Our Mission
To provide an environment that encourages children to be who they are, discover who they might want to be, and to create life-long friendships.
Our Philosophy
Seaside Village Preschool admits children into our program without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or disability and while being responsive to individual learning needs and interests. All activities are made available to the children at the center with appropriate modifications made as needed. Seaside Village Preschool does not discriminate in the administration of its education or admissions policies.
We are a play based preschool that follows a curriculum and incorporates Montessori and Reggio Emilia philosophies into our day. Our students have a guided, yet individualized educational experience based on the principles of respect, responsibility, and community. We believe that children have the ability to learn how to express their own ideas through art, drama, and spoken and/or written word. Our school, environment, and curriculum is child centered, and provides real life hands-on experiences that encourage children to ask and answer questions as well as provide anecdotes leading to extended learning.
The world around us is truly the focus of many of the units we study. The children will learn how to protect the environment, give back to the community, and create long lasting friendships with their classmates and teachers. We are outside in rain, snow, and sunshine, utilizing our outdoor play area for many of our lessons as well as our free play time.
Our classroom has a large area for group discussions, dancing, read-alouds, etc, as well as small tables and low bookcases with learning supplies always at the children’s’ level. The shelves are home to very specific baskets and trays labeled with a shape and number which is also on the shelves to help the children be organized and independent in gathering their work and returning it to the correct location on the shelves. The baskets are filled with different learning materials during the different seasons, holidays, and curriculum units. Each basket contains a single concept to be mastered before moving on. Several baskets teach a single concept several different ways, reinforcing that idea or perhaps connecting better with the child than a previous approach. The children work independently with a tray at the tables or on the floor using a rolled out smaller rug to help define their workspace. While the children are hard at work, the teachers circulate the classroom, observing or assisting as needed. The idea is that we will have a very well organized classroom with all the tools the children need to be able to learn. The children will then take those tools and interact with them in dozens of different ways. That interaction with the tools in the positive and safe environment we have created is ideal for little ones to do their learning.
At Seaside Village Preschool we feel that multi-age groupings are important for the learning process. You might walk in and find a 2.5 year old working with a 6 year old. Older students enjoy mentoring their younger classmates or teaching a skill to a peer which they have already mastered. Younger students enjoy sitting by an older classmate, feeling safe and protected by them in a “big brother/big sister” way.
The overall feel of the classroom is busy, but at the same time very calm. Children are busily working while teachers are respectfully addressing each one individually. The students work together to maintain an environment that’s organized, clean, and peaceful by putting things away appropriately and by helping others who they see struggling, protecting and caring for our environment, both inside and out. Teachers don’t raise their voices nor do they speak unkindly to each other or the children. Raising children who are ready to enter the world is the goal of Seaside Village. All of these little lessons will go with them as they continue their journey beyond the walls of Seaside Village and become constructive members of the larger community.