A Place for Exploration and Growth
At our nursery school, children are immersed in a Reggio-inspired environment where curiosity leads the way. Each classroom is intentionally designed as a “third teacher,” inviting children to explore, question, and create. Teachers thoughtfully provide materials and experiences supporting children’s natural interests—storytelling and early literacy, hands-on math and science, or imaginative play. Learning unfolds over days, weeks, and even months, allowing children to build deep understanding through meaningful, child-driven experiences.
Young 3s: The First Steps Toward Independence
Our Young 3s classroom provides a warm and nurturing space where children begin their journey toward independence. This program encourages active exploration through hands-on sensory experiences, dramatic play, open-ended art, and movement. Children engage in music, stories, and gross motor activities while developing confidence, social connections, and a sense of self.
3/4s: Building Independence Through Play
The 3/4s program provides a nurturing and engaging space where children develop confidence, independence, and social connections through hands-on exploration. Rooted in play-based learning, this program fosters curiosity and creativity while helping children develop essential skills such as self-regulation, communication, and problem-solving.
Children engage in open-ended activities that encourage discovery, including block play, dramatic play, sensory exploration, and early literacy experiences. Teachers guide and support each child’s interests, offering materials and experiences that promote collaboration, experimentation, and joyful learning. Daily routines provide structure while allowing for flexibility, ensuring children feel secure as they navigate their growing independence.
Teachers lead regular circle times with stories, songs, and discussions, and small group work provides opportunities to strengthen fine motor skills, early math concepts, and language development. Social-emotional learning is woven throughout the day as children practice sharing, turn-taking, and expressing their thoughts and ideas in a supportive environment.
4/5s: Expanding Ideas, Deepening Understanding
The 4/5s program builds upon the experiences of the younger years, offering a more in-depth approach to exploration and learning. Children continue to engage in hands-on, play-based activities but with an increased focus on expanding ideas, making connections, and deepening understanding across subject areas.
Long-term projects emerge from the children’s interests, encouraging them to ask questions, make predictions, and investigate topics meaningfully. Children integrate literacy, math, science, and social studies through project work, strengthening foundational skills and higher-level thinking.
Classroom centers—dedicated to dramatic play, block building, art, literacy, and science—provide creative, problem-solving, and collaboration opportunities. Fine motor tasks and pre-writing activities support early literacy, while number concepts are explored through manipulatives, games, and real-world applications. Teachers facilitate discussions and guide children in reflective thinking, helping them make sense of their discoveries.
This program stretches and extends each child’s abilities, preparing them for the next steps in their learning journey with confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of community.
5/6 (Kindergarten): Expanding Curiosity Through Meaningful Exploration
Our Kindergarten program nurtures children’s natural curiosity through hands-on experiences, collaborative projects, and thoughtful discussions. Rooted in the Reggio Emilia approach and aligned with New Jersey State Curriculum Standards, this program provides a balanced, whole-child experience that supports emotional, social, intellectual, and physical development.
Children engage in open-ended investigations integrating reading, writing, math, science, and social studies into meaningful, play-based learning. Classroom discussions, interactive projects, and real-world experiences, such as walks to town, encourage problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.
With a low 1:8 teacher-student ratio, children receive individualized support in a warm, nurturing environment. Learning is active and dynamic, prioritizing deep engagement over worksheets. This ensures that children leave Kindergarten well-prepared for first grade, wherever they continue their educational journey. Outdoor play remains vital, reinforcing our belief in nature as a powerful teacher.
Kindergarten Hours: 8:45 AM – 2:15 PM
Our kindergarten is Rooted in the Reggio Emilia approach and aligned with New Jersey State Curriculum Standards These standards encompass various subject areas, including English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Visual and Performing Arts, World Languages, Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, and Computer Science & Design Thinking.
Key Components of the Kindergarten Curriculum:
- English Language Arts (ELA): Focuses on developing foundational reading and writing skills, such as letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and basic sentence construction.
- Mathematics: Introduces concepts like number recognition, counting, simple addition and subtraction, and understanding shapes and patterns.
- Science: Encourages exploration of the natural world, including topics like weather, plants, animals, and basic physical properties.
- Social Studies: Covers understanding of self and family, community roles, and basic geography.
- Visual and Performing Arts: Promotes creativity through activities in music, art, and movement.
- World Languages: Introduces basic vocabulary and cultural awareness of different languages.
- Comprehensive Health and Physical Education: Emphasizes physical activity, health habits, and social-emotional development.
- Computer Science & Design Thinking: Introduces basic concepts of technology and problem-solving skills.
For a detailed overview of the kindergarten standards, you can refer to the New Jersey Department of Education’s official page on Kindergarten Learning Standards. nj.gov
Extended Day Programs for 3/4s & 4/5s
Our optional extended day programs offer children more time to explore, create, and connect in a relaxed and engaging environment. Each program is designed to extend the joy of learning beyond the school day, with opportunities for hands-on discovery, creative activities, and social play.
Discovery Club (4/5s) – Tuesdays & Thursdays until 2:15 PM
Discovery Club nurtures children’s curiosity about the natural world. Through hands-on exploration of the children’s garden and church grounds, students investigate weather, insects, and plants, allowing their observations to spark meaningful projects and discussions.
Explorers Club (3/4s) – Tuesdays & Thursdays until 2:15 PM
Explorers Club provides a calm and engaging afternoon, beginning with a quiet rest time featuring stories or classical music. The day continues with creative play and activities inspired by the children’s interests, fostering imagination and joyful learning.
Afternoon Playdate (3/4s & 4/5s) – Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays until 2:15 PM
This mixed-age program balances relaxation, outdoor play, and engaging activities. Every other week, children enjoy a visit to the public library, adding variety and excitement to their afternoons.