Play & Learn at St. John's

Registration for the 2024-2025 school year is open.

Programs

Youngn's
The Youngn's program is for two year olds, turning three during the school year. Youngn's follow a structured routine guided by weekly themes including seasons, holidays, sizes, shapes, colors, and numbers. Each class session the children participate in creative play, a guided lesson with theme based stories and songs, small group craft work, snack, and outdoor play. Youngn's allows children to gain independence and confidence, learn to share, listen and cooperate in a classroom setting, and develop characteristics which will affect their life-long love of learning.
W/F half day from 9:15 - 11:45
T/Th half day from 9:15 - 11:45
Middies
The Middies program is for three year old children turning four during the school year. Middies have weekly themes. During each class the children participate in creative play, gathering where students hear stories and learn in depth about the week’s theme, table activities, snack and outdoor play. Music is wound into all activities during the day. Our goal for each child is to provide a fun, developmentally appropriate learning environment where independent learners blossom.
M/T/Th half day from 9:00 - 12:00
M/T/W/Th half day from 9:00 - 12:00
Pre-K
The Pre-K program is for four year old children turning five during the school year. This program teaches readiness skills through our theme based curriculum. The children's instructional setting exposes them to craft projects, music, literature, movement activities, number and letter sense and science lessons. The children's social skills are enhanced through co-operative play and working in both large and small group settings. The Full Day Pre-K child will have additional lesson time, which further enhances valuable concepts and thinking skills. Our Pre-K children become independent, self-confident, socially, emotionally and academically well-adjusted learners, who are well prepared for their transition into Kindergarten.
M/W/F half day from 9:00 - 12:00
M/T/W/Th half day from 9:00 - 12:00
M/W/F full day from 9:00 - 2:30
M/W/F Full day from 9:00 - 2:30 + T Half Day from 9:00 - 12:00

Staff


Bev Borkowski - Lead Teacher, Middies

Bev Borkowski (Mrs. B) graduated from Millersville University with her bachelors in Elementary/Special Education and did graduate work at Temple.  She taught for 10 years for the MCIU and has been teaching at St. John's since 1995. She enjoys gardening, birding, and the beach.

Maureen Cosenza - Asst. Teacher, Middies

Maureen Cosenza graduated from St. Joseph's University with a degree in Marketing. She spent many years volunteering at St. Stanislaus and Mater Dei. Maureen joined St. John's in 2020 as an assistant teacher.

Karen Delaney - Bookkeeper

Karen Delaney has worked as an Assistant Teacher at St. John's since 2003.  She has a degree in Business Administration/Finance.  Prior to working at St. John's, Karen worked for companies in the finance/accounting field for many years.

Donna Dickson - Lead Teacher, Middies

Donna Dickson graduated from Ursinus College and received her Master's in Elementary Education from West Chester University. She worked in Colonial School District for many years and then continued her teaching experience at St. John's Nursery School since 2005.

Carrie Engel - Director

Carrie Engel graduated from Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She attained a Master’s degree in Reading from Saint Joseph's University. Carrie taught first grade at Epiphany of Our Lord School, and Third and Fourth Grades in Springfield Township School District.

Sondra Haley - Lead Teacher, Pre K

Sondra Haley graduated from the University of Delaware. She worked for several years as a teacher in Lower Camden County School District.  Sondra moved to Pennsylvania in 1998 where she taught in both the Colonial and Methacton School districts. She began at St. John's in 2011 in the Middies program.  

Margie Klein - Asst. Teacher, Youngn's

Margie Klein graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a degree in Community Health Education. She worked for 10 years as a health educator at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University and Penn. She then stayed home to raise her children. Since 2018, Margie has worked locally as a preschool assistant. Margie is excited to be an assistant in the Youngn's Class where her daughters attended.

Margaret Malloy - Asst. Teacher, Pre K

Margaret Malloy has worked as assistant teacher at St. John’s since 2016. She has a degree in Business/Accounting from Bloomsburg University and subsequently became a CPA. Margaret worked in the accounting industry for several years before raising a family.

Kathy Roman - Asst. Teacher, Middies

Kathy Roman graduated from Gwynedd Mercy Academy and Montgomery County Community College. Kathy has been at St. John’s Nursery School since 2004. She has worked in both the Youngn’s and Middies programs.

Liz Rosti - Lead Teacher, Youngn's / Creative Crew

Liz Rosti graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood/Elementary/Special Education. She taught for Baltimore City School District for 2 years and for Ken Crest Early Intervention Center in Philadelphia for 8 years. She started working at St. John's in 2011. She currently works with our Youngn's Program and the Creative Crew.

Denise Schwanholt - Asst. Teacher, PreK

Denise Schwanholt graduated from Ursinus College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She worked in marketing for several years before staying home to raise her family. Denise joined St. John's as an assistant teacher in 2017.