We believe that Preschool is our stepping stone to a successful elementary experience. Serving children in the Philadelphia area and surrounding counties, we strive to provide a warm and nurturing environment in which each child can grow.

Through our curriculum, we strive to help each child to develop positive attitudes towards school, learning and self. We welcome and support each child's imagination and curiosity through the use of poetry journals, class books, show and tell, and creative play. Self-confidence and independence come alive in our news and work skills periods. The children are given various opportunities to learn to deal effectively with other children and adults. Our sixth grade buddy and fourth grade friends are a great support system of children communicating caring and sharing across the grades. The private preschool curriculum is balanced not only with structured activities but also opportunities for free expression.

In the beginning of the year we get to know each other with VIP, Very Special Me, which is a sharing of one's interests and families. As a culmination of our Fall unit, the children have the opportunity to visit a working dairy farm and pick pumpkins from a pumpkin patch. In December, we enjoy learning about each other's holiday and cultures. On the last day before Winter Break, the preschool invites a special guest to our Gingerbread Party to decorate giant sized gingerbread cookies. In February we have our own working post office to mail our Valentine greetings. We also have a special friend, "Beau Bear" visit us each year from Paris. Beau visits each child's home for one night. We have Teddy Bear Day in conjunction with Beau's visit. In the spring, along with our units on insects, butterflies, and Winnie the Pooh, we have an exciting trip to the Insecterium, and Peace Valley Nature Center. As part of our Language Arts curriculum, we experience live theatre at the Keswick. At the conclusion of a fun-filled year, the preschool performs a play, complete with songs, dialog and handmade scenery for parents and friends.

At Meadowbrook, community service is an integral part of our curriculum. In kindergarten we collect canned goods that are donated to a local church. We also visit a nursing home, Rydal Park, to sing and interact with the residents. We also send notes and pictures to the Veteran's Hospital. Through the kindergarten experience, we incorporate all these wonderful activities into our reading and math curriculum. In our daily school life, we reinforce helping each other through sharing, working hard and respecting each other's ideas and feelings. The journey through our kindergarten kindles extraordinary growth and development of each child.

Philosophy

We believe that preschool children need to be regarded holistically. The emotional and social aspects of each child's growth are as important as the intellectual and physical. Consequently, we strive to provide an atmosphere in which a child's maximum total growth may occur as each child's development allows. The primary emphasis of our private Preschool program is to expose children to a nurturing yet academically structured environment which introduces students to school readiness through a developmentally appropriate program.

Language Arts

Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students are offered question and answer time after listening to stories, poems, and journal charts. They are encouraged to create through imagination and write through the use of sight, phonics, practice and creativity. Reciting of poetry to each other and in assemblies is a key part of our program. Articulation and self-expression are encouraged, but most importantly speaking or communicating with self-confidence is stressed. Students learn to identify classroom labels and recognize each other's names. Creative writing is recorded by the teacher as the student dictates.

Math

The preschool math program is designed to help each child grow in the understanding of basic mathematical concepts, using mathematical terms in conversation, and developing a heightened awareness of math in everyday life.Social StudiesThe preschool social studies program is designed to help each child gain an increased understanding and respect for himself and others, to extend the child's knowledge of the world, and to help the child recognize and appreciate the similarities and differences among individuals.

Art

Our preschool program is designed to encourage each child to experiment with different art media and to develop the ability to be imaginative, creative, and independent.

Science

Preschool students have science for 30 minutes each week. The curriculum includes a balance of life science, earth science and physical science topics. Students often work with a partner or in cooperative learning groups to socially construct knowledge.

World Language

Preschool students experience French and Spanish once a week for 20 minutes. The children learn audio-oral skills, and a primary objective is to make language acquisition a fun and enjoyable experience. The students study greetings, numbers, colors, animals, body parts, family members, clothes and food. They also engage in nursery rhymes, songs and games in French.

Special Events

Trips

Trips are carefully scheduled each year to enhance our curriculum. The preschool students also participate in Meadowbrook's school-wide enrichment program which includes taking trips to exciting places in Abington Township and the surrounding areas including Montgomery County, Philadelphia County, and Bucks County. Some examples of scheduled trips are:

• Kohler Farm
• Keswick Theatre
• Barnes and Noble
• Freddy Hill Farm
• Insectarium
• Abington Post Office
• Rydal Park Senior Residence Medical Center

Fourth and Sixth Grade Reading Buddies

The children in the fourth and sixth grade come to the preschool and read to each of the three classes on a weekly basis. This is an interactive social opportunity as well as a valuable language and learning experience for all.