Stepping Stone School teachers establish secure and positive relationships welcoming you and your infant into a warm, safe, and clean environment. Our low teacher-to-child ratios allow time to create a trusting relationship between parents, their children and our caring educators. Teachers’ one-to-one interactions are opportunities to connect and stimulate healthy brain development (Lally). Holding, soothing, establishing eye contact, playing, singing, talking and responding vocally all help create an engaging and nurturing experience for your infant. Consistent and frequent communication with parents is provided. Teachers send daily electronic reports describing your child’s eating, sleeping, diapering and developmental activities. Effective communication is a cornerstone of Stepping Stone School. Our high-quality early care and education begins with the use of Stepping Stone School’s Platinum Learning for Life™ curriculum. Our youngest children are provided weekly learning plans which incorporate the classical Piagetian learning domains and our progressive curriculum.

Toddlers are transitioning from infancy to the mobile, independent world of preschoolers. They are learning in leaps and bounds how to communicate, move purposefully and assert their individuality. At Stepping Stone School, our teachers introduce balanced routines and offer positive guidance to help give your toddler the confidence to practice new skills and embrace new experiences. Weekly, theme-based learning plans meet the diverse needs of every child through research-based activities. In particular, language development accelerates during this period (Hart & Risley). Our teachers focus and enhance verbalization and skill development. This consistent and vibrant learning atmosphere matches your child’s rapidly emerging interests and abilities. It offers numerous opportunities for early reading, math, science, construction and imaginative play experiences, integrated into our Platinum Learning for Life™ curriculum.

Preschoolers are eager learners! Their increased fine and gross motor control and growing communication skills enable them to participate in more independent activities as they pursue their natural curiosity to explore and integrate and discover their world. At Stepping Stone School, our teachers support, integrate and nurture your preschooler’s eagerness to learn. This is accomplished by introducing routines and offering positive guidance techniques which in turn inspires confidence and new skill sets. Weekly, theme-based learning plans meet individualized needs through research-based activities. This atmosphere matches your child’s rapidly emerging interests and abilities through a consistent-yet-changing environment which offers many opportunities for early literacy, pre-mathematics, scientific investigation, and imaginative play as a part of our Platinum Learning for Life™ curriculum.

Pre-kindergarten children are engaged in pre-reading cognition and social and emotional development. Children are rapidly advancing in skills necessary for Kindergarten readiness. At Stepping Stone School, our highly trained teachers prepare and integrate weekly theme-based learning plans that respond to the stages and interests of each individual child and follow our Platinum Learning for Life™ curriculum. State-of-the-art learning centers serve as hubs for pre-literacy, math, science, technology, dramatic and sensory play, art and music mastery. Your child’s writing skills will be strengthened through journaling and creative writing. Stepping Stone School also provides BOB Books to enhance our student’s pre-reading skills. The students will practice dual language skills daily using Spanish vocabulary and building upon American Sign Language (ASL) they developed in earlier classes. Children will increase their independence and self-reliance by taking on classroom responsibilities and will learn to cooperate by participating in small group activities. Through Stepping Stone School’s unique Communities of Character™ curriculum, your child will develop an empathic understanding of others while focusing on character building age-appropriate activities.

Advanced Pre-Kindergarten children are budding scholars! Our experienced and committed educators implement our Platinum Learning for Life™ curriculum which creates a solid foundation for future academic and social-emotional success. Advanced Pre-Kindergarten students discover their potential, eagerly explore new concepts and are inspired to be adventurous learners! S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) is integrated into daily learning plans. “Hands on/mind on” experiences foster early understanding of these fundamental concepts, increasing future academic strengths and lifelong learning opportunities. Stepping Stone School graduates enter kindergarten well-prepared and ready to learn!

School-age children grow at an amazing rate— physically, emotionally/socially, cognitively and linguistically. As they develop, 5 to 11-year-olds refine peer relationships and information about the adult world, so they thrive on friendships, alliances, challenges and responsibility. Our programs are designed to nurture your child with character building, homework assistance, mind-expanding S.T.E.A.M. programming and experiments and physical activity to keep your child Fit for Life™! At Stepping Stone School, our exclusive Future Leaders and Innovators™ After-School Program offers your student a comfortable, group atmosphere. Learning plans are based on the accomplishments of the world’s greatest innovators and leaders. Themes and projects are tailored to your child’s interests, interwoven with our Platinum Learning for Life™ and S.T.E.A.M. curriculum. Children thoroughly enjoy exciting programming, health and wellness education and character-building activities! A research study by Posner and Vandall (1999) found that high-quality after-school programs are associated with better peer relationships and positive outcomes.