Your child is in good hands at EDS. At our Village Preschool, we believe that children learn best through play. Our experienced faculty celebrate the uniqueness of each child by nurturing our youngest learners as they begin to develop their interests and abilities. This sets the groundwork for the foundational skills necessary for success in kindergarten and beyond.
Whether it is in our child-centered classrooms, our Village Garden, or at our Nature School, every experience and interaction holds the potential for meaningful learning. Opportunities to run, laugh, explore, and play are woven through our curriculum to ensure that learning is both joyful and developmentally appropriate. This interconnected learning supports children’s cognitive development, introduces and reinforces foundational skills, and encourages childlike curiosity, exploration, and wonder. At the Village Preschool, we celebrate the heart, body, mind, and spirit of each child in our community. We would love to have you join us!
Amy Tomblinson
Head of Preschool and Lower School
The Village Preschool Age Requirements
- To be eligible for the Panther Cubs (Young 3s) program, a child must turn three years old by December 31st.
- To be eligible for the Three-year-old program, a child must turn three on/before September 1st.
- To be eligible for PreKindergarten, a child must turn four on/before September 1st.
All children must be fully toilet trained to attend any EDS programs
The Village Preschool Curriculum
Through exposure to quality children’s literature, modeling, participating in conversations and co-creating literacy tools such as books, anchor charts, and songs, our preschoolers progress from language acquisition to using both oral and written language to express their own ideas. Examples include nursery rhymes, finger plays, songs, listening skills, story schema, book and print awareness, print structure, phonemic awareness, and fine motor skills.
Fundamental math concepts of problem-solving and logical thinking are developed through the manipulation of blocks, sand, and water play, and solving problems within a group. These activities are designed and created to include counting, one-to-one correspondence, patterning, comparing, sorting, shape recognition, and critical thinking skills. Examples include identifying patterns, classifying objects, counting, and recognizing money. PreKindergarten children use the Singapore Math curriculum where they are encouraged to actively think, understand, and communicate their math learning as they build foundational skills.
Our preschoolers are introduced to Spanish language and culture using stories, songs, games, poems, and rhymes. Through daily conversation and games, children learn basic vocabulary and conversation.
Adjacent to the preschool classrooms is our Village Garden. This is an outdoor area where students explore science themes through hands-on activities. Our outdoor garden and science area allows students to learn first hand about seasons, animal habitats, the five senses, insects, conservation, air, water, and soil.
Physical development occurs both naturally and through different types of play and intentionally by crafting opportunities and activities that will strengthen and refine fine and gross motor skills. These physical experiences support the development of balance, body coordination, spatial awareness, and agility. Through movement and coordination activities, children develop physical attention and relaxation skills, gross motor skills, and coordination.
In preschool, students have religious education class and attend chapel once each week. The children also participate in Godly Play®. This curriculum engages what is most exciting about religious education: God inviting us into Scripture and spiritual experience. Godly Play® practice teaches our preschoolers to listen for God and to make authentic and creative responses to God’s call in our lives.
Chapel is a central part of life at EDS. The opportunity to worship together strengthens the school as a community and nurtures each child as an individual. All of our preschool children attend chapel together weekly. Through Bible stories, songs, stories, and prayers, students are reminded of God’s love for them and the world. Families are welcome to attend these weekly chapel services with their children.
The technology curriculum emphasizes tools, techniques, and processes that promote productivity in the 21st Century. The use of technology in the classroom supports and enhances all areas of the curriculum and is used as the basis for developing skills that support learning, personal productivity, and decision-making in daily life while also developing real-world skills necessary in continuing education.
Music is an integral part of life at EDS. Our students love to sing and learn about pitch, note values, and are introduced to reading music. In addition, they are exposed to a variety of composers and music styles throughout the year. Each grade level sings in chapel and during several live performances during the school year.
Time is set aside each week for students to visit the library, listen to stories, and explore books they want to read. Our library is the heart of the school and supports a thriving community of readers. The Birthday Book Club even allows families to have a special book dedicated to their child on their birthday. Library time is precious as it allows children to explore their interests and develop self-direction as learners.