Learn. Play. Grow.
Corlears School introduced Learn. Play. Grow. in October 2021. In founding this initiative, our mission has been to offer our expertise and facilities alongside a coalition of community-minded businesses and organizations in the effort to create broader inclusion and access for families in our diverse city.
We've opened our space up to hundreds of families from inside and outside our school community for completely free programming designed by our expert faculty in addition to partners including The GIANT Room, Love Child, Ramblin' Dan's Freewheelin' Band, Arts For All, and more!
Equity, access, and belonging are core to who we are as a school and nonprofit organization, and we have 50+ years of experience fostering growth through play at the early childhood and elementary levels. LPG has been an exciting opportunity to share our mission with local families, and this is just the beginning!
Learn. Play. Grow. is also part of a larger initiative that includes shifting many aspects of the traditional independent school model, including the Tuition Equity and Access Model (TEAM), which has changed the paradigm from financial aid to equitable tuition level-setting for all Corlears families.
We hope to see you soon!
Schedule and Registration
Each LPG Saturday, Corlears hosts programming from our very own expert teachers in addition to on-theme activities from recurring partners The GIANT Room, Love Child, and Arts For All. Plus, each week features a different special guest and an opportunity to engage in service to our community.
Registration is required for all activities — except service learning — so that we can manage capacity and welcome as many families as possible.
The 2023–24 season of Learn. Play. Grow. takes place on the following 8 Saturdays with accompanying themes:
- October 28, 2023: Halloween Fall Fest
- November 11, 2023: Day of Gratitude
- December 2, 2023: Winter Fest
- January 20, 2024: MLK Day of Service
- February 10, 2024: Lunar New Year Celebration
- March 2, 2024: Sports Day
- April 20, 2024: Earth Day
- May 18, 2024: Summer Fest
- Full Schedule
- Ages 0–2
- Ages 3–4
- Ages 5–10
Toddler Open Play
Ages: 0–2Time: 9–10:00 a.m
Location: Roots and Seedlings Blue (Rooms 101 and 113; First floor)
Corlears School introduced the Roots toddler program in 2021. Designed for ages 16–24 months, our toddler program is rooted in age-appropriate milestones and celebrates how toddlers learn and thrive: through the art of play and wonderment.
On LPG Saturdays, toddler families are invited to join us in the Roots classroom for open play facilitated by Corlears early childhood teachers Ariel or Jessica. While not quite a playgroup, this activity is a great opportunity to meet and connect with fellow toddler families — plus, our littlest guests love exploring the sensory and play activities available in our early childhood classrooms!
Access to Backyard Playspace
Ages: 1–4Time: 9–10:00 a.m
Location: Backyard
Register on Sawyer →
The GIANT Room
Ages: 3–10Time: 9–10:00 a.m
Location: Gym (Room 401; Fourth floor)
Join The GIANT Room for an interactive and engaging workshop full of hands-on creative projects! Families are invited to join us with their big ideas, and build and share creative projects among the community. You’ll create your own whimsical gardens, flying spiders and butterflies, arcade games, a fashion runway show, magical worlds under the water, and more. We'll dream of a new theme every week, come up with cool ideas, and build it together.
This workshop series is a great combination of hands-on creativity, engineering, arts, and crafts, focused on family engagement and fun!
Service Learning with Corlears Teachers
Ages: 3–10Time: 10–11:00 a.m.
Location: Seedlings Red (Room 111; First floor)
Every week, Corlears elementary students collaborate on a project tied to the 17 Global Goals, which are initiatives that world leaders agree “will build a greener, fairer, better world by 2030.” The children choose a goal they’re most passionate about and, together in mixed-age groups, commit to a semester-long, developmentally appropriate service learning project that creates an impact. It’s through this firsthand experience researching a cause, planning a project, taking action, and reflecting on impact that our students begin to see themselves as change agents who can truly make a difference in the world.
This year, we’re taking our school’s commitment beyond the classroom. Anyone who joins us for our free Saturday programming at Learn. Play. Grow. will have a chance to make a meaningful difference in this community we call home.
Love Child
Ages: 1–4Time: 10–10:45 a.m
Location: Backyard
With music and movement classes from Love Child, your tiny dancers will be right in their element as they learn coordination, team-building, and safe play skills in a lively environment.
Each LPG Saturday, we'll be joined by either Universal Moms or Dr. Alex; both classes bring tons of musical energy so your little ones can get their ya-yas out before their afternoon nap.
Arts For All
Ages: 4–6Time: 10–11:00 a.m
Location: First grade (Room 311; Third floor)
Arts For All offers accessible artistic opportunities to children in the New York City area who face socioeconomic, physical, or emotional barriers to exploring the arts. Through Arts For All, professional artists work with youth organizations to build self-confidence, self-expression, teamwork, resilience, and creativity in children.
