Welcome to
The West Hill School
Our Mission
The West Hill School offers pre-school age children a safe and nurturing environment that encourages a life-long celebration of learning. Through our rich and varied curriculum, balanced with play and multisensory academic instruction, the children explore and satisfy their curiosities while developing their cognitive, social/emotional, and physical skills. Children experience and practice the self-regulation skills of careful listening and focus and attention that promote school readiness. Through activities that reinforce the development of empathy and emotion management, children learn to build friendships and successful interpersonal relationships. Children develop a sense of appreciation and respect for our natural world. It is our goal that each child progresses to kindergarten with the tools to achieve a balanced education that promotes self-confidence, joy of discovery, pride in accomplishment, and respect for differences in our school, our community, and our world.
Welcome to
The West Hill School
Our Mission
The West Hill School offers pre-school age children a safe and nurturing environment that encourages a life-long celebration of learning. Through our rich and varied curriculum, balanced with play and multisensory academic instruction, the children explore and satisfy their curiosities while developing their cognitive, social/emotional, and physical skills. Children experience and practice the self-regulation skills of careful listening and focus and attention that promote school readiness. Through activities that reinforce the development of empathy and emotion management, children learn to build friendships and successful interpersonal relationships. Children develop a sense of appreciation and respect for our natural world. It is our goal that each child progresses to kindergarten with the tools to achieve a balanced education that promotes self-confidence, joy of discovery, pride in accomplishment, and respect for differences in our school, our community, and our world.
Our Philosophy and Core Values
At the heart of The West Hill School’s philosophy is our belief that each child is unique. Our mission is to foster and develop each individual child’s ability to connect, learn, and grow as responsible citizens in our school community and the greater world.
Core Values
At The West Hill School, our students:
Connect through:
- fostering awareness of themselves and others in the classroom and in their natural environment
- interacting with and discovering the beauty of nature on our playscape
- understanding themselves in relation to others in our school community and diverse world
Learn through:
- engaging in joyful academic programming to support confidence and future school readiness
- participating in developmentally appropriate play, which fosters and nurtures curiosity and independence in the classroom, discovery room, and on the playscape
- modeling of kindness, compassion, respect, self-regulation in their daily routine
Grow through:
- experiencing developmentally appropriate social-emotional learning, empathy, patience, and responsibility
- participating in various diverse cultural experiences and service-learning projects
- developing opportunities to demonstrate age-appropriate leadership skills for future educational and personal success
Our whole school community, including students, faculty/staff, and parents/guardians, embrace and model these core values.
Our Programs
Main Program: 8:45—11:45 am
Green Group
3 Day Morning Program
Age 2 years 7 months by the 1st day of school
Red Group
5 Day Morning Program
Age 2 years 7 months by the 1st day of school
Blue Group
5 Day Morning Program
Age: 3-4 years old
Yellow Group
5 Day Morning Program
Age: 4-5 years old (PreKindergarten)
*There is a maximum enrollment of 67 children ages 2 years and seven months through PreKindergarten. The school employs caring, professionally trained staff members. A maximum 9 to 1 student teacher ratio is maintained in the classroom.
**All students must be toileting independent before the start of the school year.
***The Red/Green group is one class. All children must be 2 years 7 months by the 1st day of school. Parents have the option to select a 3 day: Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Green group) or 5 day (Red group).
Optional Programs
Early Morning Arrival
8:00 am to 8:45 am »Early arrival is available to all West Hill children for a fee. Arrival/Drop off is between 8:00-8:30am only and the program runs until school begins at 8:45am. Children must be signed up in advance to use this program as limited spaces are available. Parents/Guardians are billed monthly.
Lunch Bunch
11:45 am to 1:00 pm »Children’s Lunch Bunch hour is available Monday through Friday for all ages. Children bring lunch and enjoy playtime after lunch. Children must be signed up in advance to use this program as limited spaces are available. Parents/Guardians are billed monthly.
Afternoon Enrichment
11:45 am to 3:00 pm »The Afternoon Enrichment Program is available for children in the Blue and Yellow groups and children in the Red/Green Group may be eligible to sign up for 2nd Semester Afternoon Enrichment Program if they have turned 3 years old by the first day of school. Children bring lunch and enjoy an afternoon filled with a variety of activities including art, science, nature, cooking, yoga, and much more. Parents/Guardians may select to sign their children up for 1-5 days per week during the semester and are billed per semester.
Flexible Afternoon Enrichment
11:45 am to 3:00 pm »Children may be added daily to the Afternoon Enrichment Program on a space available basis. Since participants in Flexible Enrichment will be joining the regular Afternoon Enrichment groups, space will be limited according to the number of children already enrolled in Afternoon Enrichment. Children must be signed up in advance to use this program as limited spaces are available. Parents/Guardians are billed monthly.
Summer Session
The West Hill Summer Session is open to all WHS children. We offer (4) 1-week sessions during the month of June. This program gives children the opportunity to experience a camp-like setting both indoors and outdoors. Along with exciting and fun themes, the children will discover fascinating facts about science and nature through experimentation, outdoor adventures, art projects, literature, music, dramatic play and hands on activities.
Learn more
Young children are naturally curious about the world around them and eager to explore topics that are relevant to their everyday lives. Our summer session offers opportunities for children to experience literacy, mathematics, science, technology and the arts through topics and activities that interest them, extend their thinking and promote exploration and discovery. Children celebrate learning through the excitement of discovery as they explore meaningful topics, formulate questions, and find answers to those questions through investigations and thoughtfully planned activities. Add singing, creative movement, water play, yoga and storytelling for a day filled with fun and learning! All themes incorporate literacy, math, social studies, and science skills in addition to attention to physical, social and emotional development.
Questions? Contact Christie Cooper, WHS Summer Camp Director
[email protected]
Why The West Hill School?
“The West Hill School has been absolutely amazing for our daughter (4)! We were looking for a loving, play-based environment that would enrich her social skills, introduce her to a love of learning, and allow plenty of time to explore outdoors. WHS has given us this and so much more!” —WHS Parent
The West Hill School
1455 West Hill Road
Rosemont, Pennsylvania 19010
Phone: 610-525-7660
[email protected]
The School is accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS).
Employment at WHS
We are committed to provide equal opportunity in all of our employment practices, including selection, hiring, promotion, and compensation, to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, pregnancy, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or any other protected status in accordance with the requirements of all federal, state and local laws, including the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability. If you believe you have been treated inconsistently with this, please immediately report your concern to The Head of School. You will not be retaliated against for bringing forth a complaint in good faith.
Diversity Statement
At The West Hill School, we create a nurturing atmosphere where individuality is valued and honored. We believe that a diverse and welcoming community fosters a positive experience and enriches understanding of oneself and others. We respect and appreciate all differences among members of our school family, including age, culture, disability or handicap, ethnicity, family structure, learning styles, national origin, citizenship status, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socio-economic status. We are committed to achieving a safe, equitable, and inclusive environment across all areas of school life.