life as a Mary Meyer School student. The school year begins with 20-minute classroom visits followed by half-group half-day visits for children. During this time, we require parents or caregivers to remain nearby to support this transition to a child’s life as a student. We support both parents and children through this process sending frequent photo updates to parents during the first few days of school.

Our gentle approach is reflective of what children will experience once they have adjusted to their student life. We insure that we are creating an environment that feels safe, warm and welcoming to the pace of every child in our care.
Do the children go outside?
Yes! Our preschool is one of few in Chicago with a dedicated outdoor play space and garden. Our Playgarden provides children with the opportunity to run and bike and climb, using their gross motor skills while developing their social and negotiation skills. Utilizing our outdoor space is integral to our daily curriculum. The raised beds provide children a dedicated space to plant and tend and grow crops for our  Farmer's Market in late Spring.  Even in winter we bundle up with snow pants, gloves, hats and boots and take advantage of our Playgarden.
​Where do Mary Meyer School students attend elementary schools?
​Mary Meyer School children are represented in private, public and parochial schools throughout Chicago. The Mary Meyer School Director supports parents as they navigate the "Applying Out" application process.