The Valie Genuardi Hobbit House
The Valie Genuardi Hobbit House is currently closed due to COVID-19. We appreciate your interest in joining our wonderful learning community, but we are not accepting applications for enrollment at this time. If you would like to be added to our mailing list for future updates about enrollment opportunities at Hobbit House, please contact malfi.c@gmercyu.edu.
On behalf of Hobbit House and the entire Gwynedd Mercy University community, we wish you and your loved ones the very best.
Hobbit House is a licensed child development Nursery and Preschool on the campus of Gwynedd Mercy University. Here, your child will be immersed in a child-centered experience program where all age groups work and play together in a family atmosphere.
The primary goals of Hobbit House are to meet the needs of your child, to respect your child's individuality and personality and to provide a program which encourages creativity. By choosing Hobbit house, your child will enjoy an exciting learning environment where individualized learning, academic excellence, freedom to create and explore, and love are a part of the everyday experience.
Hobbit House Curriculum
The Valie Genuardi Hobbit House is a licensed Private/Academic/Lab School under the sponsorship of Gwynedd Mercy University’s School of Education. Our curriculum is based on Pennsylvania’s Learning Standards for Early Childhood Education, which are research-based standards that identify learning areas of development for children and are reflected in the Core Body of Knowledge competencies. The Standards are designed to guide practitioners to intentionally integrate developmental knowledge with the attitudes, skills and concepts that children need to make progress in all learning areas.
Based on the Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood Education, the following are attributes of Hobbit House’s programs:
- Supervisory and curriculum development
- Schedules aligned to the curriculum
- Accommodations for individual developmental levels
- Inclusion of special needs
- Strategies and tools for evaluation/assessment of children’s progress
- Instructional materials and use as related to instruction
- Parental involvement in the individualized goals of a child’s school experience
- Preparation for a child’s transition to kindergarten
Nursery and Pre-K programs options
Nursery School - Hobbits
- Ages three and four
- Runs September through the end of May
Options and Hours*:
- 1/2 Day - 3, 4 or 5 Mornings a week - 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
- Full Day - Monday to Friday - 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
In order to achieve the goals of Hobbit House, the nursery school programs all provide a state approved curriculum of music, art, science, math and reading readiness, and language development. Socialization skills are emphasized. Play, library and field trips complement this curriculum.
Pre-Kindergarten – Stepping Stones
- Ages four and five
- Runs September through May
Options and Hours*:
- Half-Day: 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Full Day: 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.. - Extended hours for all programs are available 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., for an additional fee
In addition to the achievement of the goals in the nursery school program, the pre-k program provides opportunities for your child to build more self-confidence and develop decision-making abilities which will prepare them for their entry into formal education.
*Extended Day Program: Hobbits who need to stay a little longer can participate in our Extended School Day program, which runs until 5:25 p.m. each day.
*Lunch Bunch: Hobbits enrolled in the morning program have the option of joining the Lunch Bunch, which ends at 2 p.m.
Summer Program
A summer program is offered from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. during the month of June.
Parent Involvement
Hobbit House welcomes all parents to be active participants in your child’s learning. You are invited to come on all field trips and spend the day in school on your child’s birthday or on Nutrition Day. You are also welcome to share a special talent or your expertise with your child’s class.
GMercyU Education Lab
The Valie Genuardi Hobbit House serves as the Gwynedd Mercy University School of Education lab school. This means, your child will be working with our Early Childhood Education and Nursing students as they gain hands-on experiences in teaching young children. This program has provided a wonderful opportunity for our young learners and future teachers and nurses to grow together under the caring guidance and supervision of our fully qualified educators.
