Early Childhood: Preschool/Kindergarten
In our Morning Garden program, toddlers come with their caregivers and are happy to be with peers in a homelike environment enjoying a rhythmic morning together.
In the Preschool/Kindergarten classes, the two-year olds (participating in a few classes only) are open to their environment and simply take it all in. The 3-year olds (participating in a 4 hour/day program) and the 4-year olds begin imitating the mood, gestures and work of the classroom teachers (and their older friends). The 5 and 6-year olds develop the independence and sense of responsibility necessary to become active members in the class.
At WSA, Early Childhood experience is rich in storytelling, puppetry, singing, poetry, domestic and artistic activities. Crafts, handwork, games, and regular outdoor play encourage the healthy growth of the child's body. Toys, art materials, and classroom aesthetics emphasize natural, simple materials, encouraging the child's imagination. Through play, each child learns a broad range of cognitive, social, and linguistic skills. These experiences are fortified at home through parent participation and parental understanding of our curriculum which focuses on the healthy development of the child in relationship to nature and environment.
Daily and weekly rhythms provide a familiar environment and support the children as they move wholeheartedly into play and learning. Meaningful activities and artistic work are at the core of each morning. These may include watercolor painting, baking bread and churning butter, handworking (finger knitting, beeswax modeling, sewing, seasonal crafts), housekeeping (waxing, polishing, washing, mending), and making vegetable soup.
| Social | Physical | Emotional |
| • Manners • Gratitude • Respect • Care of others • Listening skills • Self-control • Flexible thinking |
• Fine motor skills • Gross motor skills • Coordination • Self-care • Competence |
• Wonder • Good habits • Rhythm • Empathy • Aesthetic appreciation • Confidence |
| Language | Math | Science |
| • Imagination • Vocabulary • Story structure (beginning-middle-end) • Recitation • Flexible thinking |
• One-on-one correspondence • Counting • Sorting • Planning • Sequencing |
• Observational skills • Sensory stimulation • Snack preparation • Nature walks • Care of environment |
- The Decatur Campus is the main WSA campus which compasses our pre-school/kindergarten classrooms among 3 buildings, Grades 1-8 in our Education Buildling, our Administration office, and multiple playgrounds, natural classrooms, and trails on 7 beautifully wooded acres.
- The Inman Park Campus, nestled in the heart of Inman Park, has two pre-school classrooms and an extensive playground.
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3 or 4 Day Preschool (Mixed Age) - Applicants must be at least 3 years old by August 1 * of year of entry
- 3 or 4 Day Preschool (Monday-Wednesday or Monday-Thursday, 8:30am - 1pm)
(3 year olds attend for the hours of 9am – 1pm) -
Full 3 or 4 Day Preschool (Monday-Wednesday or Monday-Thursday, 8:30am – 3:10pm)
- 5-Day Kindergarten (Mixed Age) - Applicants must be at least 3 years old by June 1 * of year of entry
- 5-Day Preschool/Kindergarten (8:30am - 1pm)
- Full 5-Day Preschool (8:30am – 3:10pm)
Extended Care is available until 6pm each day for children who are 4 or older.
INMAN PARK EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER CAMPUS:
- 2, 3, 4, or 5-day Nursery and Preschool (Mixed Age) - Ages range from 2 to 4 year olds.
The hours are from 8:45am – 12:45pm for all students. - This program offers flexibility in enrollment. Participants may enroll for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days a week. Children do not need to be potty-trained to enroll at the Inman Park Early Childhood Center.
