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CHILD-CENTERED.

FAMILY-FOCUSED.

 COMMUNITY-BASED.

Welcome to Meadowlark Community Preschool & Infant Center where we partner with families to grow confident, capable, compassionate and curious children. Research shows that a happy, healthy, productive life has its roots in the early years and we take this responsibility very seriously. With many of our children joining us in the infant center, we have the opportunity to have real impact on a child’s development. Through nurturing care and excellent teaching, we work with every child to build the foundations that shape their future.

Meadowlark welcomes children ages 3 months to 5 years. We are open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to support families’ schedules. With three spacious play yards, bright and inviting classrooms, and a strong emphasis on relationship-based learning where every child feels seen and understood, we create an environment for children to reach their fullest potential. Our goal is not only preparing children for kindergarten, but nurturing in them a lifelong love of learning.

OUR PROGRAMS

Hummingbirds

Our Hummingbirds are our infants starting at 3 months. When you enroll your child, we partner with you to learn all about your child to ensure that we can respond to their needs throughout the day with warm, nurturing care. Our Hummingbirds curriculum incorporates indoor and outdoor play, lots of talking, rhymes and songs, multi-sensory activities and creative explorations that support all areas of your child’s development. As your baby grows and develops so does our curriculum with our older infants graduating to the Robins Class.

Robins

The Robins are our older infants and young toddlers. At this developmental stage, children are learning to become more independent as they build small and large motor skills, learn to manage their emotions and grow more interested in playing with other children. Our curriculum encourages curiosity, builds communication skills and facilitates learning in all areas of development social, emotional, cognitive and physical.

Blue Jays

At the age of 2, children graduate from the Infant Center to the Preschool. The Blue Jays curriculum involves a range of explorations to respond to the children’s emerging interests and cognitive and physical abilities. Through playful activities, children work on their small motor skills, build the foundations for literacy and start to expand on simple math concepts such as colors, shapes, and one-to-one correspondence. As they start to work alongside and in collaboration with other children, children work on problem solving, conflict resolution, self-regulation and emotional resilience. 

Wrens

Building on their learning in the Blue Jays class, our Wrens are continuing to develop the tools for problem solving, conflict resolution, following multi-step directions, managing and identifying their emotions and effective communication for advocating for their needs. The curriculum includes a focus on pre-reading and writing skills as well as basic math and science concepts ensuring that our children are ready for our pre-k class the following year.

Barn Owls

The Barn Owls are mostly children getting ready to transition to kindergarten. Our curriculum promotes independence and emphasizes the skills needed for success in kindergarten (and life) such as the ability to think critically, problem solve creatively, listen carefully, follow multi-step directions, communicate ideas clearly, advocate for themselves, and connect effectively with others. We also focus on academic learning so that children are progressing with their literacy and math skills and by the end of the year will be ready to transition to kindergarten confident, competent and infused with a joy for learning.

OUR MISSION

At Meadowlark Community Preschool & Infant Center, we believe in the transformative value of an exceptional early childhood education and the right of every young child to learn in an environment that is safe, nurturing, rich in experiences, culturally responsive and appropriately challenging. Meadowlark welcomes children ages 3 months – 5 years and is dedicated to giving them the care and education that all children deserve.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Informed by scientific research and the evolving understandings of how children learn, we embrace best practices for early childhood teaching and learning. Our program supports the development of the whole child through active, hands-on explorations, nurturing care and intentional and thoughtful child-teacher interactions. Our goal is to prepare children for a complex world intellectually, emotionally, physically, socially and academically.

WHAT OUR FAMILIES SAY

We cherish our diverse community and trust them to give us thoughtful, constructive feedback about our work. If you are interested in our school and wish to connect with any of our families to hear about their experience at our school, please let us know.

We are so grateful for the care, patience & affection you show [our son] every day. It’s so comforting knowing he’s in such kind, capable & nurturing hands. You do an incredible job filling the week with art, music and play while providing so many opportunities for learning & discovery. The photos & lesson plan updates always make us smile. As first time parents, we really appreciate all of your guidance as we navigate so many firsts & changes in routine! Thank you for everything you do!

– Parents of child in Hummingbirds class

We appreciate all of the ways that you and your staff have worked with the boys and our family! We are truly grateful ! We know that your facility has made a huge impact on our boys’ growth and development and has created a wonderful foundation for future learning!
We are forever grateful for your facility’s flexibility with all the outside changes that are out of our control !
– Parent of two children in Robins Class

Thank you for all the care and attention you give our son every day. It’s comforting to know he is in such loving hands and truly appreciate how much you are all helping him learn and grow.

– Parents of child in Hummingbirds class

Thank you doesn’t seem to be enough! [My son’s] made friends, learned to crawl, pulled to stand, made arts & crafts and enjoyed every day he was at school! But, most importantly, he received so much love, nurturing and care from all of you! We felt like [he] was everyone’s favorite child and I’m sure you make all parents feel like that. We are so extremely grateful for all you have done for [our son]!

– Parent of child in Hummingbirds Class

CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS

Strong Relationships

Strong relationships with our children and families are the foundation of our program. We work to build a mutually trusting connection with your child so that they feel safe and comfortable and are open to learning. The relationship is deepened through a partnership with parents and a connected and supportive community.

Play

It is universally acknowledged that play is at the heart of all children’s learning. Play is where children test out and expand their understanding of the world exploring concepts and ideas freely. As children grow and develop, their play changes from the solitary play of infants to the parallel play of toddlers to the collaborative play of preschoolers. Opportunities to play at all ages are essential for a child’s healthy development physically, cognitively, emotionally and socially.

Social And Emotional Development

Good social and emotional skills enable children to sustain focus, build relationships, manage and express their emotions, feel compassion and empathy, think independently and collaborate easily. Through modeling, hands-on activities, discussion, stories, and thoughtful, intentional support, children learn how to navigate a complex world with confidence, resilience and understanding.

Academic Learning

When children transition to kindergarten, they also need to be academically ready. Our program encourages children to explore principles of science, build the basis of mathematical understanding, and develop foundational literacy skills to become strong and enthusiastic readers and writers.

Culturally Responsive

Children learn best when they feel seen and understood and see themselves reflected in the world around them. Through tools such as parent/guardian surveys, class discussions, books with diverse characters, cultural celebrations, culturally rich materials, family activities, and community events, we aim to nurture in each child pride in their own identity, an understanding of others’ perspectives and an appreciation for a diverse world.