St. Bartholomew Community Preschool’s Playgroup has been an active program for the past 40 years. The Playgroup provides a time and place for toddlers to gather along with a parent or caregiver for their first school experience. By participating in an ongoing playgroup, young children are better prepared for and more readily transitioned into a preschool program.
Preschool Administration works closely throughout the process of applying to Ongoing Schools with each family to help identify the best options for each child. During the “Ongoing Schools Forum,” held each spring, families applying to Kindergarten learn more about the process through a Parents Panel (question/answer session) and a presentation by the Director and the Administrative Director. Soon after the Forum, parents meet individually with the Director and Administrative Director to compile a list of prospective schools for their child.
The Allen-Stevenson School
The Nightingale Bamford School
The Brearley School
The Rudolph Steiner School
The Buckley School
The Spence School
The Browning School
St. Bernard’s School
The Chapin School
St. Ignatius Loyola
The Collegiate School
Saint David’s School
Convent of The Sacred Heart
The Town School
The Dalton School
Trinity School
Grace Church School
United Nations International School
Marymount School of New York
The preschool is housed on the 4th, 5th, and 6th floors of the Community House at St. Bartholomew’s Church. The preschool entrance is located on 50th Street, between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue.
The classrooms are spacious and bright, offering a flexible layout for large group, small group, and individual activities. Each classroom has a play area equipped with age-appropriate blocks, games, puzzles, toys, a sand table, and a dramatic play space. Additionally, each has tables and chairs for completing projects and special work, as well as enjoying snack together. Bulletin boards can be found throughout the school displaying the children’s original artwork. The preschool also has access to several large multi-purpose rooms, used for dance/movement classes and parent gatherings.
The preschool library has built-in stadium seating that allows all of the students to easily view the pictures as stories are being read. The library has approximately 2,500 volumes and averages the addition of 125 new books each year!
The preschool’s rooftop playground offers an amazing outdoor play space for our students. The area includes two climbing apparatuses and ample room for riding tricycles, running, and skipping. A perfect place for playing!
The heated pool is located in the basement of the Community House. Students in Class III, IV, and V receive weekly swimming instruction by skilled, certified swimming instructors. Twice a year, parents are invited to “Swimming Observation.” During this time, parents may observe their son/daughter during their lesson from the first-floor pool observation deck (an excellent photo opportunity)! The pool area was completely renovated during the summer of 2015.
The gym is also located in the basement of the Community House. Children use the gym on Fridays following swimming and on days with inclement weather. Afterschool tennis classes are also conducted in the gym. The gym was completely renovated during the summer of 2018, with new lighting, flooring, painting, and pads.
St. Bartholomew Community Preschool is a nondenominational school that embraces our diverse school community. Class I and Class II attend chapel together, and Classes III, IV, and V attend together. Both services are led by the preschool chaplain. Children’s chapel provides an intimate setting for the time together. In December, parents, grandparents, siblings, and caregivers are all invited to attend a family chapel service.
325 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022
(212) 378-0238/0223 Fax (212) 378-0281