Kirkland Preschool

From the Director:

Most children in this age range learn from hands-on experiences, so we offer a wide array. Our younger students focus heavily on social learning. Our oldest students focus more on cognitive learning - but all is play-based.

Kirkland Preschool's teachers are amazingly observant and experienced. Any activity can be tailored to anyone's abilities & interest. We offer many approaches to all subjects just so we can appeal to each child's learning style.

"Our philosophy is, "Children Learn by Doing." With this in mind, a day at Kirkland Preschool actively involves your child in numerous social, art, music, science, and pre-kindergarten activities. Large and small muscle coordination activities, dramatic play situations, and field trips also are integral to our programs."
Excerpted from the preschool's website

Children enjoy a mix of child-centered free time choices, which frequently and dramatically change, and also group-centered activities. We play outdoors or in our "rainy day" room every day, and we also take field trips.

We operate with each family taking turns assisting in their child's classroom, so there are many opportunities for parents to directly observe. We have before-school-year open houses. We send home monthly class communications & occassional all-school newsletters. We share our home phone numbers so families can call us any time. We are also available should any family or the staff asks for a conference.

We offer some free summer playdates at school so families can start feeling comfortable. In September, we have an evening parent meeeting so the adults can start to get acquainted. We also have short family visits so the children can get to know their teachers. Once school starts, if any child is still unsure of the situation, the director is available to help in that classroom. If a child is truly distraught, we enlist the family's help. We do understand children who are "observers" and who prefer lots of time to size up situations.