The Clubhouse Day School | K-3 in Phoenixville, PA
Opening August 2026

A Small Microschool
for K–3 in Phoenixville

Structured academics in the morning. Hands-on discovery all afternoon.

Children build strong reading, writing, and math skills through explicit, research-based instruction each morning — then bring those skills to life through cooking, gardening, building, experiments, and creative projects. When children use what they learn in the real world, confidence can grow, curiosity can spark, and learning starts to stick.

Structured Academics

Research-based curricula in reading, writing, and math every morning — aligned with foundational literacy and numeracy research.

Hands-On Afternoons

Science, cooking, gardening, Spanish, art, movement, and outdoor play every day.

Maximum 8 Per Group

Two groups (K-1 and Grades 2-3). Small enough to truly know every child.

Schedule
Mon-Thu
9AM - 3PM
Add-On
Friday
Enrichment
Size
Max 8
Per Group
Year
2026-27
Aug-Jun

Something new is coming to Phoenixville.

Since opening in August 2025, The Clubhouse Wellness Center has become a home for Phoenixville families. Now we are expanding into education.

The Clubhouse Day School was designed by an educator with over 13 years of experience in special education and school psychology — not pulled from a franchise template. We believe deeply in structured, explicit direct instruction and in the power of authentic, real-world application. We do both — in sequence — every single day.

The Program

Explore what we teach and how we teach it.

Every academic block follows the same rhythm: direct instruction first, then immediate hands-on application. We use research-based, proven curricula designed to build strong foundations in literacy and numeracy.

Reading

Structured literacy using explicit, multisensory methods — building strong phonics, decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills through guided practice, real books, and meaningful application.

Math

Direct instruction in number sense, computation, and problem solving — then into manipulatives, games, and real-world application that supports genuine number sense.

Writing

Explicit instruction in spelling, grammar, and sentence structure — then into journaling, storytelling, and creative projects where children write for real purposes.

Social-Emotional Learning

Emotional regulation, friendship skills, and self-advocacy — taught explicitly and practiced in real time every day. Not an add-on. The foundation.

Our philosophy: Reading, writing, and math deserve structured, direct instruction using research-based curricula. That part is non-negotiable. But everything else can be learned out of a desk — and it should be.

Applied instruction happens on the turf field during a spelling relay, in the garden measuring plant growth, in the kitchen doubling a recipe, and outside sketching what you observe. When children see how subject areas are actually used in real time — not in a textbook, but in their own hands — curiosity stops being something we have to manufacture. It becomes the natural result of learning that matters.

The spark of “I get it — and I know what to do with it” is where genuine intellectual curiosity is born. That is what we are building, every single day.

Every instructional block follows the same three-part architecture. This pattern repeats throughout the day — creating a rhythm children can count on.

1

Lesson

15-30 minutes of explicit, teacher-led direct instruction. Clear, structured, proven. This is the floor — the goal is that every child receives the instruction they need.

2

Apply

Take the skill and use it — in the garden, on the turf, in the kitchen, at the art table. When learning lives outside a worksheet, children stop forgetting it.

3

Move

A genuine transition — movement, sensory activity, outdoor time, or creative play — before the next block begins.

The explicit instruction provides the foundation of quality and skill-building for every student. The application is where it comes alive: on the turf field, in the garden, in the kitchen, at the woodworking table. When children use a skill in a context that actually matters to them, they stop asking “why do I need to learn this?” — because they already know. Scripted programs are our floor. Authentic projects are our ceiling.

This is not a concept. This is a real week in our program.

Our Kindergarten and First Grade Friends

Monday morning, our K-1 group gathers on the rug to learn a new phonics pattern with letter tiles, then spends the next half hour practicing it by writing sentences for their pen pal letters. After a spelling relay race on the turf field, they settle into a math lesson on counting and number recognition — building quantities with blocks, then playing a partner game to match numbers to groups. Tuesday, the science unit comes alive: they head outside to the garden with observation journals, drawing what they see and labeling their sketches with new vocabulary. Wednesday's writing block produces "All About Me" pages with illustrations and inventive spelling that gets a little stronger every week. By Friday, someone's idea for a birdhouse takes over the building station, and measuring with a ruler suddenly matters in a way no worksheet could make it.

