Welcome
to
Playschool

Enroll your child in a world of laughter, learning, and growing friendships!

Our Invitation

For 30 years, Playschool has provided a wholesome environment where children ages 3–5 thrive. We are now excited to announce that we are enrolling 2-year-olds into our community!

Our program is designed to promote academic and social skills in a playful and nurturing Christian environment.

We invite your child to join us in a space designed to honor the true pace of childhood.

Grow, Play and Learn
at Playschool Preschool

315-967-9561
Playschool@FirstBaptist-Manlius.org
408 Pleasant St. Manlius, N.Y.

Meet the Director:
Melissa Mapstone

Welcome to Playschool! I’m honored to serve as Director, bringing my experience as a Pre-K–6th grade certified teacher and a Master’s in Education Administration to our community. When I’m not at school, I’m raising my children, ages 8, 10, and 18, at our family farm that I share with my husband, Peter. Having seen my own children thrive at Playschool, I am thrilled to now lead this school community!

At Playschool, we offer a balanced environment that combines purposeful play with intentional, teacher-led lessons. This approach ensures foundational literacy and numeracy skills grow alongside social-emotional development, creating a joyful classroom that goes beyond memorizing letters and numbers to developing number sense, building letter-sound connections, comprehension, and application.

Our program is built on a foundation of core values, rooted in the belief that every child is uniquely created with a special purpose. We strive to model the love of Jesus so that every student feels valued, and safe. By blending academic engagement with this supportive environment, we prepare children to be lifelong learners who are secure in their position as beloved children of God.

I would love to meet you and your little one! Please reach out to schedule a tour and see our classrooms in action.
If you do not see a time that fits your schedule, please email Playschool@FirstBaptist-Manlius.org

Schedule a Tour!

The Perfect Preschool Morning
(9 a.m. – Noon)

Our half-day schedule is designed to give your child a morning full of discovery while leaving your afternoons free.

Mornings at Playschool include:

Literacy and Math: Engaging hands-on lessons with letters and numbers.

Weekly Music: Children 3+ enjoy
 Bluebird Music Together classes.
https://www.bluebirdmusictogether.com/

Monthly Enrichment: Yoga and story time with the Manlius Library.

Daily Active Play: 
Play is an essential part of our regular classroom activities. Additionally, recess occurs every day on our fenced-in playground or in our full-size gym.

It’s a balanced morning of play and learning tailored just for little learners!

Class Opportunities

Playschool Preschool provides a play-based educational journey for children from age 2 through 5. Our program is designed to grow with your child, offering a seamless transition from their first toddler classroom to kindergarten readiness and beyond.

First Play
(Typical Age 2)

Recognizing that toddlers need a balance of nurturing care and active exploration, our two-room suite provides the perfect setting for their first school experience with easy stair-free access to our gymnasium. To ensure personalized attention and a nurturing environment during this foundational year, we maintain a 1:4 teacher-to-child ratio.
First Play children may attend
2 or 4 days per week.
Class is in session from
9 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Children should turn 2
by December 1st.

Click here to learn more about our first Play class

Partner Play
(Typical Age 3)

At the age of three, children are transitioning from “parallel play” (playing near others) to “associative play” (playing with others). Instruction is designed to support this social-emotional leap while building foundational cognitive skills.
Partner Play children may attend
2, 3 or 5 days a week.
Class is in session from
9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Children should turn 3
by December 1st.

Click Here to learn more about our Partner play class

Purposeful Play
(Typical Age 4)

Four-year-olds engage in cooperative play, negotiating shared goals and rules, leading to more complex interactions and academic integration. We move from recognition to application with our academic skills.
Purposeful Play children may attend 3 or 5 days a week.
Class is in session from
9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Children should turn
4 by December 1st.

CLick here to learn more about our purposeful play class

Power Play
(Typical Age 5)


The Power Play year provides the advantage of the “gift of time,” offering a unique “gap year” for children to develop essential maturity and leadership skills. Our class creates an ideal setting for families who wish to enjoy an extra year before formal kindergarten, or for those seeking social and academic enrichment to their Homeschool Kindergarten experience. 
Power Play children may attend
3 or 5 days a week.
Class is in session from
9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Children should turn
5 by December 1st.

