Joy, wonder, and a foundation for learning
That's what Park Street School's Preschool is all about. It’s where children begin a journey of learning, expand their worlds, and make connections.
How We Learn
At Park Street School’s Preschool, nurturing each child’s growth — the whole child — is our mission. Learning goes across academic, social-emotional, physical, character, and spiritual development. In bright, sunny spaces, our curious Toddler to Pre-Kindergarten learners interact with valuable information through purposeful play, creative centers, and fun and meaningful interactions with teachers and friends.
We believe a solid foundation in the early years has tremendous impact on children’s overall development and will support their experience as learners.The focus of our curriculum is to provide a love for learning and develop readiness skills in the areas of reading, math, language, social studies, science, health, and fine and large motor development.
Learning at the Preschool
Meaningful Interactions
Throughout our day, we engage with one another, our teachers, and new information. Morning Circle time, during which we sing, practice calendar activities, and record the weather, encourages social/emotional growth, friendships, and a sense of community. As we grow, we solve problems, build, create, and enjoy play together.
Group Time
Our teachers introduce topics like Simple Machines, the Solar System, habitats of Ponds and Meadows, and Dinosaurs. Then, we engage in theme-related activities designed to help us practice fine-motor skills including sorting, counting, writing, recognizing letter sounds, and following directions. Activities include “milking” Bessie the cow, painting with different kinds of fir tree needles, seeing how many preschoolers fit inside a dinosaur mouth, and going on an expedition to find a hibernating bear.
We Move, Move, Move Indoors and Out
We engage in daily gross-motor play year-round — running, climbing, riding, and throwing. Our full-size gym (1,945 square feet) features a variety of preschool-sized equipment including scooters, balance beams, parachutes, basketball hoops, and balls. When it’s nice out, we play at the Frog Pond Playground.
Feeding Imaginations
Often integrated into thematic lessons, books are chosen to help us make deeper connections and build comprehension. We use our imaginations and actively participate when books are read aloud by our teachers. We ask questions, make text-to-self connections, share our ideas, make predictions about what will happen next, and answer teachers’ questions that guide our understanding of the story.
Opportunities to Explore
We love to explore and choose activities with friends with whom we enjoy playing. We use our imagination and learn in interactive centers that have theme-related activities such as planting and tending a spring garden, digging for dinosaur bones, and pretending to be a vet while caring for stuffed animals.
Learning Through Play!
We are curious learners who interact with valuable information during purposeful play. In small groups or with our whole class, we develop skills, learn new vocabulary, and gather knowledge in fun, creative, and imaginative ways.
Programs Available
Pre-Kindergarten Program
This program is offered on a four (Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday) or five (Monday-Friday) day a week basis. Each Pre-K class can accommodate up to 17 students. Students eligible for the Pre-Kindergarten classes must be at least age 4 on September 1.
Preschool Program
This program is offered on a two, three, four, or five-day-a-week basis. The two day-a-week option is either Tuesday/Thursday or Wednesday/Friday. A Monday Enhancement Day can be added to either class. The four-day-a-week option is Monday-Thursday. Each Preschool program can accommodate up to 17 students. Students eligible for the Preschool classes must be at least age 3 on September 1.
Toddler Program
This program is offered on a two, three, four, or five-day-a-week basis. The two day-a-week option is a Tuesday/Thursday or Wednesday/Friday morning class. A Monday Enhancement Day can be added to either class. The four-day-a-week option is Monday-Thursday. Each Toddler class can accommodate up to nine students.
Creative Afternoons
The Creative Afternoons program is offered on Monday-Friday afternoons from noon-3:15 p.m. Students have lunch and rest time from noon-1:00 p.m. It is available for Toddlers who are at least 2.9 on September 1, Preschool, and Pre-Kindergarten students. Creative Afternoons focus on the following subject areas:
Monday – Athletics
Tuesday – Art
Wednesday – Science and Discovery
Thursday – Music and Drama
Friday – Friday Fun Day
Hours
All Preschool programs run from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Drop-off is from 8:00 a.m.-8:25 a.m. Creative Afternoons and the afternoon classes run from noon-3:15 p.m.
Sample Schedule
Specials
8:00 a.m. - 8:40 a.m.
Free-Choice center/table activities, which reinforce specific areas of development
8:40 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Morning Circle Time (greeting, singing, prayer, calendar routine, an introduction to the topic of the day)
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Music, movement activity, or Spanish
9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Thematic integrated lesson/hands-on activity
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Snack time (students eat while engaging in conversation with peers and teachers)
10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Gym/outdoor time (gross motor/movement activity)
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Free-Choice Center activities which include several main areas of development (open-ended art experiences, crafts, writing, discovery table, listening to books, design and construction with blocks, tracks or gears, math games, dramatic play, library)
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Closing Circle, prepare for departure (recap the day with opportunities for students to share their personal reflections), and some free-choice activities.
And So Much More!
Music and Spanish
Once a week, we participate in a music class designed to introduce us to various music experiences such as playing instruments, discovering rhythm, and enjoying movement. Starting in preschool, we add Spanish, which includes lots of singing, dancing, and games.
Helping our Neighbors
Each class, Toddler through Grade 6, engages in a community service project. At the Preschool, we collect supplies for Cradles to Crayons, canned goods for the Paulist Center Food Pantry, or books for Room to Grow. These are opportunities for us to consider the needs of others and to nurture our budding empathy.
Exploring the City
Our Beacon Hill location is an ideal launching point for children to begin exploring the city around them. We visit nearby sites including the Athenaeum, Boston Children’s Museum, the Cambridge Street Boston Fire Station, the Massachusetts State House, and the Museum of Science.
Celebrating Together
Once a month, Toddler through Pre-Kindergarten classes gather in the chapel to hear an age-appropriate Bible story and lesson revolving around different themes such as “God Made Me Special,” “God Made and Cares for My Family,” “Happy Birthday, Jesus!,” and “How to Show Love for our Friends.”
Growing in Confidence
We have regular opportunities to speak in front of others. Starting as Toddlers, we make predictions about the day’s weather and share answers to “What If …” questions at morning meeting. Starting in Preschool, we sing at all school concerts. At Thanksgiving chapel, we express what we’re thankful for to parents and friends.
Becoming a Kind Friend
Our teachers help us to grow positive character traits by modeling and expressing how much God loves us. Through lessons we learn from the Bible and our teachers, we are taught to treat our friends with kindness. Sharing, being a good friend, and helping others is reinforced by praise and intentionally woven into classroom lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need to be potty-trained?
It is strongly encouraged that all children starting in Preschool, except for those entering the Toddler program, be potty-trained. However, it is not required.
Does the school provide snacks or lunch?
Park Street School does not provide daily meals or snacks. Parents are to send in two snacks and a lunch each day. Children staying for the after school program will need three snacks.
Do children nap?
At the Preschool, only children who stay for Creative Afternoons will have a rest period after lunch. At the Elementary School, Kindergarten students have a rest time after lunch, which often includes a read aloud story time.
What is some of the curriculum you use at the Preschool?
We use fun, research-based, multi-sensory strategies to help children develop early learning skills, including Lively Letters, Open Court for phonics and literacy, Handwriting Without Tears, and Everyday Math. We use Responsive Classroom as the basis for our social and emotional learning curriculum throughout the school.