Sellwood Schoolhouse
A play-based preschool in the heart of Sellwood-Moreland, offering classes and playgroups for ages 3-5 years
About Us
Sellwood Schoolhouse is a play-based preschool located in the heart of the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood.
Our mixed-age morning preschool program is designed to serve children ages 3–4 in a nurturing, play-based environment. Rooted in child-led learning, the program supports early literacy and numeracy while fostering cooperation, empathy, creativity, and a positive sense of self.
Each class serves up to 10 children with a 1:10 teacher-to-child ratio. Children engage in exploratory play, hands-on art projects, imaginative experiences, outdoor play, and open-ended materials that encourage curiosity and discovery.
New for the 2026-27 school year, our Transitional Kindergarten morning program is designed specifically for older preschoolers who will be entering kindergarten the following year and would benefit from additional time to build confidence, independence, and school readiness in a play-based setting. This program is ideal for children ages 4-5 who are ready for added structure while still thriving in a developmentally appropriate, play-based environment.
When you enroll, your child will be assigned a homeroom teacher based on the schedule you choose. If you have a teacher preference, you may let us know and we will do our best to honor your request.
Our 2026-27 school hours are 9 am to 1 pm. The school year will run from September 3rd, 2026-June 4th, 2027
Register for the Current School Year
2025-2026 School Year
Tuesday + Thursday Morning Preschool: $475/month
Scholarship Application
We strive to be welcoming and accessible to all members of our community. If receiving financial assistance would help you join us, please fill out the form below.
Please note: The priority scholarship application deadline for the 2026-2027 school year was January 10.
2-Day Morning
Tues, Thurs
9 AM – 1 PM
$475/month
3-Day Morning
Mon, Wed, Fri
9 AM – 1 PM
$680/month
5-Day Morning
Mon–Fri
9 AM – 1 PM
$950/month
Sign up for Preschool Spring Break Camp!
March 25th-29th
Full-Day Camp: 9–4 pm | Half-Day Camp: 9–1 pm
Upcoming Events
Preschool Open House
Saturday January 31 | 10 am – 12:30 pm | sellwood community house
Saturday February 7 | 10 am – 12:30 pm | sellwood community house
Meet our teachers, explore the classrooms, and learn about our play-based preschool programs for the upcoming school year! Families are welcome to tour and ask questions.
Our play-based preschool program fosters creativity, curiosity, and community for young learners who are 3-5 years old. Registration for the 2026–2027 school year opens in January—join us for a year of growth and discovery!
Preschoool Spring Break Camp
Preschoool Spring Break Camp
Spring Break Camp
Monday-Friday, March 23-27 | 9am – 1pm | $300, register here | SCH
Welcome Spring! Three cheers for a new season- flowers blooming, puddle splashing, baby animals being born and so much more! Join us for a week celebrating spring and all the beauty and fun it brings after a long winter.
Day 1: Hello Spring, Goodbye Winter
Day 2: Bugs, Bees, and Butterflies
Day 3; Baby Animals
Day 4: The Science of Rainbows
Day 5: Garden party!
Each day will be filled with movement games, sensory activities, songs, and stories!
Sellwood Schoolhouse Philosophy
At Sellwood Schoolhouse...
We believe that each child has an inner drive to develop, thrive and create.
Our mission is to support and nurture the joy of childhood through a play-based environment.
We offer opportunities for children to cultivate appreciation and gratitude for their community and the world around them.
Our space allows for exploration, creativity and the nurturing of friendships in a loving, supportive environment.
We believe that collaboration with children is essential to fostering healthy group dynamics and individual growth.
We view the classroom as a third teacher, and we are intentional in creating sustainable environments that empower children to be partners and collaborators in their education.
We are a school inspired by the Reggio Emilia and Montessori approaches to early childhood education.
Our Curriculum
Our learning units are centered around play and project based learning. Each day our teachers will set up inviting provocations and meaningful projects that children want to explore. This includes loose parts play, process art, science experiments, math manipulatives, and dramatic play props and costumes. Each day our teachers will thoughtfully plan around the unit of study and create opportunities for the child to engage playfully with the curriculum.
