Annual Report 2024-2025 - Flipbook - Page 36
PLYMOUTH NURSERY SCHOOL
Director: Emily Rademacher
Board Co-Presidents: Claire Ridenour and Leah Anderson
Staff Liaison: Barb Godwin
Trustee Liaison: Dick Jones
Committee Members: Leah Anderson, Emily Cokely, Kyle
Cokely, Kathryn Connor, Jenson Connor, Greg Ellingson, Liz
Ellingson, Nicole Irwin, Kerry Jordan, Sarah Katelman, Claire
Ridenour, Erick Scanlon
Mission:
Plymouth Nursery School provides for the social, emotional,
physical, and cognitive development of each child in a safe and
nurturing environment that promotes learning through play,
creative expression and parental involvement.
Major Events/Achievements in 2024-2025:
Plymouth Nursery School…
• Celebrated 70 years of partnering with Plymouth Church
to provide a welcoming place for young families in the
neighborhood and beyond.
• Continued strong enrollment with waitlists in many classes.
• Partnered with the community to offer a variety of experiences
both during and after school (Des Moines Symphony Academy,
Dramatykes, Polk County Conservation, Happy Heart Yoga,
Des Moines Art Center, Playhouse, and more).
• Monthly outreach to Plymouth Place to visit our “older
friends” for songs, gifts, plays and crafts.
• Offered scholarships to 3% of our students with efforts to
increase this number for the next school year.
124 students have benefited from Plymouth Nursery School’s
center-based approach to The Creative Curriculum and the
Iowa Early Learning Standards. Our spectacular staff includes 13
teachers with an average of 8 years teaching at PNS. The learning
centers they skillfully change out each week give opportunities
for social and emotional growth, the development of play skills,
and the introduction of pre-academic and cognitive skills in ageappropriate ways. Our fall Giving Tree project collected necessities
as well as toys and games for the residents of House of Mercy.
Our board of directors has provided excellent support and
oversight this year and hosted a family fun night at the Union
Park Heritage Carousel. They have voted to complete renovations
to the playground tiles and replace the carpet in the north hallway
this summer, in order to continue to grow with our families and
provide top-notch preschool in Des Moines.
Going into my third year as director, I’m energized to continue
collaborating with Plymouth Church to provide this service and
carry on the storied traditions of Plymouth Nursery School. We
truly appreciate the partnership with Plymouth Church and look
forward to growing together for many years to come.
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