Preschool

Locations

Early Learning Center
Preschool - For children 2 years, 9 months - 3 years, 11 months
Pre-Kindergarten - For children 4 - 5 years (if turning 5 after September 1)

Family Child Care
For children 2 years, 9 months - 5 years

As toddlers develop into preschoolers, they are ready for new challenges. Social and skill-based learning helps preschoolers prepare for success in school. Students develop foundational skills, including literacy, math, and science, while advancing in important social learning, including cooperation, sharing, interacting with others, and understanding emotions. Preschoolers learn about themselves and the world around them through independent, small group, and large group explorations. Classroom learning is extended through on-site visits from museums, storytellers, and music and movement teachers in addition to explorations during field trips.

Learning is guided by Creative Curriculum®, a developmentally appropriate program that supports active learning and promotes children's progress in all developmental areas. A typical day includes: a healthy breakfast, lunch, and snack; tooth brushing; using books and tabletop activities to explore the weekly curriculum theme; circle time with music, movement, songs, and finger plays; Learning Labs: art, blocks, dramatic play, library, sand/water, science, and writing; math and literacy activities; gross motor play (outdoors if possible); and reflection on the day’s learning.

Pre-Kindergarteners continue the social and skill-based learning established in preschool, but are ready to delve deeper into early learning and prepare for the upcoming Kindergarten year. Splash into Pre-K (Reading and Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Health, and Art) and Fundations (Phonemic Awareness) guide student learning. Classroom learning is extended through field trips and a summer camp experience. A typical day includes: a healthy breakfast, lunch, and snack; tooth brushing; Morning Meeting with weather and calendar review; introduction to thematic concepts; story times; Letter Work with rhyming, alphabet, and sound concepts; music with movement, songs, and finger plays; literacy; and math/science times, including exploration, problem-solving, and interaction at Learning Labs; gross motor play (outdoors if possible); and a Home Link activity that links learning to life at home.

A full or partial day program can be coordinated with parents’ schedules; a summer program is available.

Preschool classrooms are led by certified, highly qualified teachers and have 2 teachers with up to 20 preschoolers; Pre-Kindergarten classrooms are led by certified, highly qualified teachers and have 2 teachers with up to 20 students (or 25 students who are 4 years, 9 months and older). Homes have 1 provider with up to 2 children under the age of 15 months and 1 child between 15 and 24 months who is able to walk independently, with a total of up to 6 children. Large Family Child Care homes are staffed with 1 provider and a full-time licensed assistant with up to 3 children under the age of 15 months, 3 children between 15 and 24 months, and additional children over age 2, with a total of up to 10 children.