The Plymouth School, located at 315 S. Oxford Ave., opened its doors on Wednesday, Sept. 14 to begin its 44th year of educating neighborhood children.

Arram Kharrazi, right, arrived early for the first day of classes at The Plymouth School. (photo by Maureen Gonzalez)

The school was founded in 1972 by five preschool teachers with a vision of creating a play-based, developmentally-appropriate learning environment for children 2 to 5-and-a-half years old. Penny Cox, one of the school’s founders, announced she was retiring as director in summer 2014 and hired Megan Drynan to take the helm.

Drynan has maintained the character of the school while enhancing the campus with new green space and shade on the playground. She also expanded and updated classrooms, and extracurricular activities including music, yoga and movement.

The school enrolls approximately 60 children who are grouped into three classrooms according to age and individual need. Parents may choose to enroll their children for two, three, four or five days per week. The Plymouth School offers a morning program from 8:45 to 11:45 a.m., and a full-day program from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The school’s teacher/child ratio is one-to-six. Teachers are credentialed and specifically trained in early childhood education. The Plymouth School aims to educate the whole child – cognitively, socially, emotionally and physically.

Children can play on outdoor equipment, and indoor quiet time offers an opportunity for reading and conversation. Role-play and games are encouraged, and hands-on art activities help each child create and experiment.

The children also learn to express themselves through music, movement, rhythm and song. Cognitive growth is stimulated by language development activities and the use of conceptual materials and manipulatives. The school builds children’s self-confidence through discovery.

The Plymouth School is a nonprofit, charitable educational corporation. The school is licensed by the California Department of Social Services, and is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

For information, call (213)387-7381,  email theplymouthschool@gmail.com, or visit www.theplymouthschool.com.