Last year of freedom

PREKINDERGARTEN
Our Pre-K program is specifically designed for the child entering kindergarten in the fall. Our goal is to introduce your child to activities and experiences that will make the transition to specifically kindergarten an easy one.

Our caring, experienced teachers are dedicated to providing a rich, nurturing environment that will prepare your child for kindergarten. We promote independence in an organized atmosphere, as it is increasingly important for children to be their own thinkers. We also teach children to work well within a group through listening, sharing and cooperation.

CURRICULUM
Each day, your pre-kindergartner will engage in various hands-on activities designed to introduce him to the current learning objectives in a meaningful, personal way. He’ll explore and discover solutions working by himself, with a friend or in small groups.

Language and Literacy
Each day we focus on age-appropriate literacy objectives, including letter recognition, letter sounds and emerging writing skills. Children are well on their way to becoming a wiz when it comes to reading and writing.

Mathematics
Children engage in the exciting work of numbers as they sort, construct, classify, and match. They also learn counting, measuring, and a variety of math skills.

Creative Arts and Music
Participation in creative arts and music allows children to showcase their talents. Exposing children to works by master artists and then asking them to create their own interpretation inspires children to find their own unique voice.

Scientific Discovery
Your child’s mind for science will become stronger through hands-on experiences when he or she learns to predict results, test ideas and draw conclusions. As an explorer in this new world, your child will examine and use various tools of discovery.

Social Skills
Group time allows your child to talk, listen, share, take turns, cooperate, interact with friends, and learn the value of giving and receiving feedback. Positive reinforcement helps children realize the importance of being a team player and refines skills needed to flourish in a classroom environment.

Creativity and Imagination
Dramatic play, music and art activities give every child the opportunity to showcase their abundant creativity. We encourage all children to express their ideas in order to help build confidence, independence and imagination.

Physical Development
Our experienced teachers work with children to develop their large motor skills-running, jumping, throwing and kicking-and practice coordination skills, such as writing, drawing, cutting and other activities.

LEARNING CENTERS
A preschooler’s world opens up in new ways as children improve coordination, learn complex games, and begin to interact more with others. Children learn by doing, so we provide your preschooler with plenty of hands-on activities to strengthen his or her cognitive skills.

• Creativity and Art Center – painting supplies, pencils, crayons, markers, easels; recyclables such as wallpaper samples, fabric pieces and collage materials; glue and scissors; various paper supplies and magazines (that have been reviewed).
• Math and Manipulatives Center – a small calendar, weather and number charts; magnetic numbers, puzzles, games and flash cards; safe manipulatives for sorting (large buttons, stamps, stickers, etc.); paper, pencils, notebooks, index cards; measuring cups and spoons, cookie cutters in varying shapes and other materials used to weigh and measure.
• Science and Sensorial Center – sand and/or water table; Wonder Bottles (recycled water bottles with water and oil mixed together with small shells, rocks, sand, food coloring, etc.); magnets and magnetic items; feathers, leaves and other items from nature; magnifying glasses and mirrors.
• Dramatic Play Center - dramatic play furniture (materials should rotate depending upon the theme and the children’s own ideas and interests), dishes, utensils, place mats, pots, pans, food sets, telephones, computer keyboards, dress-up clothes, purses, wallets, shoes, menus, a cash register, paper and pencils.
• Construction and Design Center – a complete set of unit blocks; area rug; large and small vehicles; animals, people and traffic signs; recyclables such as cardboard boxes of different sizes, paper towel tubes and oatmeal containers.
• Reading and Listening Center - children’s literature (with the current theme-related literature), magazines, song and poem charts; an audiocassette or CD player, headphones, stories recorded on tape and/or other tape-recorded songs; stories and poems; soft elements such as rugs, pillows and beanbags; and a bookshelf.
• Writing Center – includes pencils, colored pencils, crayons, markers; various paper supplies, index cards; recycled magazines, menus, books, newspapers; clipboards and notebooks; and magnetic letters and flash cards.

CHILDREN’S ARTWORK
Our teachers love displaying your child’s artwork in the classroom. Public display encourages our budding artists and reminds them that their hard work has meaning and conveys their thoughts and creativity. The teacher will date and label all projects so that you can quickly and easily understand what your child’s thoughts were as he worked on his creation.