Philosophy
WSP believes in a learning environment that fosters social and emotional development. We feel that preschool should be a "home away from home," that encourages cooperation with classmates and positive relationships with their teachers.
We model and teach positive approach language: "May I play with you?" "Please may I have the toy when you are finished?" "Can we play together?" "Can we share?"
We believe preschool should be a fun, spontaneous, and challenging place, where children’s curiosities, strengths, and values are nurtured and respected.
We believe play is the best way for a child to accomplish the skills they need, while feeling comfortable, secure and independent.
Curriculum
WSP recognizes that children progress at different rates, have different strengths and learning styles. Our play based curriculum emphasizes, social and emotional growth, while ensuring their academic preparedness. Our children build on their successes and master skills that will serve them a lifetime.
Our curriculum fosters independent thinking, creative problem solving, discovery, accomplishment, curiosity, and love of learning. We believe readiness means cooperating with the growth of each child and we offer an appropriate experience that will lead to the next step. Our teachers are keenly aware of the stages of child development. They work individually with every child to make sure she/he is challenged and progressing confidently. Children are provided with many opportunities for individual and collaborative work throughout the day, as they participate in math, reading readiness, science, writing, manipulatives, blocks, and imaginative play.
Classroom and Facilities
Our spacious, sun-drenched classroom has high ceilings with south-facing windows. Our centers: Science, Blocks, Writing, Library, Painting, Dirt and Sand, Imagination, and Manipulatives are well organized and rich in materials.
Our gym is well stocked with hoops, balls, wagons, basketball and soccer nets, building blocks, hippity hops, large motor manipulatives and balance beams.
We use the child appropriate public playground across the street for our outdoor play. Every week we have a music class taught by a specialist.
Community
WSP enrolls 30 children, ages 2.9 - 4.9, in a mixed age setting. Generally, the children are equally divided between three and four year olds. Mixed age grouping enhances a child’s development, by providing opportunities to work in groups where peer tutoring and cooperative learning take place. Mixed age grouping helps to stimulate one another’s thinking while mimicing family and community living. In NYC alone, Manhattan Country, Calhoun, Bank St. and Hunter all have mixed age grouping.
WSP has welcomed and celebrated cultural diversity in our families, since 1989. Over the years our families have hailed from Africa, China, Canada, France, Finland, Germany, Iran, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Ireland to name a few.