Preschool

The Northern Light School Preschool classroom is designed to help children develop a joy for learning and discovery. This environment allows each child to develop at their own pace in several areas of study, which include Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Cultural Subjects. The activities in each of these areas aim to assist each child in acquiring independence, concentration, coordination, and self-confidence.

Preschool Hours

Our preschool program runs from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. We offer morning care from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and afternoon care from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The preschool extended day program follows the rules and regulations for licensing and is separate from the K-8 extended day program. Only a certain number of students can be enrolled based on the adults in the room. For this licensing reason, drop-in extended day is not an option for our Preschool program. The preschool extended day program enrollment is on a first come first serve basis. Priority will be given to families who turn in their contracts first. Once the program is full, families will be placed on a waitlist and will be notified when a spot is available.

Academics

Practical Life Studies

Practical Life teaches children to take care of themselves and their physical environment. They prepare their own snacks, learn to tie their own shoes and zip their jackets, and clean up after themselves. The desire of the preschool child is “to do it myself.” Practical Life activities are designed to allow them this independence. All of these activities take place in an environment that nurtures the whole child and supports their natural curiosity and love of learning.

Language

The language materials allow children an eclectic array of hands-on learning experiences, exploring phonics, linguistics and sight words. The materials are kinesthetic, auditory and visual, appealing to the multi-sensory modes that children use to acquire information.

Sensorial Studies

Children live in a world of senses, and the sensorial materials enable children to clarify, sort, classify, and comprehend their world. Through sight, touch, sound, taste, and smell, these materials “throw a spotlight” on reality and play a key role giving children concrete examples of abstract terms. These materials also provide a basis for the development of other skills such as mathematics and language.

Math

The math materials are used in educational settings around the world. They are concrete manipulatives that give each child the opportunity to have a physical experience of mathematics that allows them to move into abstraction with a real foundation and understanding of math and its underlying concepts. There are materials for counting to 1000, materials made from golden beads that help them to experience place value, materials for learning beginning addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and fractions as well as problem solving.