At each Arts For All session, children will take an artistic dive into that week's LPG theme through interactive storytelling, visual arts, music, and/or movement.
Learn. Play. Grow. with Corlears Teachers
Ages: 1–4Time: 11–11:45 a.m
Location: Seedlings Green (Room 211; Second floor) and Seedlings Yellow (Room 213; Second floor)
Register on Sawyer →
LPG Special Guest
Ages: 1–4*Time: 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m
Location: Either the gym (Room 401; Fourth floor) or the backyard
*At least; some of our special guests might have higher age bands. Check Sawyer for details.
In addition to our regular programming, each LPG Saturday will showcase a different special guest. For detailed activity information, keep an eye on your inbox for the LPG newsletter or check the Sawyer listing.
- October 28, 2023: Ramblin' Dan's Freewheelin' Band (Featuring Bandleader CJ)
- November 11, 2023: Creative Play for Kids
- December 2, 2023: Child's Play
- January 20, 2024: Fyütch
- February 10, 2024: Lion Dance Troupe
- March 2, 2024: SocRoc
- April 20, 2024: Ubuntu Mundo
- May 18, 2024: Ramblin' Dan's Freewheelin' Band
Register on Sawyer →
Toddler Open Play
Ages: 0–2Time: 9–10:00 a.m
Location: Roots and Seedlings Blue (Rooms 101 and 113; First floor)
Corlears School introduced the Roots toddler program in 2021. Designed for ages 16–24 months, our toddler program is rooted in age-appropriate milestones and celebrates how toddlers learn and thrive: through the art of play and wonderment.
On LPG Saturdays, toddler families are invited to join us in the Roots classroom for open play facilitated by Corlears early childhood teachers Ariel or Jessica. While not quite a playgroup, this activity is a great opportunity to meet and connect with fellow toddler families — plus, our littlest guests love exploring the sensory and play activities available in our early childhood classrooms!
Access to Backyard Playspace
Ages: 1–4Time: 9–10:00 a.m
Location: Backyard
Register on Sawyer →
Love Child
Ages: 1–4Time: 10–10:45 a.m
Location: Backyard
With music and movement classes from Love Child, your tiny dancers will be right in their element as they learn coordination, team-building, and safe play skills in a lively environment.
Each LPG Saturday, we'll be joined by either Universal Moms or Dr. Alex; both classes bring tons of musical energy so your little ones can get their ya-yas out before their afternoon nap.
Learn. Play. Grow. with Corlears Teachers
Ages: 1–4Time: 11–11:45 a.m
Location: Seedlings Green (Room 211; Second floor) and Seedlings Yellow (Room 213; Second floor)
Register on Sawyer →
LPG Special Guest
Ages: 1–4*Time: 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m
Location: Either the gym (Room 401; Fourth floor) or the backyard
*At least; some of our special guests might have higher age bands. Check Sawyer for details.
In addition to our regular programming, each LPG Saturday will showcase a different special guest. For detailed activity information, keep an eye on your inbox for the LPG newsletter or check the Sawyer listing.
- October 28, 2023: Ramblin' Dan's Freewheelin' Band (Featuring Bandleader CJ)
- November 11, 2023: Creative Play for Kids
- December 2, 2023: Child's Play
- January 20, 2024: Fyütch
- February 10, 2024: Lion Dance Troupe
- March 2, 2024: SocRoc
- April 20, 2024: Ubuntu Mundo
- May 18, 2024: Ramblin' Dan's Freewheelin' Band
Register on Sawyer →
Access to Backyard Playspace
Ages: 1–4Time: 9–10:00 a.m
Location: Backyard
Register on Sawyer →
The GIANT Room
Ages: 3–10Time: 9–10:00 a.m
Location: Gym (Room 401; Fourth floor)
Join The GIANT Room for an interactive and engaging workshop full of hands-on creative projects! Families are invited to join us with their big ideas, and build and share creative projects among the community. You’ll create your own whimsical gardens, flying spiders and butterflies, arcade games, a fashion runway show, magical worlds under the water, and more. We'll dream of a new theme every week, come up with cool ideas, and build it together.
This workshop series is a great combination of hands-on creativity, engineering, arts, and crafts, focused on family engagement and fun!
Service Learning with Corlears Teachers
Ages: 3–10Time: 10–11:00 a.m.
Location: Seedlings Red (Room 111; First floor)
Every week, Corlears elementary students collaborate on a project tied to the 17 Global Goals, which are initiatives that world leaders agree “will build a greener, fairer, better world by 2030.” The children choose a goal they’re most passionate about and, together in mixed-age groups, commit to a semester-long, developmentally appropriate service learning project that creates an impact. It’s through this firsthand experience researching a cause, planning a project, taking action, and reflecting on impact that our students begin to see themselves as change agents who can truly make a difference in the world.
