Welcome to ELF School
Philosophy
Facilities
Curriculum
Our Services
The Best Preschool
ELF stands for Early Learning Fun, which is what our school is all about. ELF Preschool provides a stimulating and safe environment for children ages two and a half to five years of age. We seek to stimulate and develop children’s problem-solving and responsive thinking skills through staff and child directed activities in our daily agenda. Here you will find the best quality education for your child, at an affordable cost.
All of our programs begin at 9:30am and end at 1:00pm EST.
Class Schedules
2.5-3 Years Old
Birthday:
09/01/2021 to 02/28/2022
Tuesday / Thursday
3-4 Years Old (A)
Birthday:
01/01/2021 to 12/31/2021
Monday / Wednesday / Friday
3-4 Years Old (B)
Birthday:
10/01/2020 to 06/01/2020
Monday / Wednesday / Friday
4-5 Years Old
Birthday:
01/01/2020 to 12/31/2020
Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday
or
Tuesday / Thursday / Friday
Kindergarten Prep
Birthday:
08/01/2019 to 08/31/2020
Monday – Friday
Science Enrichment
Birthday:
01/01/2020 to 12/31/2020
Monday and Wednesday
or
Tuesday and Thursday
Come Visit ELF
Call to setup a tour of our school or drop by during one of our open houses. We would love for you to meet our staff and see our facilities!
Open House: January 2021
Date & Time TBD
About us
Our Philosophy
Our ultimate goal as educators is to build self-esteem. With a positive self-image, successful experiences follow. Early Learning Fun preschool (ELF) is a nurturing environment, staffed with dedicated professionals who facilitate learning based on trust, respect, and integrity.
At ELF preschool, we have created an age-appropriate curriculum that involves cognitive skills and social interaction. We enhance each day by involving the children in art, music, writing skills, free play, and circle time discussions.
Our students enjoy outdoor play in a safe, wholesome atmosphere, close to nature, away from busy streets, and with plenty of room to explore!
History
Elf Preschool started in August 1991. The founder, Christine Roe, created this social environment with a curriculum based program. Sadly, Christine passed away in April 2000. As a teacher at the time, Marsha Ford took over as Director/Owner of the school. Marsha and her staff have successfully continued the philosophy of the Early Learning Fun School.
Facilities
Children and parents alike enjoy the wide open spaces, the cornfields, and the surrounding country homes. Our playground also brings smiles to our students!
Licensed School
ELF is licensed by the Maryland State Board of Education Office of Child Care. The school meets all requirements regarding curriculum, policies, facilities, and staff qualifications.
Small Class Size
The maximum teacher to student ratio is 1 to 12. In addition we employ terrific teacher aides to ensure students' needs are met.
Lunch and Playground
Students enjoy lunch from home before heading out to the playground.
Scholastic Books
One of the most important parts of our job is to build a love of reading in our students. Every month, you'll be getting Scholastic flyers from which you can order books.
Activities
At ELF, it's all about early learning fun, including holiday parties, singing programs, and field trips. Family participation is highly encouraged.
What Parents Think
The best preschool anyone could ask for. My daughter went last year to the Elf School and had so much fun, she's going to be going back again this year. The director and teachers/staff are wonderful!
Barbara Stidham - Parent
Elf Preschool is not a regular school. It is a FAMILY of teachers, aides, and staff that LOVE what they do and that transpires in their activities, programs and all around the premises. There is a lot of HUMANITY in the Elf Preschool and that is something very scarce in most preschools.
Wilfredo Oliveros - Parent
I am 29 years old and to this day, I still have wonderful memories of Elf school! My mommy and baby stuffed opossums won the "Most Interesting" pet award 😂😍. thank you for an amazing start to my academic career!
Erin Toman - Alumni
Our Team
Meet our Qualified Staff
ELF is licensed by the Maryland State Board of Education Office of Child Care. The school meets all requirements regarding curriculum, policies, facilities, and staff qualifications. The staff is professional and hired without regard to race, religion or national origin. Come to an Open House or call for an appointment and come visit us!
Marsha Ford
Director
Reyna Dengler
Teacher
Annie Hanson
Teacher
Dee Smith
Teacher
Jenny Flood
Teacher/Aide
Tisha Chrobak
Teacher
Jennifer Barrett
Teacher
Judi Clayton
Aide
Ji Won Yoo
Aide
Jieun Leen
Staff
Deb Fisher
Staff
Activities & Curriculum
Discovery
Center based creative play. Your child learns, explores, and builds relationships on their own through discovery and play time.
Circle
Reading, stories, calendar, weather, siniging, finger plays, etc.
Led by the teacher, children in the classroom will all come together in a circle to read stories, talk about the weather, and interact with each other. The goal is to interact and develop positive relationships with other children. Circle time helps children develop skills such as listening, thinking, speaking, concentrating, and looking.