Click Here to learn more about our power play class

About Our Thoughtful Placement Process

At Playschool, class placement is an intentional process designed to ensure every child is in the best environment to thrive. We determine placement by considering:

Age and Birthdate: We Use a December 1st cutoff as our guiding framework.

Family Logistics: Your family’s preferred number of days and schedule.

Parental Input: Direct insights from families regarding their child’s unique needs.

Balanced Learning Communities: We prioritize well-rounded environments by considering the mix of personalities and peer dynamics.

While the December 1st date serves as our first guideline, children who are within a few months of our cutoff date can also be appropriately grouped to create balanced, supportive classes.

Why Choose Playschool?

Small Class Sizes


Our small class sizes enable our teachers to customize their instruction to meet each child’s academic and social skill needs. To ensure an optimal learning environment, classes are capped at a maximum of ten students (eight in our “First Play” class), maintaining appropriate student-teacher ratios for each age group.

Music and Movement


Our preschool prioritizes music and movement through weekly, research-based Bluebird Music Together classes designed for children ages 3 and up. These sessions use interactive play to support neurodevelopment, enhancing children’s language skills, emotional regulation, and physical coordination.

Hands-On Learning


Each activity at Playschool is designed to be both engaging and purposeful to promote cognitive and social development.  We provide ample time for play, balanced with age-appropriate whole group and individualized instruction.

Family Focused


Our school values creating meaningful connections between home and school.  We offer a range of activities through the year to encourage family participation: Trunk-or-Treat, Christmas Craft Night, and Easter Brunch.

Little Moments, Big Adventures!

Curious About Playschool?

Curiosity is what we do best! If there is anything else you’d like to know about our programs, curriculum, or community, just ask. Fill out the fields below and we’ll reach out to you!

Ready to join in the fun?

We are so excited that you’re interested in joining us. After your personal tour, the enrollment form is the next step in starting your child’s big adventure! Please fill out the details below, and we’ll get in touch to finalize your enrollment and welcome you to our community.

Enroll Now!

Tuition Made Simple

At Playschool, we believe every child deserves a high-quality early education. As a ministry of First Baptist Church of Manlius, we work hard to keep our tuition as low as possible so that more families can join our school family. Our pricing reflects our commitment to being a community-focused resource, ensuring your child receives personalized instruction and ample playtime in a nurturing environment.

To officially welcome your child to Playschool and save their spot in our classrooms, a one-time enrollment fee of $100 is due upon acceptance. Please note that this fee is nonrefundable as it helps us prepare for your little one’s arrival!

Our school year runs from September through mid-June, and we’ve divided the annual tuition into 10 easy monthly installments to help with family budgeting.

Monthly Payments: Installments are due on the 1st of each month.

First & Last Payments: To get everything started, your first and last installments are due on September 1st.

June is Covered: Because you’ve already taken care of that last installment in September, your June tuition is already fully paid! Enjoy a 5% discount on your total tuition when you pay for the full school year by September 1st. It’s our way of saying thank you for being a part of the Playschool family!

2 Days

Two or three-year-olds may attend two days per week.

Two-year-olds: Monday & Wednesday or Tuesdays & Thursdays

Three-year-olds: Tuesday & Thursday
$290
10 Installments

3 Days

Three, four, and five-year -olds may attend three days per week from 9 a.m.- noon.

Three-year-olds: Monday, Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

Four & Five-year-olds: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday
$340
10 Installments

4 Days

Only our First Play 2-year-old class may attend four days per week.

Class is in session from 9 a.m.-11:15 a.m. on Monday through Thursday
$440
10 Installments

5 Days

Children who are 3, 4, or 5-years-old may attend Playschool for 5 days per week.
$440
10 Installments

Play, Learn, Pay: Simplified tuition in a snap

Click Here to pay registration fee online
Click Here to pay first and last tuition installment
Click Here to Pay regular monthly installments (Not first and last)

Join the Playschool Family on Social!

Want a front-row seat to all the fun? Follow us to see daily activities, classroom updates, and helpful tips:

315-967-9561
Playschool@FirstBaptist-Manlius.org

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