Little Wonders Preschool
Quality Child Care and Preschool
YWCA offers high-quality, affordable child care, serving children and families for over 40 years. We provide a nurturing, creative space for children to learn and grow in newly redesigned and expanded indoor and outdoor learning areas.
Quality, Affordable Early Childhood Education
At YWCA Carlisle & Cumberland County, we believe early childhood education lays the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.
Maximum Ratios
Our Little Wonders Preschool provides enriching experiences for children aged 3-5, adhering to the PA Department of Education standards. All staff are thoroughly background checked and committed to fostering equity and inclusion.
Our preschool families say it best:
“My kids adore every single staff member, from the front desk team to the teachers and classroom helpers!”
Teachers: Students
Shining Stars
2:13
2:16
Teachers: Students
Shining Suns
What We Provide
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Flexible Class Options
Choose from Tuesday/Thursday, Monday/Wednesday/Friday, or Monday - Friday. Each section has the option to add on Afternoon Explorers!
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HighScope Curriculum
Engaging, developmentally appropriate education centered around the PA Early Learning Standards and HighScope curriculum: A researched-backed, play-based early childhood curriculum framework which emphasizes “active participatory learning”.
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Sceenings and Assessments
Age specific developmental screenings and assessment tools with results and feedback provided to families.
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PA Licensed: Star 4 Center
Star 4 centers meet Pennsylvania’s highest early learning safety and quality standards set forth by Keystone Stars.
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Indoor/Outdoor Settings
Indoor and outdoor spaces which allow for large motor play daily no matter the weather.
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Family Involvement
Regular communication with families and opportunities for family involvement and education.
Enrollment & Tuition ↘
All classes are full for the 2026-2027 school year. You can complete the registration form or call to be added to our waiting list.
Enrollment for the 2027-2028 school year will open in January 2027.
Junior Kindergarten
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Our junior kindergarten students enjoy all the benefits listed for our Pre-K classes, with additional small group instruction twice per day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This small group time is focused on enrichment in the areas of literacy (including early reading skills), math, science, and art. Junior kindergarten students receive their whole group instruction with the Pre-K class on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the small group instruction on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This helps limit the repetition of whole group lessons while also providing additional unique learning opportunities. When not participating in these small group lessons/activities, the junior kindergarten students join in with the Pre-K class for the other portions of the day such as activity time, snack/lunch, recess, centers, community meeting, and special projects/activities.
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Full Day (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
M – F: $553
$80 non-refundable registration fee due at time of registration for 5-day class (includes $30 YWCA membership)
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Important Information
Child must be 4-years-old (and potty trained) by September 1 to register, and plan to attend kindergarten
Class time is 9am – 1pm
Children must bring a packed lunch
Daily snack provided
Preschool program runs from September – May (following the CASD calendar from Labor Day until the 3rd week in May)
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Shining Suns Pre-K
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Full Day (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
M/W/F: $317
T/Th: $236
$55 non-refundable registration fee due at time of registration (includes $30 YWCA membership)
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Important Information
Child must be 4-years-old (and potty trained) by September 1 to register, and plan to attend kindergarten the following school year
Class time is 9am – 1pm
Children must bring a packed lunch
Daily snack provided
Preschool program runs from September – May (following the CASD calendar from Labor Day until the 3rd week in May)
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Shining Stars
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Full Day (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
M – F: $553
M/W/F: $317
T/Th: $236
$55 non-refundable registration fee due at time of registration for 2 or 3-day classes (includes $30 YWCA membership)
$80 non-refundable registration fee due at time of registration for 5-day class (includes $30 YWCA membership)
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Important Information
Child must be 3-years-old by September 1 to register for Shining Stars program
Class time is 9am – 1pm
Children must bring a packed lunch
Daily snack provided
Preschool program runs from September – May (following the CASD calendar from Labor Day until the 3rd week in May)
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Afternoon Explorers
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Afternoon Explorers may be taken as a stand-alone class for ages 3-6 or added on to our 9-1 program for currently enrolled students. Families will receive a calendar of the special activities planned for each month in advance. Special activities for each session vary and typically include one of the following: arts/crafts, science experiments/explorations, sensory play, music/movement activities, following simple recipes, or special games.
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1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
M/W/F (87 Sessions): $145
M (28 Sessions): $46
W (32 Sessions): $53
F (27 Sessions): $45
A $55 non-refundable registration fee is due at time of registration for student snot enrolled from 9-1 (includes $30 YWCA membership)
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Important Information
Child must be 3-years-old by September 1 to register
Children who attend a half day am kindergarten program are welcome to register
Afternoon Explorers sessions are from 1-3pm
The Afternoon Explorer program runs from the Monday after Labor Day until the third Friday in May (following the Little Wonders Calendar for days off)
There are no Afternoon Explorers sessions the week of our annual student art show (Typically held in late March or early April)
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Our Afternoon Explorers program is for ages 3-6 and includes the following:
Indoor play time
Special activity
Snack
Outdoor play time
Story time