Skills
During skills time, your shild will develop their motor skills by working on cutting, name writing, and practice the letters of the month.
Art
Fun filled projects. Your child's creativity is expanded as they work on fun projects with the teacher. Look out for you child's art projects in their bag and let them tell you all about their fun day at school!
Lunch
Students will enjoy their home packed lunch next to other students and their teacher. Make sure to pack their lunch daily. Then they'll head down to the playground (weather permitting)!
Curriculum
- Me and my family
- Friends & Sharing
- Safety/Home and school
- Getting to know each other<br/>(Name Recognition)
- Using writing tools
- Autumn
- Halloween
- Colors and shapes
- Weather
- Listen for main ideas, details, and sequence
- Counting
- Reproducing shapes
- Cutting
- Health and nutrition
- Thanksgiving
- Manners
- Letter and numerical recognition
- Catching and Throwing
- Christmas
- Hanukkah
- Music
- Giving to others
- Comparisons, classifying, matching
- Moving to rhythm
- Community helpers
- Transportation
- Winter
- One to one correspondence
- Sequencing
- Flexibility and Balance
- My five senses
- Valentine's Day
- President's Day
- Feelings and emotions
- Opposites
- Stunts and kicking
- St. Patrick's Day
- Spring
- Animals: Farm, Zoo, and Circus
- Visual Memory
- Patterning
- Body Control and Awareness
- Easter
- Plants / Life cycles
- Dinosaurs
- Auditory memory
- Rhyming words
- Patterned movement
- Mother's Day
- Father's Day
- Insects
- Summer
- Counting objects 0 to 20 or 0 to 20+
- Ordering Objects
- Moving with a partner
Our Tuition
| Class Schedule | Yearly Tuition | Monthly Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days per week | $2,610.00 / year | $290 / month |
| 3 days per week | $3,600 / year | $400 / month |
| 4 days per week | $4,410 / year | $490 / month |
| 5 days per week | $5,310 / year | $590 / month |
We offer a 10% discount for siblings enrolled. Tuition is based on a nine-month calendar year with the option to pay monthly. September’s non-refundable payment is due May 15, 2024, which will hold your spot for the 2024/2025 school year. May 2025 tuition is non-refundable and is due August 15, 2024, and October’s tuition is due September 15th. Thereafter, tuition will be due on the 15 th of each preceding month. A late fee of $10 will be added after the 20th of the month. Tuition may be paid monthly, semiannually or annually. There will be no reduction in tuition for absences whether caused by illness, vacation, weather or any other reason. One month notice needed for withdrawal.
We are also offer a Science Enrichment class held Mon/Wed or Tue/Thu for those in the 4 year old class. These students will partake in a fun science experiment daily. They will also have writing and math practice. The time is 1:00pm-2:00pm and the cost is $100 per month in addition to monthly tuition.
School Forms
| Title | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Registration Form 2024-2025 1 271 downloads |
School Forms | January 26, 2024 | Download |
|
Newsletter – January 2023 1 259 downloads |
Newsletter | January 26, 2024 | Download |
|
Lead Screening Form – Maryland 1 254 downloads |
September 19, 2023 | Download | |
|
Allergy and Anaphylaxis Medication Administration Authorization Plan 1 264 downloads |
School Forms | June 26, 2023 | Download |
|
Health Blood Lead Testing Certificate 1 375 downloads |
January 28, 2023 | Download | |
|
Emergency Form – Page 2 1 392 downloads |
January 21, 2023 | Download | |
|
Emergency Form 1 432 downloads |
January 21, 2023 | Download | |
|
COVID Policy 1 433 downloads |
July 23, 2022 | Download | |
|
Maryland Immunization Certification Form 1 524 downloads |
School Forms | July 23, 2022 | Download |
|
Child Questionnaire 1 531 downloads |
School Forms | July 23, 2022 | Download |
|
Maryland State – Health Inventory 1 861 downloads |
June 26, 2023 | Download | |
|
ELF School Handbook – 2023 1 604 downloads |
School Forms | September 19, 2023 | Download |
Events Calendar
Get more Information
Not convinced? Contact us to find out more, or come to our next scheduled open house.
Our Location
Information
Call us 301 540 3370
We are located at:
19821 White Ground Road
PO Box 305
Boyds, MD 20841.
Directions
The ELF School is located in a wholesome country setting, 10 minutes from Germantown, Poolesville and Clarksburg.
From Washington, DC and the South:
Take 270 North to the exit for Clopper Rd. Rt. 117 going North.
Stay on Rt. 117 for about 15 minutes. Stay straight through the
stop sign to White Ground Rd. ELF School is behind Boyds
Presbyterian Church on the left.
From Frederick and the North:
Take 270 South to the exit for Rt. 121 going West. Stay of 121 for
about 10 minutes. Turn right at the stop sign to White Ground Rd.
ELF School is behind Boyds Presbyterian Church on the left.
Click to open on Google Maps