We draw inspiration for our thematic explorations from the children’s interests. We study a wide variety of themes throughout the school year, from rocks and dinosaurs to insects and robots, to name a few! We use a variety of resources to support the interests and curiosities of our students.
Daily Rhythm and Routine
The daily rhythm will vary from classroom to classroom. Here is a general schedule that will likely be changed according to individual class needs and dynamics.
Sample Schedule
arrival and wash hands
open play
morning circle
morning snack
morning focus workshop + open play
bathroom break and wash hands
gross motor play
bathroom break and wash hands
lunch
rest time + quiet activities indoors
closing circle
Snack
Our preschool students are provided a daily, healthy snack.
A typical snack for our preschoolers might be homemade banana bread and apple slices, or homemade granola, yogurt, and fresh berries.
Financial Policies
You will pay a non-refundable deposit at the time of registration. This deposit is $250 for Morning Preschool.
Tuition is due in 10 equal payments throughout the year, starting on September 1 and ending on June 1. You card will be charged automatically on the first of the month.
Please note that months with fewer school days, such as December and June, still have full tuition payments. This allows us to keep our budget balanced throughout the school year.
Cancellation Policy
*SCH does not issue cash or card refunds*
Withdrawal Notice:
We require one month’s (31 days) written notice for preschool + ASE program cancellations. Partial months will be prorated. Please note that prorated tuition will be charged at the time of cancellation.
Deadline for Withdrawal:
Cancellations or withdrawals for the 2025-26 school year scheduled after March 1st, 2026 will not be accepted.
Cancellations or withdrawals for the 2026-27 school year scheduled after March 1st, 2027 will not be accepted.
If you decide to withdraw after this date, you will be responsible for paying the full tuition for the rest of the academic year.
SCH Cancellations:
If SCH cancels a program, we will make every effort to provide a make-up option. If you are unable to attend the make-up, or we are unable to offer a make-up class, you will receive a family credit for the missed session. 
All cancellation requests and questions must be submitted in writing to info@sellwoodcommunityhouse.org
Our Preschool Teachers
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My Name is Molly Hodge and I have been working as a teacher for 6 years. I hold a Masters in Education and I have taught ages pre-k through grade 5. I love all ages, but in the past two years I have found that my passion lies in working with early childhood. I am so happy to be at Sellwood Community House and I feel very grateful for this opportunity to work alongside other amazing people to create a magical early childhood program. I will be your go-to person for any information you need regarding our preschool program! When I am not in the classroom, I like to spend my time with my family. I live with my partner Graham and dog Marshall. I love to hike, rock climb, and paint with watercolors.
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My name is Neal McCormick and I have been working with kids since I was one myself, tutoring and babysitting throughout middle school and high school. After graduating from Saint Mary’s College in 2005 with a BA from their Integral Program, I moved to Portland and was accepted into Portland State University’s Graduate Teacher Education Program. I performed my student teaching in second and fourth grade classrooms and was accredited in elementary and early childhood education. Out of grad school I took a job working in ECE with preschool and pre-k children and was quickly hooked. I spent 12 years teaching these age groups as well as acting as Health and Safety Coordinator for the school. While I love working with young children, I have been looking to escape the profit-based world of corporate Early Childhood Education and was thus thrilled to stumble across the opportunity to teach at the Sellwood Community House. I am overjoyed to get the chance to become part of the child-focused approach that the SCH’s amazing team of educators believe in so strongly. Outside of the classroom I enjoy making music, art, reading, hiking, and spending time with my puppy Jasper.
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Hi! My name is Peter Weymouth and I have been teaching preschool for 5 years, with the last two at Sellwood Community House. I grew up in Rhode Island and spent many summers and school years as a camp councilor, babysitter and English teacher in Thailand. I graduated from Connecticut College with a BA in Studio Arts and moved to Portland in 2010. After becoming a father in 2019 I wanted to make a career pivot that felt more aligned with my desire to work with and have a positive impact on the local community. After my daughter graduated the SCH preschool program, I joined the teaching team. I have made deep connections with the children in the program, the parents, and the greater community. In my spare time I love to read, create art, explore the Pacific Northwest, and spend time with my wife and daughter.
