Third Street Music School Settlement

From the Director:

Preschool classrooms are designed for active participation. Experiences support creative thinking and problem solving, while encouraging the development of language, emerging numeracy and intellectual curiosity. The Preschool’s highly qualified and experienced faculty members have an in-depth understanding of child development and the creative arts. They know that play, discovery and fun are integral to learning. Third Street’s Preschool program values the whole child and his or her experience. Social, emotional, physical and cognitive needs are met with sensitivity and understanding. Children view the classroom as their community, an extension of their home and culture. Open and positive partnerships with parents are encouraged. Third Street Preschool provides an environment rich in opportunities for inquiry, growth and healthy fun. It respects children’s developmental orientation and their eagerness to play and learn with each other. Additionally, Third Street values children’s early connections to the arts, and offers students a range of musical opportunities, including Orff musical experiences, instrumental exploration, and movement, as well as the visual arts and dramatic play.

From the Director:

Third Street Preschool provides an environment rich in opportunities for inquiry, growth and healthy fun. It respects children’s developmental orientation and their eagerness to play and learn with each other. Additionally, Third Street values children’s early connections to the arts, and offers students a range of musical opportunities, including Orff musical experiences, instrumental exploration, and movement, as well as the visual arts and dramatic play.

An experienced faculty welcomes a range of young learners and, through individual attention and open-ended activities, enable each to feel and be successful in their school day. A student/teacher ratio of 6:1 allows every child to grow in confidence and self-esteem.

For more than 30 years, Third Street Preschool has been an integral and important part of the Third Street Music School Settlement family and the East Village community. Third Street preschoolers grow and learn through play, exploration and discovery in a nurturing environment, rich in interesting, challenging and creative experiences. The overarching goal is to provide a setting in which each child can develop a greater sense of self, a respect for others, and a lifelong love of the arts and learning. The curriculum, with its strong emphasis on music, literacy, visual arts, and dramatic play, offers children a powerful way to broaden their understanding of the world around them.

Each day at Third Street, whether in the halfday or fullday programs, includes the following: group rug time, work time - including art projects and activities, block building, dramatic play, story time – snack, and outdoor play. Weekly “specials” include: Orff music, movement, introductions to instruments, and sing-alongs. The Fullday Fours program includes lunch and rest.

Parents are active members of the Third Street community. They support curriculum in a range of ways, and meet for Coffee Conversations and as Class Parents. Parent/Teacher Conference are held twice a year. There is a strong sense of partnership and mutual respect in the Preschool community.

We know that each child responds differently to a new environment and work to make the process of starting school as pleasant, welcoming and knowable as possible. Parents receive support from teachers as children participate in gradual phase-in periods.