Early Childhood

Where You Start Matters

Early Childhood at GFS is the beginning of a rich and joyful education for our youngest friends. In our child-centered classrooms in Germantown and Center City Philadelphia, filled with natural materials and lots of natural light, preschool and PreK students are guided through our program by wonderful teachers who are deeply committed to nurturing every child. By the time students reach kindergarten, they have already built academic and social-emotional skills that will set them up for success in school and in life.

New for Fall 2026: Now offering flexible schedule options for Center City Preschool. Choose from 3 to 5 full days or 4 to 5 half days per week. Contact Admissions to learn more.

Early Childhood Fast Facts

Why GFS?

Academic Foundation

Quaker Values

Outstanding Teachers

Community

The Curriculum

GFS’ Early Childhood curriculum is grounded in social-emotional development, and is designed to help each student develop a sense of ownership over their learning.

The programming mirrors GFS Lower School’s curriculum, so that students are prepared for what is ahead! We balance mind, body, and spirit, with an academic focus on math, literacy, social studies, and science, as well as weekly visual arts, music, and movement classes, Meeting for Worship, and plenty of time to play outdoors.

GFS Early Childhood is like a home away from home for my daughter.GFS Parent

Main Campus

Early Childhood Main Campus is located in the historic Germantown neighborhood and provides Preschool and PreK students with the opportunity to be integrated with the rest of the school community.

Location: 31 W. Coulter St., Philadelphia, PA 19144

LEARN MORE

Center City CAMPUS

Our Center City location for Preschool and PreK is centrally located in the Curtis Center (across from Washington Square) in Philadelphia.

Location: 601 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106

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The preschool curriculum is so thoughtful, intentional, and rich. We’re also blown away by the EC teachers—they are exceptional!GFS Parent

Explore our Curriculum

Our multidisciplinary curriculum is taught through structured activities and free exploration, which fosters children’s natural curiosity while providing them with the foundation needed for success.

Meet the Teachers

With a 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio, our teachers are experts in child development and early learning pedagogy.

Apply Now

Ready to Apply? Learn about our Early Childhood application process.

Meet Sarah McMenamin: Director of Early Childhood

Sarah McMenamin

Sarah began teaching at GFS in 1998, where she taught for four years before becoming Director in 2002. Since then, Early Childhood has grown and evolved from a small program to a full division, but the focus has remained on the children, the teachers, and their relationships. Sarah loves what she does because there is never a dull moment. She can spend hours speaking to parents about the curriculum and GFS' teachers, who provide the strength for the program, but the highlight of her days remains the time she spends with the Early Childhood students.

Sarah received her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas and her Doctorate in Educational and Organizational Research from the University of Pennsylvania. Her dissertation research examined social class and socioeconomic status in an independent school setting. Sarah enjoys travel, reading, and attending local cultural events and museums with her family. Her two sons were superlifers at GFS.

Early Childhood News

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Speaking Up and Sharing Silence: GFS Unity Day 2026

GFS Unity Day and Unity Week offer a series of programming organized by the DEI office to educate the community on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. This year students in every division were challenged to use their voices to make changes they want to see in the world.

Play with Purpose: Tapping Into the Joy of Early Childhood Learning

Parents often ask whether their young children should be in a play-based early learning environment or an academically-focused preschool, and it’s common to see these options as two distinct paths. But at GFS, play IS learning.

A group of children gathered around a table, engaged in an activity involving various craft supplies and decorations.

Early Childhood Snack Shop

Take a peek inside one of our PreK classrooms during “Snack Shop,” an interactive (and delicious!) weekly lesson that turns snack time into a hands-on math adventure.

Preschool teacher Jenny Taylor waits with students as a school bus pulls up at the front entrance to GFS' campus.

Cross-Town Express

Campus Swaps between Center City and Main Campuses build relationships among GFS’ youngest learners and their teachers.

Read more about Cross-Town Express

GFS Bids Farewell to the Year with Performances, Final Projects, and Graduation

The end of the school year is a special (and busy!) time, with events, trips, exhibitions, and celebrations—so many opportunities to gather as a community.

The Top 10 GFS Events, Activities, and Traditions We’re Excited About for 2025

With the new year upon us, we're sharing some of the moments and upcoming events at GFS that we're most looking forward to in 2025!

Early Childhood Students Lead Turkey Drive

In one of their first lessons on the importance of stewardship and community, and the joy it brings, early childhood students lead GFS’ annual Turkey Drive by creating heart pins and giving them out in exchange for donations.

Early Childhood Spring Performance

Early Childhood division held their annual Spring Performance in the Loeb Performing Arts Center.

Friends Free Library Unveils Student Summer Reading Quilt

The Friends Free Library celebrated the reading and creativity of 101 students with a massive summer reading quilt.

Celebrating Lunar New Year

Read reflections from our 2023 Lunar New Year event.

Early CHildhood Office

To contact the Early Childhood Office, please call 215.261.6718 or email earlychildhood@germantownfriends.org.

For help with Early Childhood Admissions applications, please email admissions@germantownfriends.org.

Sarah McMenamin
Director of Early Childhood

Maximiliano Muñoz
Assistant to the Director of Early Childhood