About Us
Our Mission
The West Hill School offers pre-school age children a safe and nurturing environment that encourages a life-long celebration of learning. Through our rich and varied curriculum, balanced with play and multisensory academic instruction, the children explore and satisfy their curiosities while developing their cognitive, social/emotional, and physical skills. Children experience and practice the self-regulation skills of careful listening and focus and attention that promote school readiness. Through activities that reinforce the development of empathy and emotion management, children learn to build friendships and successful interpersonal relationships. Children develop a sense of appreciation and respect for our natural world. It is our goal that each child progresses to kindergarten with the tools to achieve a balanced education that promotes self-confidence, joy of discovery, pride in accomplishment, and respect for differences in our school, our community, and our world.
Diversity Statement
At The West Hill School, we create a nurturing atmosphere where individuality is valued and honored. We believe that a diverse and welcoming community fosters a positive experience and enriches understanding of oneself and others. We respect and appreciate all differences among members of our school family, including age, culture, disability or handicap, ethnicity, family structure, learning styles, national origin, citizenship status, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socio-economic status. We are committed to achieving a safe, equitable, and inclusive environment across all areas of school life.
Visual and Conceptual Meaning Behind the WHS Logo
The West Hill School logo, developed in 2014, captured its meaning from The West Hill School Mission Statement and from the School’s tradition. The color green has been associated with The West Hill School since its inception in 1966, so green was utilized in the new logo to continue this brand recognition. Also transferred to the new logo was the serif typeface with small caps.
The negative space below the symbol is in the shape of a hill that ascends west, a fun play on the word “West Hill” located in the name of the School.
The West Hill School is located in the middle of a beautiful, suburban residential area, which the fence also reflects, as many of the homes have them including the School itself. The fence was incorporated into the logo to represent a sense of security and foundation.
The 4 pillars in the fence represent the four words in the name of the School and the 4 color groups. The pillars themselves are in the shapes of crayons, which are the writing instruments that the children utilize most at this age. The pillars/crayons ascending in height represent an upward trending growth chart, which visually shows the physical, social, cognitive and emotional growth children achieve during their time at The West Hill School. The colors of the crayons/fence posts go from dark to light representing the growth of all of the children as they progress from one group to the next.
And finally, horizontal shapes that represent connectedness, togetherness, and unity link all the crayons/fence posts relating to the tagline, CONNECT. LEARN. GROW.
~John DiMedio – Visual Identity and Branding Designer
Enrollment
There is a maximum enrollment of 67 children ages 2 years and seven months through PreKindergarten.
Staff Members
The school employs caring, professionally trained staff members. In the classroom, a maximum 9 to 1 student teacher ratio is maintained. Click for Staff List →
Directors
West Hill is a non-profit corporation with a Board of Directors comprised of past and present parents/guardians, educators and business people. View Board of Directors →
Accreditation
The School is accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS).
Tuition and Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance is available to five day students and is based on family need as determined by our Board of Directors. In the case of separation or divorce, both parents/guardians must supply financial information. All Financial Assistance information is confidential and names of applicants and recipients are known only by the Head of School. Click Here for Tuition Information →
Visit West Hill
We invite you to visit us and see what we can offer your child. The West Hill School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its admission and educational policies, financial assistance program and other administered programs. Request a Tour →