About the Early Learning Center
We joyfully opened our doors in December of 2017. Our first class of children and families helped us lay a strong foundation of collaboration, love and respect to build upon. In five months we not only created a community of explorers, but also reached 4 STARS in Pennsylvania’s quality rating system, Keystone STARS.
We are happy to be able to offer PA Pre-K Counts grant funding to many of our families. PA Pre-K Counts is a state funded program that ensures high-quality preschool. We include a Pre-K Counts eligibility guide and application along with our school admission application.
We are a multi-age preschool that provides breakfast, lunch, and a snack at no additional cost. We practice play-based learning with an emphasis on creativity and the arts. Our classroom philosophy is driven by our children’s interests and observations in their everyday lives.
While we teach the abc’s and 123’s, preparing each child for kindergarten, we also focus on life skills for this age such as independence, emotional intelligence, social relationships, kindness and respect. We offer developmentally appropriate learning activities based on each child’s individual needs. We emphasize cooperation and support in our classroom.
Our goal is to meet the needs of the whole child with love and respect. We value community and do our best to build a strong relationship between school and family, knowing that each child’s success and joy depends on us working together.
Fostering Emotional Intelligence
Emotions can run very strong in young children as they learn to express their feelings and navigate their relationships. At our Early Learning Center we aim to accept and acknowledge feelings.
What does this mean?
- The teachers and assistants understand their number one priority is to remain calm in the face of any child’s strong emotion.
- The child is allowed to express their feelings without a negative reaction from the adult.
- Children are never left alone. The adult supports the child’s understanding of their feelings by naming them and offering comfort.
- Any attempts to harm themselves, others or objects in the environment, they will be gently stopped and calmly spoken to.
Cool-off Time: Children do better when they feel better. When strong emotions overwhelm a child, a positive “time-out” is offered. The child is allowed to go into the calm area of the classroom designated just for cooling off. This area is comfortable and peaceful, allowing the child space and time to breathe and calm down. A child may be accompanied by an adult if they would like. The calm area will never be used as a place of punishment.