This year, we’re taking our school’s commitment beyond the classroom. Anyone who joins us for our free Saturday programming at Learn. Play. Grow. will have a chance to make a meaningful difference in this community we call home.
Love Child
Ages: 1–4Time: 10–10:45 a.m
Location: Backyard
With music and movement classes from Love Child, your tiny dancers will be right in their element as they learn coordination, team-building, and safe play skills in a lively environment.
Each LPG Saturday, we'll be joined by either Universal Moms or Dr. Alex; both classes bring tons of musical energy so your little ones can get their ya-yas out before their afternoon nap.
Arts For All
Ages: 4–6Time: 10–11:00 a.m
Location: First grade (Room 311; Third floor)
Arts For All offers accessible artistic opportunities to children in the New York City area who face socioeconomic, physical, or emotional barriers to exploring the arts. Through Arts For All, professional artists work with youth organizations to build self-confidence, self-expression, teamwork, resilience, and creativity in children.
At each Arts For All session, children will take an artistic dive into that week's LPG theme through interactive storytelling, visual arts, music, and/or movement.
Learn. Play. Grow. with Corlears Teachers
Ages: 1–4Time: 11–11:45 a.m
Location: Seedlings Green (Room 211; Second floor) and Seedlings Yellow (Room 213; Second floor)
Register on Sawyer →
LPG Special Guest
Ages: 1–4*Time: 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m
Location: Either the gym (Room 401; Fourth floor) or the backyard
*At least; some of our special guests might have higher age bands. Check Sawyer for details.
In addition to our regular programming, each LPG Saturday will showcase a different special guest. For detailed activity information, keep an eye on your inbox for the LPG newsletter or check the Sawyer listing.
- October 28, 2023: Ramblin' Dan's Freewheelin' Band (Featuring Bandleader CJ)
- November 11, 2023: Creative Play for Kids
- December 2, 2023: Child's Play
- January 20, 2024: Fyütch
- February 10, 2024: Lion Dance Troupe
- March 2, 2024: SocRoc
- April 20, 2024: Ubuntu Mundo
- May 18, 2024: Ramblin' Dan's Freewheelin' Band
Register on Sawyer →
The GIANT Room
Ages: 3–10Time: 9–10:00 a.m
Location: Gym (Room 401; Fourth floor)
Join The GIANT Room for an interactive and engaging workshop full of hands-on creative projects! Families are invited to join us with their big ideas, and build and share creative projects among the community. You’ll create your own whimsical gardens, flying spiders and butterflies, arcade games, a fashion runway show, magical worlds under the water, and more. We'll dream of a new theme every week, come up with cool ideas, and build it together.
This workshop series is a great combination of hands-on creativity, engineering, arts, and crafts, focused on family engagement and fun!
Service Learning with Corlears Teachers
Ages: 3–10Time: 10–11:00 a.m.
Location: Seedlings Red (Room 111; First floor)
Every week, Corlears elementary students collaborate on a project tied to the 17 Global Goals, which are initiatives that world leaders agree “will build a greener, fairer, better world by 2030.” The children choose a goal they’re most passionate about and, together in mixed-age groups, commit to a semester-long, developmentally appropriate service learning project that creates an impact. It’s through this firsthand experience researching a cause, planning a project, taking action, and reflecting on impact that our students begin to see themselves as change agents who can truly make a difference in the world.
This year, we’re taking our school’s commitment beyond the classroom. Anyone who joins us for our free Saturday programming at Learn. Play. Grow. will have a chance to make a meaningful difference in this community we call home.
Arts For All
Ages: 4–6Time: 10–11:00 a.m
Location: First grade (Room 311; Third floor)
Arts For All offers accessible artistic opportunities to children in the New York City area who face socioeconomic, physical, or emotional barriers to exploring the arts. Through Arts For All, professional artists work with youth organizations to build self-confidence, self-expression, teamwork, resilience, and creativity in children.
At each Arts For All session, children will take an artistic dive into that week's LPG theme through interactive storytelling, visual arts, music, and/or movement.
Make a Donation to Learn. Play. Grow.
LPG's mission of providing NYC families with free access to our facilities, programming, and early years expertise relies on the generous support of families like yours. Every dollar counts, and monthly giving in small amounts is available!
Corlears School is a public charity under Code Section 509 (a)(I) and exempt from federal income tax per Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. EIN # 13-5653140. No goods or services will be provided in consideration of this contribution. All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.
Programming Partners
Thank you to the partners, past and present, who have helped bring Learn. Play. Grow. to our growing community.
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