“We take care of ourselves, we take care of each other, we take care of our community.”
Maple Street School Philosophy
At Maple Street School, we nurture the whole child through a thoughtfully designed program that blends play-based learning with emergent curriculum inspired by Reggio Emilia and Bank Street philosophies. Our approach recognizes that children's emotional, social, cognitive and physical development are deeply interconnected.
Our guiding principles inform everything we do at Maple Street School, helping children develop as confident, caring, and capable individuals.
We believe that children are natural researchers and meaning-makers who learn best through hands-on exploration and meaningful projects that emerge from their own interests and questions. Our teachers act as careful observers and guides, creating learning experiences that meet each child where they are while gently stretching their capabilities.
Maple Street School is a play-based, cooperative preschool.
Founded in 1978 by families in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn we maintain the vision of providing meaningful and joyful learning and play experiences to children ages 2-5.
Maple Street’s curriculum is community-emergent, inspired by the Bank Street Developmental Interactive Model and Reggio Emilia philosophies, while embracing diverse approaches to meet the needs of our dynamic educational community.
Rooted in play, wonder, and learning, we cultivate a culture of inclusion and beloved community, continually evolving to address race, gender, identity, class, ability, and other factors. As lifelong learners, we are committed to researching and practicing ways to best serve our early childhood community.
Our Educational Approach
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The Power of Play
Play is the cornerstone of early learning at Maple Street School. Through carefully curated play environments and materials, children develop:
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Social-emotional capabilities and self-regulation
- Language and communication abilities
- Mathematical and scientific concepts
- Creative expression and imagination
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Project-Based Learning
Our emergent curriculum follows children's natural curiosity. Projects might begin with a child's question about buildings in our neighborhood and evolve into a months-long investigation involving construction, mapping, community walks, and creative representation through art and storytelling. Past studies have explored fascinating topics like trees, habitats, transportation, and community helpers.
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Enrichment and Community Connections
Weekly specialist-led programs enrich our curriculum and expand children's horizons. Children participate in music with Jeremy (Tuesdays at Lincoln Road, Wednesdays at Flatbush Avenue), where they explore rhythm, song, and instrumental play. Our movement specialist guides activities that build physical confidence and coordination. These focused sessions complement our daily schedule and support children's natural development.
Beyond our walls, we embrace Brooklyn as our extended classroom. Children regularly visit the Audubon Center, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park Zoo, local libraries, community gardens, and neighborhood shops. Whether exploring the Nethermead in Prospect Park or visiting Imagination and Winthrop playgrounds, these adventures spark curiosity and often inspire our classroom investigations.
The Cooperative
Maple Street School is a cooperative preschool where families are stakeholders, not customers, playing an integral role in the school’s operational and cultural success. Through active participation, families help build emergent curriculum, plan events, maintain facilities, and fundraise, fostering deeper connections while keeping costs down.
This cooperative model creates a unique sense of belonging and ownership, with families celebrating their collective efforts at gatherings throughout the year. Coop responsibilities are central to the morning and full-day programs, with a variety of opportunities available, making the coop a cornerstone of Maple Street’s vibrant community.
Our mission is to foster a love of learning in your little ones, through child lead discovery.
“Our task is to help children communicate with the world using all their potential, strengths and languages, and to overcome any obstacle presented by our culture.”
— Malaguzzi, L. 1998, in The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach
“We believe we are a school that prepares children and families to go out into a world where everybody is valued, so having a school that embraces inclusion and differences is crucial for them as children, for their future, and the world.”
Peggy François
Maple Street School Executive Director
Maple Street School is an environment where children and families build a community in which all voices are worthy of being heard. We see our classrooms as microcosms for the world at large and welcome diversity in all its possible forms, including but not limited to racial and economic diversity, all the ways families are made, different learning styles, language and cultural differences, gender expression and more.
At Maple Street we want everyone to feel safe, valued, and seen. We work hard to create a climate that embraces everything that everyone has to offer and to address challenges from a perspective of justice and healing when they arise.
Diversity & Community
We believe that everyone should be able to play here at Maple Street. We offer Financial Assistance to qualifying families through our scholarship fund, Little Friends.