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My name is Elaina Clougherty and I am happy to be a part of the Sellwood Community House team! I have been working with children in various settings since college. I graduated from UCLA with a BA in psychology and pursued a minor in applied developmental psychology, getting the opportunity to work in UCLA’s child development centers and Lab School. After college, I worked in both a preschool and in early intervention in San Diego. When I moved to Portland, I was so excited to find such a wonderful school to get back into the classroom. I love working in early childhood education and seeing the students’ growth throughout preschool years! While out of the classroom, I love going on hikes, watching sports, reading, and cooking/baking.
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Andras graduated from the University of Oregon in 2023. They grew up in the Sellwood neighborhood and have fond memories of taking basketball classes at SCH. Andras spent childhood summers at arts camp and learned to love teaching and childcare in their time as a camp counselor. They are excited to take on the role of teacher after several years with the program as an aide. Andras also loves cats, basketball and going to the movies in their free time.
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Hello! My name is Alex Platt and I’ve been working with children in the Early Childhood setting for over eleven years. I started working in the preschool setting straight out of high school as a teacher’s aide, then slowly paved my way with experience as a lead teacher, assistant director, and eventually director of multiple early childhood centers. In 2023, I graduated from OSU with my BS in Psychology and switched careers to work as a licensed Addictions Counselor within a residential treatment facility. I spent two years in this field and, although I loved my patients and the work that I did dearly, I recognized that my heart still belonged to working with children. In Fall of 2025, I transitioned back to working with children by joining the amazing team here at the SCH preschool, and I’m honored to be part of this beautiful community. When I’m not working or babysitting, you can likely find me curled up with a book and my cutie cat (Nyx), watching scary movies, playing the bass, or journaling.
Preschool Frequently Asked Questions
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Our 2025-26 school year will run from September 2nd to June 5th. Our preschool sessions are from 9 am- 1 pm.
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Each day children will have a morning meeting, open play, and snack in their homeroom. After snack, students will transition to outdoor play or gross motor activities in our gym or tumbling studio. After about one hour of gross motor activity, students will transition to a bathroom break and wash their hands for lunch. When students finish lunch they are excused from the table and invited to play in the classroom. At the end of the day, each class comes together for an end-of-day gathering with songs and stories.
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We offer two, three, and five-day schedules, from 9-1. Prices below are for the 2025/26 school year.
Our 2-day option meets Tuesday/Thursday. Tuition is $475 /month.
Our 3-day option meets Monday/Wednesday/Friday. Tuition is $680/month.
Our 5-day option meets Monday-Friday. Tuition is $950/month.
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We use a play and project-based approach in our classrooms. This involves both child-initiated and teacher-supported learning. The teacher encourages children's learning and inquiry through interactions that aim to stretch their thinking to higher levels.
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Preschool Cancellation Policy
We understand that plans can change, and we want to make the process as clear as possible for our families. Here’s our cancellation policy:
Withdrawal Notice:
To withdraw your child from the preschool program, you must provide a 30-day written notice to be released from our installment plan. Please email our front office with your child's name and last date of attendance.
Deadline for Withdrawal:
Cancellations or withdrawals after March 1st will not be accepted. If you decide to withdraw after this date, you will be responsible for paying the full tuition for the rest of the academic year.
Thank you for your understanding.
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We do! Please apply at the link at the top of this page.
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We maintain a 10:1 ratio in our preschool classrooms. (10 students to 1 teacher)
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Students need to bring a lunch and water bottle. SCH will provide a healthy morning snack.
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We are not a nut-free school, but we are willing to adjust policies in order to keep our students safe.
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Our teachers integrate as much outdoor learning and play as possible! Every class will spend an hour or more outside in almost all weather.
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Please register using the links above!
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Sellwood Schoolhouse is not licensed by the CCLD. Sellwood Community House is a recorded program recognized by the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC).
Do you have questions we didn’t answer? Ask away!
Need financial support for the Sellwood School House?
Apply for our scholarship program!