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Meeting each child where they are.
As your child approaches preschool, you’re probably as excited as you are nervous. Preschool means your child will learn new skills, make friends, and establish an early academic foundation. As a parent, you know these early years are about so much more than kindergarten-readiness; it’s also a time for instilling in your child the confidence and security needed to be successful inside and outside the classroom
Eastern Christian School’s preschool program is designed to accommodate little learners as the unique individuals God created them to be. Through personalized attention and developmentally appropriate content and activities, we meet each of our preschoolers where they are, guiding them as they learn, grow, pray, and play.
Play-based. Christ-centered.
The learning environment at Eastern Christian School
We believe in a strong partnership between school and home. Prior to your child’s first day of preschool, you’ll meet with their teacher for a listening conference, giving us the opportunity to learn about your child from the people who know them best — you. We’ll meet, at minimum, twice more throughout the year to ensure we’re all on the same page about your child’s development and progress.
Inside our preschool classrooms, you will find:
- Careful attention is paid to your child’s growth and learning to ensure your child is learning the right material at the right time. Teachers track student development through the research-based tool Gold Objectives for Development and Learning, and share findings with you through biannual reports.
- A technology-free zone: we understand young children learn best by manipulating concrete material so we keep our preschool classrooms screen-free according to a great deal of data that suggest the best way students learn at this age.
- Small class sizes: We want our littlest learners to feel cared for and known, which is why our student-to-teacher ratios stay low: pre-K3 is 8:1, pre-K4 and transitional kindergarten are 10:1.
Our Midland Park, New Jersey, preschool and elementary campus features an outdoor play area, a gymnasium, and a media center.
Preschool Programs
It can be difficult to know if a full- or half-day program is best for your child’s developmental needs. Eastern Christian School offers both options with further flexibility for parents who are looking for a weekly schedule that accommodates both half- and full-days.
Full-day: 8:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Half-day: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Pre-K3
Days can be full- or half-day
Pre-K4
Days can be full- or half-day
Transitional Kindergarten
Days can be full- or half-day
Our full-day students enjoy a morning of learning and fun in their classrooms, lunch with friends, opportunities for rest and play, and additional teacher-led activities in the afternoon.
Half-day preschool students are exposed to the same core curriculum as those in our full-day program, promoting kindergarten readiness and proficiencies across core subject areas.
Before and After School Care
Our before and after school programs provide children with an opportunity for additional activities — both structured and play-based. Our Before School program begins at 7:00 a.m. Clubs are offered from 2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. and After Care is available until 6:00 p.m.
Complete this simple form to find out class eligibility for your child.
Is your child ready for success in preschool?
“We feel so blessed to be part of a Christ-centered learning community. We can’t count the number of times we reflect on how EC reinforces positive values for our daughter. We truly feel the home, church and school are connected. She comes home each day and shares her “EC adventures” with us and her little brother. He’s so excited to start this year. At EC we feel confident leaving our most precious gifts with teachers, staff, and volunteers who care about all aspects of their development.
We also really appreciate the PTO and striving to foster community amongst the parents.”
The Effs Family
Play-Based Learning
Our teachers are highly-qualified professionals and certified educators who intentionally design experiences and environments that support each student’s growth and development through play. In addition to the more traditional tools of the preschool classroom, such as blocks, manipulatives, books, paper, and crayons, students gain an understanding of content through the creative use of shaving cream, fingerpaint, slime, Oobleck, cooked spaghetti noodles, and lots of other materials!
Our experienced educators design fun and engaging experiences through different learning centers to help students better understand material, incite creativity, and practice their gross and fine motor skills. Preschoolers spend an hour exploring learning centers every morning and again in the afternoon. Centers include:
Math – Little learners develop a conceptual understanding of math as they manipulate materials and practice counting, adding, and subtracting. They identify patterns, shapes, and numbers.
Reading & Writing – Students explore letters and sounds in purposeful ways as they learn to write, trace, copy, draw, and read.
Science & Social Studies – Simple hands-on experiments as well as examining real-world objects helps students learn to observe, predict, classify, compare, and question.
Blocks – Size, shape, and space are all explored through play with blocks.
Art – Students can creatively express their feelings and ideas while engaging fine and gross motor skills.
Sensory Exploration – Hands-on activities like sorting and measuring help strengthen vocabulary and fine motor skills.
Dramatic Play – Imaginations ignite as students work on everything from social skills to problem-solving.
Additional areas of study and activities include:
- Bible
- Handwriting Without Tears
- P.E.
- Music
- Art
- Library
A Developmentally-Appropriate Approach
Every child matures at their own pace — physically, socially, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Teachers identify and support each child’s growth, tailoring experiences and expectations accordingly. Through stories, activities, and play, teachers intentionally support each student’s ability to regulate their emotions and behaviors, establish and sustain positive relationships, and participate cooperatively and constructively in group activities.
Christ-Centered Community
Even our littlest Eastern Christian School students participate in Bible class, worship, and daily prayer. All areas of instruction are approached through a biblical worldview. Our teachers are believers who exercise their faith and values as they model Christian behavior inside and outside the classroom.
Prepping for Kindergarten
We are a pre-K through grade 12 school and our youngest students are housed on our dedicated preschool and elementary campus. Preschool teachers collaborate with their kindergarten counterparts to ensure students are prepared for the more structured environment of the kindergarten classroom. With kindergarten just down the hall, younger students are able to see and interact with their older peers, helping to make the transition to kindergarten a little less intimidating!
A Safe Environment
It’s vital for learners to feel safe, known, and valued at school. We hire teachers who affirm their faith and live out their Christian values; parents can rest assured that staff are teaching the same lessons parents are at home. All Eastern Christian School employees undergo background checks, all teachers are certified in CPR, and we have a dedicated Director of Student Safety on staff. All classrooms are equipped with bathrooms. Our Director of Security and Operations, who is a retired police officer, ensures our facilities are state of the art and safe, creating space for learning to thrive. We also offer a full time nurse and part time counselor to support physical, social, and emotional needs of students.
Meet a Teacher
Sarah Vander Wall
PRESCHOOL TEACHER
Degree:
B.A. in Elementary Education, Minor in English, Minor in Social Studies, Group Planned Pedagogical Minor
Teaching Experience:
15+ Years
“I love sharing God’s Word with my students. It has been an awesome opportunity to influence the next generation of Christian thinkers, artists, doctors, teachers, engineers and more! Teaching is how I use my gifts to glorify my Heavenly Father. I strive to imitate Christ, since I know my young learners will imitate me! My favorite thing about teaching preschool is experiencing the joy and wonder of our youngest learners. They are in awe of our Creator and the world He has created. They love to learn, build, create, paint, color, move, and play with joyful abandon, and I get to experience it with them!”
See for Yourself
Schedule a tour of our Midland Park, New Jersey, campus and see firsthand why families choose our private Christian preschool for their sons and daughters.
Ready to see more today?
Preview our preschool experience by watching this short video.