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Programs
Our Two-Year-Old Program:
Must be 2 years old by 9/1/25
Our 2-year-old program strives to create a warm and secure environment where children feel comforted as they adjust to their new surroundings. We prioritize building strong bonds between children and their teachers, fostering trust and a sense of safety.
We recognize that play is the most natural way for children to learn, so we offer a space that encourages exploration and discovery at their own pace. At this stage, children typically engage in parallel play, where they play alongside their peers without necessarily interacting, and we create opportunities for them to explore together.
We also help guide children in navigating their emotions by providing strategies and comfort during times of frustration or sadness, supporting them in developing self-regulation. By encouraging toddlers to make small choices, we support their growing independence and decision-making abilities.
We provide creative outlets through art activities and daily Music & Movement class encouraging imagination and self-expression. As we observe the children's interests, we introduce Zoo-Phonics by focusing on the Animal Names (ie. allie alligator, bubba bear) and Signal, associated with each lowercase letter. This approach establishes a strong foundation for cultivating a love of language, paving the way for future success in reading, writing, and spelling.
The Ark Preschool is dedicated to laying the groundwork for social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth, offering a supportive and flexible environment where children feel encouraged, loved and empowered to grow.
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Our Three-Year-Old Program:
Must be 3 years old by 9/1/25
Our three-year-old program is thoughtfully designed to foster growing independence as children take on increasing responsibility for themselves. They work on mastering key self-help skills, like getting dressed, eating independently, and managing personal care routines, including potty training.
Socially, children start forming meaningful friendships, practicing sharing, taking turns, and navigating group dynamics. We offer hands-on activities like sensory play with sand, water, playdough, and blocks, which allow children to explore key concepts in science, math, and problem-solving. Through these activities, children’s natural curiosity is sparked as they ask questions, make predictions, and engage in investigation, all of which support learning through discovery.
Fine motor skills are developed through activities that improve hand-eye coordination and small muscle control, such as drawing, coloring, and solving puzzles. We encourage creative expression by providing a variety of materials, allowing children to explore their imaginations through drawing, painting, and creating.
In our Music & Movement class, children enhance their listening skills, rhythm, and creativity through activities like singing, dancing, and playing simple instruments. Our classrooms also include dramatic play areas where children engage in imaginative role-play, such as pretending to cook in a kitchen, visit a doctor, or dress up. These experiences promote creativity and strengthen social skills as children collaborate and engage in cooperative play with their peers.
Our Zoo-Phonics program for 3-year-olds builds on foundational literacy skills by introducing the Sounds associated with Animal Names and their corresponding Signals. As children progress, we introduce merged lowercase letters and help them connect familiar Animal pictures with Capital letters.
We offer a consistent daily routine in all classrooms, ensuring children can transition easily between activities, regulate their emotions, and feel safe and supported in their learning environment.
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Our Four-Year-Old Program:
Must be 4 years old by 9/1/25
Pre-Kindergarten
In our 4-year-old program, children engage in more structured learning experiences while still benefiting from the freedom to explore and play. We create a balanced environment that nurtures academic readiness, social development, emotional growth, and physical activity, meeting each child at their individual level. We focus on fostering cooperation, sharing, and turn-taking, as well as teaching children how to resolve conflicts with peers.
Emotional development is key at this stage, so we help children recognize and respond to their emotions—using words to express feelings like frustration or sadness and practicing calming strategies to regulate their emotions. By guiding children to acknowledge their strengths and feel proud of their achievements, we nurture their self-awareness and confidence. Independence is a big focus, and we encourage children to take responsibility for their actions, belongings, and daily tasks, which helps develop essential life skills.
To build language skills, we expose children to new vocabulary through books, songs, and conversations, expanding their expressive and receptive language abilities. In our Zoo-phonics program, we build on letter-sound recognition, letter formation, and early reading skills through the integration of the Animal Name, Sound, and Signal associated with each lowercase and Capital letter.
Math activities include simple addition and subtraction, sorting, patterning, and number recognition in their environment, allowing children to engage with foundational concepts in a hands-on way. Science exploration sparks curiosity and critical thinking through interactive activities, such as simple experiments, weather exploration, or planting seeds. In the classroom, children learn to follow multi-step directions, participate in group discussions during circle time, and collaborate on projects that require teamwork, such as building structures together or playing group games. This also provides opportunities to practice negotiation, sharing, and respecting the needs of others.
The Ark Preschool supports children's emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development, preparing them for success while fostering a love of learning in a fun and engaging environment.
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Our Five-Year-Old Program:
Must be 4 or 5 years old by 9/1/25
Pre-Kindergarten
Our 5-year-old program combines structured learning with opportunities for exploratory play, emphasizing literacy, math, social-emotional growth, and physical development. We aim to build strong foundational skills for kindergarten while nurturing curiosity, creativity, and independence. In this supportive and engaging environment, children gain the confidence and skills needed to thrive in school.
We place a strong emphasis on positive peer interactions, encouraging sharing, turn-taking, and conflict resolution. Our program also focuses on developing empathy, helping children understand and respect the feelings of others. Self-regulation is key: we discuss how to navigate emotions, express ourselves with words rather than actions, and recognize when we need a break. Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their personal belongings, tasks, and decisions. Through hands-on experiences and problem-solving, children learn to navigate real-life situations, whether that’s asking for help or completing tasks on their own.
Our curriculum includes exciting science activities such as experiments on cause and effect, fingerprints, magnets, and life cycles of plants and animals, fostering curiosity and critical thinking. We extend the Zoo-phonics program to include vocabulary development, simple sentence formation, and the basic fundamentals of sentence structure. Our goal is to lay a strong foundation for reading, writing, and spelling by building upon the alphabet. In addition to academic skills, we provide opportunities for creative expression through various art forms like painting, drawing, and sculpting, which not only enhance fine motor development but also promote emotional expression. Dramatic play, role-playing, and group activities further support imagination, creativity, and social skills.
Through this, we encourage a love of learning, exploration, and a sense of pride in one’s achievements, ensuring children are well-prepared for the next steps in their educational journey.
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