The Wyndcroft School

The Wyndcroft School is a private American co-educational, independent, elementary, day school from early childhood (3 years old) to Grade 8.

Founded by members of The Hill School faculty in 1918 as The Pottstown Open Air School, Wyndcroft (renamed as such four years later) is in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, about 35 mi northwest of Philadelphia.

Wyndcroft is a member school of the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools.

History

The year 1918 reflected a growing concern within the educational community to provide not only for academic excellence, but also to provide for the healthful wellbeing of a child. In the midst of nationwide epidemics of measles, mumps, flu and tuberculosis, a few parents in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, members of the prestigious Hill School faculty, chose to provide a superior education for their younger children by founding a progressive "open-air" school. So began Wyndcroft's first incarnation in the sunlit porches and an open garage of a residence on the Hill School campus under the name of "The Pottstown Open Air School."

Within four years the school had changed its name to "The Wyndcroft School" and gained such popularity within the community that the parents purchased a "delightfully situated" rural property on which to expand. Here they constructed "scientifically designed buildings built for the comfort and convenience of the children," in which to hold their school. At this new Rosedale Drive address, (the present site of Wyndcroft), The Wyndcroft School flourished and by 1925 consisted of 50 pupils and 5 teachers. The buildings soon expanded to include "five outdoor bungalows, a school building with a large assembly room, office, classroom, [and] well-equipped kitchen and dining-room where the children have their noon meal."

Motto

The school's motto is non sibi, Latin for "not for oneself."

Traditions

Blue vs. Gold Field Day

Every Wyndcroft family is assigned to a team for all their years at Wyndcroft. In May, the early childhood, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students have their field day on the fields behind the school, and the first- to eighth- grade students head to the Hill School Far Fields for a day of friendly competition and fun. Upon returning to school, they are served a lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs and treated to a "Make Your Own Sundae" bar provided by the Wyndcroft Parent Teacher Organisation.

Headmasters

• Gail L. Wolter
• Kathleen E. Wunner, Ph.D.
• Mr. Alvin Coleman
• Mr. Gerald McGrath
• Mr. Carlisle Snively 1948–1980
• Mrs. Mabel Day Steele 1925–1948

References

External links

• The Wyndcroft School
• Pottstown Borough Page on The Wyndcroft School