Over time, the phonics patterns grow more complex, sentences get longer, and students begin reading with increasing independence.

Our Second and Third Grade Friends

Monday morning, the 2-3 group dives into a multisyllable decoding lesson, then immediately applies it by reading a nonfiction passage about animal habitats and pulling out key details for their research posters. After a vocabulary relay on the turf, they shift to math — working through multi-digit addition strategies with base-ten blocks before tackling word problems that require real reasoning. Tuesday, they take their habitat research outside, measuring garden beds and converting inches to feet for a scale drawing. Wednesday's writing block has them drafting a how-to book with transition words and procedural paragraphs — a book that will actually live in the classroom library. By Friday, a group of students is designing and pricing a small business project, calculating costs, making change, and writing a persuasive ad.

Each project strengthens core academic skills while building independence, collaboration, and problem-solving. Every week looks a little different. The rhythm — lesson, apply, move, discover — stays the same.

Every month, students work toward a project with a real audience outside the classroom. This is the ceiling — where skills become meaningful and curiosity becomes unstoppable.

Sept

All About Me Book

Families at Welcome Night

Oct

Seasons Nature Journal

Hallway display

Nov

Community Helper Report

Clubhouse community

Jan

Winter Habitat Poster

Parent Presentation Night

Feb

Pen Pal Letters

Mailed to real pen pals

Mar

How-To Book

Classroom library

Apr

Garden Science Journal

Clubhouse garden display

May

Portfolio Celebration

Families at Celebration Night

The Details

Everything you need to know.

9:00 AM

Morning Meeting

Greetings, check-ins, and setting the tone together.

9:20 AM

Reading Block

Structured literacy — explicit, multisensory instruction in small groups.

10:30 AM

Math Block

Direct instruction followed by manipulatives, games, and real-world application.

11:15 AM

Writing Block

Explicit mechanics and structure, then creative projects.

12:30 PM

Hands-On Learning

Science, cooking, gardening, Spanish, art, movement, and outdoor play.

2:45 PM

Closing Circle

Come together. Share something we noticed. Celebrate the day.

Quick Details

ScheduleMon - Thu
Hours9 AM - 3 PM
GradesK - 3
ClassroomsK-1 and Gr 2-3
Group SizeMax 8
School YearAug 31 - Jun 4
LunchPacked by family

Friday Enrichment

Friday is intentionally different. No structured academic blocks — just project-rich, hands-on learning: cooking, woodworking, crafts, outdoor exploration, and collaborative challenges. Friday is the day that makes Monday through Thursday feel worth it.

Open to enrolled students and homeschool families looking for a social, enrichment-based learning day.

Located inside The Clubhouse Wellness Center. No space is assigned to a subject — any space can be used for any activity, based on what the learning moment calls for.

Calm and cozy

The Loft

Read-alouds, individual reading, journaling, and quiet independent work.

High energy

The Turf Field

PE, spelling relay races, math movement games, tug-of-war, and active play.

Hands-on

The Outdoor Garden

Seasonal planting, observation journals, science experiments, and garden-based math.

Flexible

Six Learning Rooms

Small-group instruction, focused work, art projects, and everything in between.

The facility also includes a foam pit and more. Learning to read a space — when to settle into focus, when to move, when to spread a project across the floor — is itself a skill we build together.

We are not

  • A traditional classroom with desks in rows
  • Focused on compliance and sitting still
  • Covering content to check a box
  • Rushing through a packed curriculum
  • Trying to replicate traditional school in a smaller room

We are

  • A high-energy, intentional learning community
  • Focused on mastery, movement, and meaning
  • Exploring content deeply enough to connect it to life
  • Spending time on what matters — and going deep
  • A microschool: a separate, intentional educational choice

The Clubhouse Day School follows a microschool model — a small, intentional learning environment, typically fewer than 20 students, that combines the structure of a school program with the individualization that larger settings cannot offer.

We operate under Pennsylvania's home education law (Act 169 of 1988). Students are legally registered as homeschoolers with their local school district, and families file the required paperwork and annual evaluations.

