Our program

The Children’s Pre-School Center (CPSC) offers a child-centered, play-based educational program inspired by the RIE approach and Reggio Emilia philosophy. By combining the respectful boundaries of RIE with the expressive discovery of Reggio Emilia, we provide a cohesive learning journey that honors your child’s development from infancy through preschool. All of our spaces are intentionally curated to provoke wonder and discovery through the use of natural and open ended materials. Our curriculum is emergent and based on the observations our teachers gather from the children’s play and interests. Our curriculum and daily interactions are anchored in four foundational values:

The Child as the Constructor of Knowledge

The Environment as the Third Teacher

The Teacher as Facilitator and Co-Learner

Learning Through Projects and Play

Infant & Toddler

Caregiving is central to our curriculum and our youngest learners are treated with the utmost dignity and respect. Starting at 3 months to 23 months, our Infant and Toddler program is rooted in the RIE philosophy, which emphasizes the child as an active participant in their own development rather than a passive recipient of care.

We view every transition, feeding, and diaper change as an essential opportunity for learning and by communicating our intentions clearly and slowing down our pace, we foster a foundation of emotional security and trust.

Through daily documentation and open dialogue, we make your child’s growth and learning visible every step of the way.

We know that leaving your little one for the first time is a significant milestone and our teachers work in close partnership with families to ensure a seamless bridge between home and school.

Preschool

In our Junior and Senior Preschool classrooms, children (2 to 6 years of age) embark on a journey of collaborative learning, creative expression, and increased independence. We encourage each child to live as active, engaged citizens who are capable of shaping their own learning experiences

Preschoolers are also encouraged to take responsibility for their environment, from helping prepare snack to deciding which direction a classroom project should go. Through group meetings and collaborative work, they develop the social confidence essential for a lifelong love of learning.

We empower children to navigate social complexities by helping them articulate their feelings and listen to the perspectives of others.

As children transition into our Senior Preschool classrooms, we focus on the skills necessary for a successful move to Kindergarten. This is done through play that naturally incorporates early literacy and numeracy embedded in meaningful projects, executive function skills like planning, focus, self regulation, self help, and confidence in their own ability to ask questions and find the answer.

Pre-Kindergarten

In our Pre-K classroom (senior preschool), the principles of Reggio Emilia and RIE culminate in a vibrant learning community. Here, children transition from being independent explorers to becoming confident leaders and collaborative researchers, prepared for the journey into Kindergarten and beyond.

CPSC’s Pre-K experience is designed to bridge the gap between a child’s innate curiosity and the foundational skills needed for formal schooling, all through a lens of deep respect and inquiry.

We intentionally weave academic foundations into the fabric of our daily flow and curriculum. For example, children learn that words have power and purpose through literacy explored through storytelling, classroom journals, and labeling projects and geometry, measurement, and number sense are explored through block building, baking, and data collection within classroom projects.

Not only do our Pre-K children take pride in being leaders around our school, they model respectful communication for younger peers and take an active role in caring for our shared spaces.

Our Pre-K alumni are known for their ability to express their needs, listen to others, and approach challenges with a growth mindset.

Enrichment

We believe a well-rounded childhood includes diverse opportunities for movement, creativity, and self-expression. To complement our core curriculum, we offer enrichment programs that invite children to explore the world through physical activity, rhythm, and artistic expression.

These programs are integrated into our community to foster confidence, coordination, and, above all, joy and discovery.

Music is a universal language, and our music enrichment program (Jump for Joy Music) encourages children to explore rhythm, tempo, and melody in a collaborative setting. Through these experiences, children naturally develop early literacy and mathematical patterns while discovering their unique creative voices. From experimenting with instruments to learning songs together, music becomes a powerful tool for social bonding and expression.

Through creative movement, our dance enrichment program (Dance Connection) celebrates the joy of physical expression and body awareness. Through this engaging movement experience, children learn to tell stories and convey emotions through motion, fostering their physical development while building balance, core strength, and spatial awareness.

The soccer enrichment program (Coach Ken Soccer Academy) introduces children to the excitement of team sports in a non-competitive, play-based environment. Children can develop gross motor skills, foot-eye coordination, and agility through fun, age-appropriate drills. This soccer enrichment experience is more than just scoring goals… it’s about practicing sportsmanship and building confidence that children can carry both on and off the field.

Mealtime at CPSC

At CPSC, mealtimes are social and educational experiences. We aim to cultivate a healthy, lifelong relationship with food by supporting balanced nutrition that fuels a full day of discovery and play. We believe in fostering a positive, pressure-free environment, and our approach to eating is centered on respecting each child's internal signals of hunger and fullness. We encourage curiosity, allowing children to try new foods at their own pace to build confidence without pressure. In our Toddler and Preschool classrooms, meals are served family-style, supporting social interactions, language skills, and self-regulation as they learn to serve themselves, learn about others, and learn about meal items. As children grow and transition from Infant schedules to our community mealtimes, they take an active role in meal prep and cleanup, developing greater independence. CPSC is a strictly nut-free center.

Daily Meals & Snacks

CPSC offers flexible options to meet the varying needs of the families we serve. We provide two nutritious snacks daily. For lunch, parents have the choice to bring a meal from home or opt into our catered lunch delivery service (Taste Nutrition) for an additional fee. Families are responsible for providing milk for all age groups (in alignment with health guidelines, we advocate for whole milk for children between the ages of one and two). In our Infant program, we support your home feeding schedule and preferences. To ensure meals from home remain fresh and can be served warm, every classroom is equipped with a refrigerator and microwave.

Nutrition & Safety Standards

We prioritize fresh, whole ingredients that support optimal brain development and physical growth by focusing on whole grains and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. To ensure the highest nutritional standards, we strive to minimize processed sugars and artificial additives in all foods we serve. We also work closely with families to manage dietary restrictions and specific meal plans, providing a safe and inclusive experience for every child within our center.