Seaside Nursery School
Seaside Nursery School is a 
preschool that serves ages 18 months to school
age. We also offer a fun-filled six week summer camp.
Our morning program runs from 8:30-12:30. In addition we have an early drop and extended day program that runs until 3:00pm.
Children Learn Through Play
Curriculum and environment are carefully planned to include learning experiences that the children themselves implement through play. It is unfortunate that the term "play" is often taken to mean idle and unproductive activity...in truth,it embraces a wide range of spontaneous and productive experiences. Our classrooms are carefully planned environments that enable children, through actions, objects, and words, to explore, experiment and create their own understanding of the world they encounter.
Childhood development follows a predictable path, but with a unique timetable for each child. The natural unfolding of this process is supported when the curriculum helps to strengthen a child's positive self image.
Rosanne K. Phelan
is the owner and executive director of the Marblehead
Children's Center and Seaside Nursery School. She holds a master's degree
in Early Childhood Education and a bachelor's degree in Education.
Ms. Phelan taught in the Massachusetts public school system before founding Seaside Nursery School with the late Patricia A. Nyberg in 1974. She has worked in the British Infant System, participating in a summer practicum in Oxford, England. She has completed an intensive graduate course in Child Care Design at Harvard and Tufts.
In addition, Ms. Phelan has had extensive experience supervising student teachers, initiating a child care director's support group, and establishing a landmark toddler program.
Ms. Phelan took over the ownership and management of the Marblehead Children,s Center in 1986, and has improved and expanded the curriculum based on the philosophy and practice she established at Seaside.
She is currently a member of the Marblehead Rotary Club, the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce, the American Association of University Women, and a trustee of the Marblehead Savings Bank.
Her present interests involve the advancement of autism research. She is contributor to the organization, Autism Speaks.
Preschool Teachers
Our preschool caregivers are qualified early childhood professionals who have met or go beyond the strictly enforced state standards. They have been selected not only because of their knowledge and experience in the field of early childhood education, but also because their personal educational philosophy and caring teaching style are compatible with Seaside Nursery School's approach. Each staff member must also pass a thorough check of personal references, a comprehensive health examination and a rigorous state screening.