Teacher Assistant

Apple Montessori Schools is opening its first location outside New Jersey this September in Warrington, Pennsylvania. The new campus marks a significant expansion for the early childhood education provider, which has operated in New Jersey since 1972. The Warrington school will serve children aged 6 weeks to 6 years. Located in Valley Square, the facility features natural light-filled classrooms, outdoor learning spaces, and a signature saltwater pool. The curriculum combines Montessori principles with academics, including a phonics-based literacy programme that helps many students read by age 4. Additional offerings include music, art, foreign language, yoga, and sign language. School Director Amanda Gearhart brings nearly 20 years of education experience, whilst Education Director Stacey Venuto has nearly 25 years as a Montessori director. Apple Montessori currently operates 21 locations throughout New Jersey.

Apple Montessori has "a lot of work to do" on Newtown Township Rite Aid reuse. * Brett Duffey * Tuesday, July 28, 2026 10:45 am At a July Newtown Township Board of Supervisors meeting, a detailed report from the planning commission outlined significant concerns about a proposal from Apple Montessori Schools to convert the former Rite Aid at Goodnoe's Corner into a childcare facility. Planning commission representative Peggy Driscoll presented the findings, describing issues related to parking, traffic flow, safety and zoning compliance. Driscoll explained that the applicant intends to retrofit the building into a C-10 childcare facility, a permitted use in the PC (Planned Commercial) zoning district. The building is located across the parking lot from The Green Parrot restaurant, just off Ice Cream Alley. According to its website, the New Jersey-based Apple Montessori Schools is opening its first Pennsylvania location in The Shops at Valley Square in Warrington this fall. The Newtown Township plan includes removing the former pharmacy drive-through aisle to create an outdoor play area, converting additional parking on the east side into another play area, and installing a swimming pool. The facility would operate from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with staggered drop-offs and pickups for up to 154 children and 21 employees during peak hours. Despite the permitted use, the planning commission expressed substantial concerns. "It's tight there," Driscoll said, noting that while the applicant claimed there would be no net loss of parking spaces, the commission questioned whether the proposed parallel parking and reconfigured areas would function effectively. She explained that parallel parking is technically allowed in the PC district but "it never seems to work" in actual practice. Traffic flow during drop-off and pickup was a major issue. Driscoll stated, "Our big concern was queuing in the morning for drop-off and pickup, 154 maximum is a lot of children." Planning commission members worried that vehicles would queue around the building, creating congestion and safety hazards. Pickup times also coincide with busy restaurant hours in the shopping center and across Ice Cream Alley, increasing the risk of conflicts between childcare traffic and commercial activity. The former Rite Aid site is across the parking lot from The Green Parrot restaurant. Community members, during a July 21 planning commission meeting, also raised concerns. A restaurant owner noted that early morning deliveries by tractor-trailers make the area busier than it appears, and restaurant employees are already required to park offsite. These factors, Driscoll said, compounded the commission's worries about traffic patterns and pedestrian safety. The proposed swimming pool drew additional scrutiny. Driscoll stated, "The swimming pool is not permitted in the PC district." Although the applicant said the pool would be used only for instructional purposes and staffed by professional lifeguards, supervisors questioned whether the location was appropriate. Supervisor Phil Calabro remarked, "All we need is one kid to fall in there and then that's a disaster," calling the safety aspect "a problem." The board also questioned whether the applicant had fully considered alternative locations. Driscoll said she asked the applicant whether they explored other sites in Newtown Township, and they responded that they had, but preferred the Goodnoe's Corner location. She noted that the Newtown Business Commons, a 300-acre industrial and commercial center in the township, would offer more flexibility. "They could have pretty much anything they wanted, but that's not what they want to do." "I just didn't get the whole concept being there," Calabro said. "Parking at the Village of Newtown is a concern everywhere in there." The commission requested the applicant submit formal responses to review letters from the township planner, engineer and Bucks County Planning Commission, as well as traffic studies and detailed traffic patterns for drop-off and pickup. Only after receiving these materials will the commission formally review the conditional use application and offer a recommendation. Driscoll concluded by noting that the applicant "still has a lot of work to do," and supervisors agreed that significant issues must be addressed before the project can move forward. This story was made possible by the support of readers like you. The Bucks County Herald provides trusted local journalism that informs, connects, and strengthens Bucks County communities. As a nonprofit news organization, Bucks County Herald rely on reader support to keep this reporting free and accessible. Help sustain local journalism with a gift today. Share your reaction. The Bucks County Herald reflects the community it serves. If you know of a story that needs telling, please email Bucks County Herald at [email protected].