The Clubhouse provides the daily instruction, curriculum, learning community, and enrichment — giving your child a full school experience inside a dedicated, educator-led space. We guide every family through the process.

Who This Is For

Families who want their child to be known.

There is no specific profile or prerequisite. If you want your child in a place where they are seen, supported, and challenged in a way that fits who they actually are — this program was built for you.

  • A place where every child is known by name, by personality, and by what makes them light up
  • Academics that are rigorous and structured — but delivered with patience, flexibility, and real individualization
  • A daily rhythm with movement, creativity, outdoor time, and hands-on learning built in — not squeezed in
  • Social-emotional skills, confidence, and real friendships that grow in a small, connected community
  • A child who comes home excited about what they learned, what they built, and who they played with

Imagine dropping your child off at a place where they are greeted by name, where they spend the morning working on reading and math with structured, hands-on instruction, and where they spend the afternoon cooking, gardening, building, and playing — then picking them up excited to tell you about their day.

What Families Say

“It’s the kind of place you walk into and think, ‘Oh… this is what we’ve been missing.’”
— Lauren L., Clubhouse Parent
“My kids look forward to going and love it there! Nicole immediately makes you feel at ease.”
— Sarah M., Clubhouse Parent
“You can truly feel how much care and intention goes into everything here.”
— Brielle G., Clubhouse Parent

Built by the same team, in the same space, with the same heart.

Who Built This

Designed by an educator, not a template.

Nicole Weirich

Nicole Weirich

Co-Founder, The Clubhouse Wellness Center

Every element of this program — from the curricula to the daily schedule to the way staff are trained — was shaped by over a decade of experience working with hundreds of students across public schools, specialized programs, and private settings. This is not a franchise or a template.

Nicole teaches approximately 30 hours per week. She knows every child — where they are in every subject, what lights them up, and what they need next. When something is going especially well, you will hear about it. When something needs attention, you will hear about it immediately. We do not wait for problems to compound, and we will never tell you everything is fine when it is not.

M.S. School Psychology13+ Years in Special EducationMom of Four
Tuition and Enrollment

An investment in how your child experiences learning.

Tuition reflects the value of small-group instruction, research-based curricula, and the individualized attention that a program of this size requires.

We know every family's situation is different. We are happy to discuss tuition, payment plans, and enrollment details directly during your initial inquiry. There is no obligation — just a conversation about whether this is the right fit.

To learn more, reach out by email at nweirich@theclubhousewc.com, schedule a visit, or book a 15-minute introductory call.

FAQ

Common questions from families.

