HomeAbout Our School
History
Founded by a group of far-sighted parents committed to creating a cooperative school, Oswego Playschool shared space in a church for the first two years of operation, opening its doors to 20 wide-eyed youngsters in 1953.
By 1955, the growing enrollment made it obvious that a permanent home for the school was needed and in the summer of that year charter members John and Betty Gray donated the lot and materials to construct a new facility - from the ground up.
Because the building and grounds were designed as a preschool from the start, Oswego Playschool today includes built-in features and play apparatus unique to the area's preschools. In addition, the hundreds of toys and teaching aids accumulated through more than fifty years have become a priceless learning resource benefiting Oswego Playschool children to this day. Oswego Playschool is still one of the few cooperative preschools in Oregon that own their own facility, and the benefits are bountiful.
Oswego Playschool is a member of Parent Child Preschools of Oregon (PCPO), an organization consisting of approximately 60 parent cooperative preschools in Oregon. They provide parent education, family enrichment programs, training for school officers, teacher programs, and act as a resource for cooperative preschools.
Philosophy
The children at Oswego Playschool play and learn in a non-pressured, stimulating environment. Under the direction of a professional teacher and with the help of caring parents, children are encouraged and supported to learn through play. We are not "academically" structured; however, we do stress a respectful and creative environment that is developmentally appropriate. The Playschool is organized so that the child makes his/her own choices from a wide array of educational offerings. Curriculum is addressed to the whole child's development: social, emotional, physical, and intellectual. The environment is carefully prepared so that the children learn through active exploration and interaction, with the emphasis on child directed choice.
Oswego Playschool has been blessed over the years with many talented, caring, and dedicated teachers. The genuine commitment of both teachers and the parents at Oswego Playschool contributes to the continuation of the school's long-standing tradition of excellence. Its rich experience of providing "learning through play" experiences for preschoolers will continue to benefit the community.
516 8th Street | Lake Oswego, OR | 503.636.1345
Learning through play and play through learning
Sensory table in 1953
Sensory table in 2010
