Wonder School
Wonder School is a laboratory preschool collaboration with Columbus State Community College, Columbus Museum of Art, and The Childhood League Center. Wonder School fosters curiosity and discovery in an arts-rich, child-centered, responsive learning ecosystem for young children and the next generation of early childhood educators.
Our mission is to foster purposeful play, critical inquiry, and a collaborative community approach to education—for children, for their educators, for a more creative and compassionate society.
More on Wonder School
Wonder School is a half-day program which meets at both The Childhood League Center and the Columbus Museum of Art. Wonder School is taught by faculty from the Columbus State Community College (CSCC) Early Childhood Development and Education program and CMA’s Lead Teaching Artist and Young Child Coordinator, Cat Lynch. As a lab school, Wonder School will also feature student-teachers from the CSCC Early Childhood Development and Education practicum program.
To be eligible for enrollment, children must be:
- Between the ages of 3 and 5 years by the start of the school year
- Available to attend a part-time program, September through May, Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Have transportation to and from Wonder School’s locations: at The Childhood League Center and Columbus Museum of Art.
Download the Wonder School information packet for more info including faculty bios, information about Wonder School’s philosophy and mission, academic calendar, and more .
Please reach out to Melanie Adams (madams@cscc.edu) for more info including faculty bios, information about Wonder School’s philosophy and mission, academic calendar, and more .
Registering a Child for Wonder School
To enroll, families must email Melanie Adams, CSCC Early Childhood Development and Education Faculty & Program Coordinator, at madams@cscc.edu with the subject line “Wonder School Enrollment.”
Because space is limited, applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. Families whose forms arrive after all spots have been filled will be placed on a waiting list.
To finalize enrollment, families must return all enrollment forms required by Wonder School and by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). These forms will be provided after returning the initial application form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where is Wonder School located? Wonder School meets at its dedicated classroom at The Childhood League Center, 674 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus. Wonder School also regularly meets at Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad Street, Columbus.
Q: When does Wonder School meet? Wonder School is a part-time program, 9AM-12PM, Monday through Thursday. The school year runs September through May. Wonder School observes winter break and spring break in accordance with the Columbus State Community College academic calendar. Additional holidays are listed on the calendar in the Wonder School Info Packet.
Q: How much does it cost to send my child to Wonder School? Tuition for the nine-month program is $4,050. Once your application has been confirmed, a non-refundable registration fee of $50 will be required to secure your child’s spot.
Q: Do you offer scholarships or other options? Yes. Call 614.287.5411 to find out more.
Q: Is transportation provided? No; there is no transportation between Wonder School locations. Children are to be dropped off and picked up by an authorized adult at the Wonder School site of that day.
Q: Are meals or snacks included? No. We ask families to provide a healthful snack for their children each day. Peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish and fish are not permitted at the facility. (More information about food parameters will be in the Family Handbook.)
Q: Who are the Wonder School teachers? Wonder School is committed to a small child to educator ratio. Brief bios of Wonder School’s lead educators can be found in the Wonder School Info Packet. In addition to faculty from Columbus State Community College and a teaching artist from the Columbus Museum of Art, each day the teaching team also includes Columbus State student teachers. On days when Wonder School meets at the Museum, CMA teaching artists may provide supplemental instruction.
Q: Can I be involved with my child at Wonder School? Absolutely. We welcome and encourage family involvement at Wonder School. Some examples are: reading to children, joining us on the playground, assisting with classroom projects, special celebrations, Columbus Museum of Art family events, planning and attending Wonder School family events. You are welcome at any time to visit and be involved.
Q: How can I find out more? How can I find out more? For more information about registration, please email Melanie Adams, ECDE Faculty & Program Coordinator at madams@cscc.edu.
Q: How can I help with this important new initiative? If you are interested in financially supporting Wonder School and the goal of more accessible early learning, please contact Maureen Carroll at Maureen.Carroll@cmaohio.org.
