Pre-K

  • Pre-K

    Part time and full time enrollment available
    The last stop before kindergarten is our Pre-K program.  We believe strongly that a child who has discovered that the learning process is fun and rewarding is truly prepared to meet the challenges of the more directed teaching methods they will encounter in kindergarten and beyond.  The Pre-K day is filled with learning opportunities, both formal and informal.  Each day the children are exposed to experiences in the arts, nature, music, language, and early writing.  Our approach is primarily developmental – stressing social skills, exploration, discovery, independence, and creativity.
     
    Preschoolers are naturally curious and are learning all the time!  In our program we support that curiosity and encourage them to observe, explore, take things apart, build, create, draw, and discover.  We want them to see themselves as inventors, problem solvers, and discoverers.  You probably have academic goals for your child – to be a good reader and writer, to solve problems in math and science, to be a good citizen, to appreciate the arts, and to use technology.  We share those same goals, but learning in Pre-K looks different than learning in elementary school.  The key to successful learning experiences is to build off the interests of your child and engage your child in exploring and learning about the world around them.  Through cooperative decision-making and guided classroom conversations, our talented teachers skillfully incorporate elements of history, science, geography, storytelling, language, writing, math, and numbers into all aspects of the Pre-K day.
     
    Our Pre-K curriculum is infused with the ideas and interests that emerge from the imaginations of the children.  Using a blend of Emergent Curriculum and Creative Curriculum, our teachers are able to develop lesson plans that are child-driven and include both teacher-led activities as well as free play and small group work.  After deciding on a study topic as a group, the teachers use their creativity to bring the subject to life.  The interest areas will be transformed to represent whatever is being learned about.  For example, if the class is learning about outer space, you may come in to find that the dramatic play area has been turned into a rocket ship, complete with astronaut helmets and uniforms.  Block corner may now be filled with “space rocks” and the library corner will contain books about space, planets, astronauts, etc.  Bringing as many real-world items and non-fiction books about a topic as possible into the classroom allows the group as a whole to go in-depth on a subject.
     
    Potty training is not required to go into the Pre-K program.  Some of the Pre-K children are still learning to use the potty consistently.  Whether a child is three years old or five years old, our experienced caregivers are there to provide positive encouragement and support to the children (and their parents!) as they navigate the transition to a diaper-free life.
    We offer Full and Part Time schedules.

    Kindergarten Readiness

    A child who has discovered that the learning process is fun and rewarding is truly prepared to meet the challenges of the more directed teaching methods that they will encounter in kindergarten and beyond…

    A Love of Learning

    Pre-kindergarten children are learning all the time – and they learn best through play and being active! Like other preschool children, your child probably asks lots of questions: How does this work? What makes plants grow? Preschoolers are very curious about their world. In our program we help your child to develop their natural curiosity. We want them to see themselves as inventors, problem solvers, discoverers and capable learners. We encourage your child to observe, explore, take things apart, build, create, draw, and see what they can find out. You probably have academic goals for your child; to be a good reader and writer, to solve problems in math and science, to be a good citizen in the world, to appreciate the arts, and to use technology. We share the same goals, but learning in preschool looks different from learning in elementary school. The key to successful learning experiences is to figure out what interests your child. We use those interests to engage your child in actively exploring and learning about the world around them. We help your child develop a love of learning.

    Pre-Kindergarten Curriculum

    Our pre-kindergarten curriculum is infused with the ideas and interests that emerge from the imaginations of the children. Our approach is primarily developmental, stressing social skills, exploration, discovery, independence, and creativity. Through the encouragement of cooperative decision making and guided classroom conversations, our talented teachers skillfully incorporate elements of history, science, geography, storytelling, language and writing, numbers and mathematics into on-going, expanding creative multi medium play projects. In other words, thoughtfully guided fun!

    In the Classroom

    Our pre-kindergartener’s days are filled with lots of imaginative free play and rich experiences in the arts, dramatic play, nature, numbers, language and early writing. Special teachers visit the classrooms regularly to present activities and experiences in music & movement, sports & fitness, and foreign language exposure. The more active children are in their work, the more they learn and remember. Each of our centers has two pre-kindergarten classrooms; a 3-4 year old class and a 4-5 year old class. Each class has twenty children. Our pre-kindergarten rooms are bright and sunny, and beautifully equipped. Our teachers are enthusiastic, experienced and continuously trained. They are kind and nurturing.

    Toilet training not required…

    Many children in this age group are still learning to use the potty. Whether a child is three years old or five years old, our experienced caregivers are there to provide positive encouragement and support to the children (and their parents!) as they navigate the transition to a diaper free life! We provide cots, sheets, blankets, bibs, cups, utensils, nutritious snacks, milk and water.