Pre-K

5 mornings a week

Regular co-op Monday/Wednesday/Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

&

Tuesday/Thursday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

For children who are age 4 and older by September 1, (TK-age)

In addition to our standard preschool program, which includes circle times and snack times, and lots of unstructured time to explore activities, including crafts, sand play, sensory play, science experiments, dramatic play, cooking, gardening, circle time, and group story time.

For more about our school’s play-based curriculum, click here. For more on why play-based learning works, click here.

Pre-K families are enrolled in the 3-day core class, and parents work in the classroom once a week on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday mornings to supervise play, socialization, and problem-solving. Parents attend a parent-ed meeting twice a month from 12:00 to 1:00 pm while their children attend a supervised lunch bunch. In addition, children on the Pre-K track attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays and participate in small-group activities with Pre-K Teacher Lisa, engaging in playful, teacher-led, hands-on math and literacy activities each week in preparation for kindergarten and beyond.

the co-op commitment

• Work in the classroom once a week

• Participate in parent-ed discussion groups twice a month on your workday

• Fulfill at least 14 hours on a school job

• Provide snacks for the class and parents per the rotating schedule

• Help with maintaining the building and grounds by attending one 2-hour deep clean & beautification shift

• Attend the parent orientation and 2 of the 4 parenting webinars noted on the calendar

• Participate in fundraising activities

Wondering whether to enroll in Transitional Kindergarten or Pre-K? The choice is yours.

For a thorough dive into the differences between TK & Pre-K, our sister cooperative preschool, Cupertino Co-op Nursery School, has posted a very informative piece here.

Teacher and early childhood advocate Tom Hobson outlines what preschool-age children need to know before heading off to kindergarten, click here.

For comparison and context, SPNS offers Pre-K children …

• wide open spaces designed to foster social play

• a mixed-age community of children where Pre-K children can practice leadership

• open-ended environments where Pre-K children can explore, focus, and pursue their learning interests

• a wide assortment of equipment for 4 and 5-year-olds that challenges the whole body, while allowing for mastery

• a daily schedule that allows for flexible transitions so that children can adjust at their own pace

• introductory and developmentally appropriate science experiences that enable every 4 and 5-year-old to ask their questions and explore at their leisure

• a curated Pre-K curriculum that includes teacher-led small group learning specifically to practice pre-math & science concepts, activities to strengthen hand-eye coordination, gain print & phonics awareness, and work cooperatively in a small group

• led by qualified and experienced teachers trained in early childhood development and education

• a teacher-child ratio of 1:10 and an adult-child ratio of 1:5

This link provides a Google search page with more articles that can help you consider factors when choosing the right program for your child and family.