PreK at The Hundred Acre School

Celebrating 10 years of Preschool

Our preschool program is specifically designed for children the year before they go to Kindergarten. It is a true Pre-Kindergarten experience. Our STEM-focused curriculum is taught through play, learning activities, and collaboration with their peers. Why is our focus on STEM? Research indicates that when curriculum is taught with connections to real-life experiences, it strengthens knowledge in all typical learning domains, including literacy, mathematics, social-emotional and cognitive skills. Our high-quality curriculum is taught by talented educators who utilize the unique location of our school in a museum, botanical garden, and natural environment to create experiences your child just can’t get anywhere else.

Our program is a full day which allows for care from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

  • Flexible drop off included with all enrollments from 8:30-9am
  • Our school day is from 9am – 3pm.
  • Flexible pick up included with all enrollment from 2:50pm-3:20pm
  • Add optional after care 3pm-4:30pm

Please note:

  • We are open for a regular week of school during what is typically February public school vacation week.

  • Beginning in 2025, we will be closed for April vacation.
  • We follow Sandwich Public for weather related closures. If there is a weather delay, we open at 10am.

We have a 3 day minimum enrollment.

  • 3, 4 or 5 day programs available
  • At the time of your application, you can select your ideal schedule.

Students are accepted on a rolling basis until the program is full.

  • We typically have 40-45 preschool students each year.
  • We have students from Sandwich and many towns on and off Cape Cod.

Classrooms & Teachers

  • We have two spacious PreK classrooms with maximum capacity of 18-20 students per day.
  • We typically staff our classrooms at a 7:1 ratio well below the State’s 10:1 ratio requirement. This means that we often have 3 teachers per classroom.
  • Our PreK teachers are licensed and have at least a Bachelors degree in education or a related field, Learn more by clicking here
  • If you are interested in a tour. Learn more and sign up by clicking here

Enrollment Process for New Students

Step 1: Submit an Enrollment Request and create a Brightwheel account.

Make sure to turn on all notifications in your account as we will only communicate with you about your enrollment through Brightwheel.

Step 2: Fill out the Application and Pay the Application Fee

You will be notified in your Brightwheel account of the $100 application fee invoice and 3 additional online forms gathering information about your child. You must complete this step before your child will be reviewed for acceptance.

Step 3: Accepted, Waitlisted or Declined

The School Director will reply within 1 week after the final item in step 2 is submitted. Please note that applications will be reviewed in the order that step 2 is completed. If we have openings, an acceptance letter and tuition deposit invoice will be sent via Brightwheel. If we have a waitlist, you will be notified of your status and contacted when space is available.

This School Year 2023-2024

August 28, 2023 – June 28, 2024 (41 weeks)

Students age 4 by September 1, 2023 will be accepted on a rolling basis until the program is full (about 45 students).

Our enrollment period ended December 1 for the current school year. If you have relocated to the area and want to inquire, please email us.

Enroll in NEXT School Year 2024-2025

August 26, 2024 – June 26, 2025 (41 weeks)

Students age 4 by September 1, 2024 will be accepted on a rolling basis until the program is full (about 40 students).

24 students accepted

Available with or without aftercare until 4:30

Pick your 4 days: Available with or without aftercare until 4:30

Pick your 3 days: Available with or without aftercare until 4:30

Frequently Asked Questions

  • All students need to be age 4 by September 1 of the school year.

Exception:

  • Fall Birthdays: Students who will turn 4 in September or October
    • Typically in June, if we have openings, we will update the cutoff to 10/31 for children with “Fall Birthdays” that just miss the cutoff.
      • Turning 4 in September or October.
      • There is not a waitlist and we encourage families to check back in June for any openings.

  • We do have a strict age 4 requirement.
  • However, if we have openings right before the school year, we will open our enrollment to fall birthdays in September and October.

  • No, our age requirement of age 4 by September 1 is for the entire school year.

  • Enrollment opens the October before the start of the school year.
  • Enrollment stays open until the program is filled.
  • Once the school year starts, we accept students until December 1. From January on, we only accept new students that have recently moved to the area.

  • Yes our regular school day goes until 3pm and you can add after care until 4:30pm.

  • No parents or caregivers pack these daily.

We follow these procedures for all students to keep them healthy:

  1. Snack and lunch are provided by the family
  2. Students do not share or trade food.
  3. Students with food allergies sit at a table with children that do not have those food items in their snack or lunch.
  4. Tables are cleaned before and after food consumption.
  5. Placemats are washed after each use
  6. Educators are CPR and First Aid certified
  7. The Heritage Security Team is also trained to respond to emergencies and will be able to assist staff with emergencies as needed.

We do not limit what children choose to bring for snack or lunch. We do not limit environmental allergens from our classrooms/interactions on the grounds. Children could be exposed to a variety of allergens either in the classroom, on the grounds or in the museums. If your child has a severe allergy (breathing or touching an item), we probably are not a good fit. If your child has an ingestion allergy to a certain medication or food, we probably are a good fit. You are encouraged and welcome to contact the us to discuss the specifics of your child.

  • We require medical forms for any student with an allergy.
  • You provide us with any medications needed to keep him/her safe (i.e. epi-pen).
  • These medications will be kept in the classroom backpack that is taken with the class anytime they leave the school.

  • No, but potty training should be well underway. Our program spends long periods of time outside far away from bathrooms.
  • At age 4, students are expected to be dressing and undressing to use the bathroom with minimal adult support.
  • Teachers will verbally support your child to wipe themselves when done using the bathroom.
  • We do not accept students in diapers as this prohibits students from attending to their own bathroom needs. PreK is such a special time to build independence and confidence! Students that are still training often wear thicker training underwear or pullups.
  • We expect and understand that bathroom accidents happen so all children are asked to bring an extra clothes.

The school has its own entrance and parking lot so it is very convenient for drop off and pick up. Use Google Maps as we have a pin on the school and its the easiest way to find us.

Our program uses the gardens and galleries of Heritage Museums & Gardens daily so we already feel like we go on a field trip everyday. We don’t typically go on additional field trips off the grounds of Heritage Museums & Gardens.

  • Yes, we have a financial assistance fund. You must be an accepted student to apply. Click here for more information on our tuition page.
  • We do not accept state vouchers.
  • We do accept Child Care Aware® of America Fee Assistance for the United States Military and Department of Defense.

Tuition Information

Tuition is billed bi-weekly through your Brightwheel account. Tuition can be paid by check, cash or credit card.

A pay in full option is available.

More tuition information

Our curriculum is taught through a STEM lens meaning that we approach concepts with curiosity and discovery. During the school year, students will study a series of investigations depending on their interests, teacher goals and environmental influences. Each investigation aligns with the Massachusetts standards for preschool. The first Investigation of the Year: “Using STEM Tools for Investigations” helps to orientate students to the school and various tools that can assist them in exploring their questions. The remaining investigations can be taught in any order depending on teacher goals, student interest, and environmental/social influences. Read more about our curriculum

Typical PreK STEM-Focused Daily Schedule

Open 8:30am-4:30pm for all grades ~ School day is 9am-3pm

PreK
60% Full

2024-2025 Enrollment

  • Age 4 years by 9/1/24
  • Enrollment is OPEN!
Kindergarten
84% Full

2024-2025 Enrollment

  • Age 5 by 9/1/24
  • Enrollment is OPEN!
Grade 1 & 2
100% Full

2024-2025 Enrollment

  • Grade 1: Age 6 by 9/1/24
  • Grade 2: Age 7 by 9/1/24
  • Enrollment is closed for the 2024-2025 school year. We are not taking students on our waitlist at this time.