Preschools in the Pittsburgh Area
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Pittsburgh KidsOutAndAbout Preschool Newsletter |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Are you planning to have your children attend preschool this year? Or are you thinking about whether it's the best option for your family? Do you have a friend who is thinking about preschool for her kids? If any of these is true, this special annual edition of our newsletter is for YOU! We provide not only options for where to start your search in our area, but also some tips for what to
think about and what to look for as you start the process.
KidsOutAndAbout has a large list of local preschools that have posted to our site; this list is provided in the LISTS/Preschools & Childcare list linked from the menu on every page
of KidsOutAndAbout. In this newsletter, first, we have some featured preschools with descriptions of their programs. Next, we provide a list of links to some additional schools. And last, we provide tips for helping you evaluate preschools when you visit, to see if they are right for you.
Remember: SAVE THIS NEWSLETTER and forward it along! If you or one of your friends is in the market for a preschool, it's a handy
reference.
—Debra Ross, publisher |
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. |
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La Escuelita Arcoiris has been Pittsburgh’s nature-based Spanish-immersion pre-school since 1999, inspiring children to learn through play, exploration, and community. Our approach nurtures curious, compassionate learners by combining a nature-based
curriculum with Spanish immersion, encouraging children to engage deeply with the world around them. Through creative problem solving, emergent curriculum, calculated risk-taking, and intentional teaching, each child is guided to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. At La Escuelita Arcoiris, every experience is designed to spark curiosity, foster creativity, and build confidence, helping children develop the skills and mindset to thrive both in school and in life.
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Our preschool program in Pittsburgh's North Suburbs creates a warm, loving and caring atmosphere in which each child is given the opportunity to experience social, physical and academic growth. Children graduate from our program with all the tools to help
them succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Local school districts regularly report that our students are among the best prepared.
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Bellwood is a gem hidden in the woods of Franklin Park. Bellwood is a discovery-oriented school that provides an environment filled with rich experiences to help foster self-esteem, creativity, and growth for children ages two to five. Our school encourages
children to move between areas including Art, Practical Life, Large Motor, Cognitive, and Sensory.
Our experienced, caring teachers instill a love of learning in our students—right from the start. We emphasize hands-on learning, creative problem solving, and a respect for others and the natural world. Our mission is to provide each child with the opportunity to become problem-solving, empowered, compassionate individuals who share a deep respect for their global village.
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Fox Hill Preschool offers programs for children ages 2-5 years and welcomes children from all ethnic and religious backgrounds. The curriculum promotes creativity, as well as, social and emotional growth, while emphasizing basic universal values, such as
kindness, friendship, honesty, compassion, and patience. Each program provides experiences rich in language and math concepts presented in a developmentally appropriate environment that provides an engaging context for learning.
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At Salem Church Preschool, we provide a nurturing and engaging learning environment where our dedicated teaching staff thoughtfully designs experiences that promote growth, discovery and joy. Each child is recognized as a unique individual with their own
gifts to share with the group, enriching the classroom community as a whole. Our mission is to empower young children to reach their full potential and to help families thrive.
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An independent, private school in the Catholic tradition for boys and girls in grades prekindergarten through twelve. Since its founding in 1996 as a college preparatory school for students in grades PreK-12, Aquinas has emerged as a recognized leader in
academic excellence and character formation.
Our graduates are being recruited by some of the nation's top colleges and universities. Our students' performance on standardized achievements tests ranks Aquinas among the very top schools nationwide, public or private. In addition, our students score well above average on the National Latin Exam, the college-level Advanced Placement Program tests, and other leading measures of learning and achievement.
We are committed to offering students the finest education possible in a Catholic environment totally faithful to the magisterium. Mass is celebrated daily in the campus chapel and religion is a core subject in our curriculum.
We also offer a full range of competitive sports teams and…
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Berkeley Hills Preschool is a non-profit, private organization. We have been helping children to take those first important steps in their formal education for over fifty years. Berkeley Hills Preschool admits students of any race, color and national or
ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, or other school administered programs.
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Congregation Beth Shalom's Early Learning Center provides a secure, warm setting for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers throughout the day, year round. We offer fully equipped modern facilities, including a playground, full-sized gym, and Reggio
Emilia-Inspired Art Studio.
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Hiland Preschool was established in 1955 as a mission outreach of Hiland Presbyterian Church. This non-profit, non-denominational preschool remains one of the oldest preschools in the North Hills area. The preschool is administered by a board of directors
appointed by and under the guidance of Hiland Presbyterian Church.
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Mt. Lebanon Montessori School is dedicated to the development of the whole child as a unique individual. Through the prepared environment of Montessori teachers and learning materials, the child develops self-discipline, concentration, independence, a
thirst for lifetime learning, and respect for self, others, and all of creation.
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Established nearly 100 years ago, St. Bede School has built a legacy on the foundation of an enriched curriculum, engaging environment as well as nurturing atmosphere. St. Bede School students build wisdom and values from our core of faith, family,
community and service which prepares each young person to thrive upon graduation and beyond. PreK- 8th Grade.
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It is the mission of the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh to foster each child's capacity to become an independent thinking, compassionate, and purposeful human being. We educate head, heart and hands.The Waldorf School of Pittsburgh brings the unique Waldorf
method and curriculum to families seeking a truly progressive education in Pittsburgh.
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What kind of preschool best suits your child?
Those nice parenting articles always tell you to make sure you choose a preschool that best suits your child's personality--but then rarely provide any specifics on what will give you those clues. Children vary widely in their responses to different situations. Think
about where your child falls on the following dimensions, and think about your own personal preferences for what a preschool experience should be like for your child. Then, when you visit preschools, ask the administrators (and observe yourself) about how well the school's philosophy matches your children's needs. - Playing and learning: Do these seem like separate times at the preschool, or are play and learning time integrated?
- The setting: Is your goal to get your child used
to a school setting, or is it important that the setting feel more like home?
- Specific learning goals: Do you have academic milestones or religious needs that you would like met? Think about this before you set out, and refine your thoughts as you visit more schools.
- Introverts and extroverts: If your child falls on one end of introvert-extrovert scale, it's important to realize this and see what would be expected of them at each preschool (especially important for the
introverts).
- Active play: Does the school provide resources for physically active play that match your child's needs?
- Rest: Kids have different rhythms and requirements for rest. Think about what your child's specific needs are to ensure that they will be accommodated.
- Structure: Some kids do better with lots of structure, while other families feel that they already have enough structure and prefer that a preschool ensure lots of time for unstructured play and
interaction.
- Discipline: What happens when kids misbehave at school? Does the school's philosophy match yours?
- Safety: Safety is a big concern. Think carefully about your standards for keeping kids safe, and observe how the school meets your expectations.
If your child attends (or attended) a great preschool that is not currently on our big preschool list (the easiest way to find out is to search in the big search bar on the top of every KidsOutAndAbout page), please
email me back and we'll contact them immediately to see if they'd like to be on this list! |
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