The Clubhouse Day School follows a microschool model — typically fewer than 20 students. We operate under Pennsylvania's home education law (Act 169 of 1988). Students are legally registered as homeschoolers with their local school district. The Clubhouse provides the daily instruction, curriculum, learning community, and enrichment. We guide every family through the process.
We use research-based, proven curricula across all core subjects. Every academic block follows the same rhythm: direct instruction first, then immediate hands-on application. Children learn through structured, explicit teaching — then use it right away through real-life practice, games, projects, and creative work.
Mornings are dedicated to structured academics — reading, math, and writing using research-based curricula. Afternoons bring content areas to life through hands-on projects: science experiments, cooking, gardening, Spanish, art, movement, and outdoor play. Every day is built around one unifying theme. Families pack lunch; children eat together family-style.
We know our students through daily presence — watching them read, listening to how they solve a problem, noticing what lights them up. We conduct baseline, mid-year, and end-of-year assessments. You will hear from us when something is going especially well — and immediately if we notice something that needs attention. We do not wait for problems to compound, and we will never tell you everything is fine when it is not.
Emotional regulation, friendship skills, and self-advocacy are taught explicitly and practiced every day. This is the foundation, not an add-on. In a group this small, children have the opportunity to develop real social skills, confidence, and friendships that come from being part of a connected community.
Friday Enrichment Days are an optional add-on — project-rich, hands-on learning: cooking and baking, woodworking, outdoor exploration, jewelry making, crafts, and more. Fridays are also open to families not enrolled in the Monday-Thursday program — homeschoolers, virtual learners, and curious families are welcome to join.
Enrollment is intentionally limited to 16 students total — two groups of up to 8 (K-1 and Grades 2-3). Small group size is what allows us to truly know every child and deliver the kind of individualized experience that larger programs cannot offer.
Inside The Clubhouse Wellness Center at 1288 Valley Forge Rd, Unit 87, Phoenixville, PA 19460. The facility includes six learning rooms, a loft, indoor turf field, foam pit, and outdoor garden — approximately 5,000 square feet.
Your child attends a dedicated school space, with a Pennsylvania-credentialed educator, structured curriculum, a daily schedule, and a community of peers — Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 3 PM. The legal framework is home education under PA Act 169, but the day-to-day experience is a full school program. We handle instruction, curriculum, and enrichment, and guide families through all required paperwork.
Kindergarten through Grade 3. Students are placed in one of two mixed-age groups: K-1 or Grades 2-3. Mixed-age classrooms are intentional — younger children learn from older peers, and older children solidify their knowledge by teaching.
Private schools typically serve hundreds of students and follow state-mandated structures. The Clubhouse Day School is intentionally small, educator-designed, and built around a teaching model (Lesson, Apply, Move) that would not be possible at scale. Every element was designed from the ground up for the children it serves.
We operate under PA Act 169 (home education law), which requires instruction in specific subject areas. Our curriculum covers and in many areas goes beyond these requirements. We use research-based programs for reading, math, and writing, and integrate science, social studies, health, PE, Spanish, and the arts through hands-on experiences every day.
Each group has a maximum of 8 students with a lead educator. This ratio allows for genuine individualization — not the kind written into a brochure, but the kind where your child's teacher knows exactly where they are in every subject, what lights them up, and what they need next.
Our curriculum is rigorous and research-based, and covers all foundational academic skills. However, we do not mirror public school pacing, and receiving schools make independent placement decisions based on their own criteria. We are not able to guarantee specific grade-level placement or academic outcomes following enrollment. We are happy to discuss what a transition might look like for your family.
Under PA Act 169, families file a home education affidavit with their local school district and submit annual evaluations. We walk every family through this process step by step — you will never feel like you are navigating it alone.
The Clubhouse Day School is a private microschool and does not currently accept state funding, ESA payments, or government vouchers. Pennsylvania does not currently offer a universal ESA program. If this changes in the future, we will evaluate participation on a case-by-case basis. We are happy to discuss tuition and payment options directly with any interested family.
Our small group size, structured-but-flexible approach, built-in movement, and emphasis on social-emotional learning create an environment designed to support children who may not have thrived in a larger setting. We use flexible grouping — children work at their instructional level, not their age or grade. A child who is ahead will be challenged. A child who needs more time will get it without shame. If we see a concern, we contact you in writing and develop a shared support plan. That said, we are not a special education provider and cannot implement IEPs or provide related services under IDEA.
Yes. All enrolled families sign a detailed enrollment agreement that covers tuition, withdrawal policies, liability, program expectations, and important disclaimers. We encourage families to review the full agreement carefully before committing. A copy is provided during the admissions process.
No. Families are responsible for all transportation to and from The Clubhouse Day School. We do not provide bus service, carpool coordination, or supervised before- or after-care at this time.
We would love to hear from you. You can email Nicole directly at nweirich@theclubhousewc.com, schedule a visit to see the space, or book a quick 15-minute introductory call. No commitment required — just a conversation.

We would love to hear from you.

If this sounds like something your family might be interested in — there are a few easy ways to connect. No commitment required.

Enrollment is intentionally limited to 16 students total (8 per group). Families are encouraged to connect early.

The Clubhouse Day School

A small-group school program for K-3, housed inside The Clubhouse Wellness Center in Phoenixville, PA. Opening August 2026.

© 2026 The Clubhouse Day School. All rights reserved.

The Clubhouse Day School is a private microschool operating under Pennsylvania Act 169 (home education). It is not a licensed private school, daycare, or childcare facility, and is not a special education provider under IDEA. The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute a guarantee of academic outcomes, grade-level placement, or educational results. All enrollment is subject to a signed enrollment agreement.