For children ages 36 months through 4 years of age and are ready to experience a taste of school life, we provide consistent bonding and continual care in our preschool programs. Children grow in our small program sizes to give each child the individual attention he or she needs. Our program runs from 6:30 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening Monday through Friday.
Pre-School: 3 years by September 1
Pre-K: 4 years by September 1
The ages listed are general guidelines. Children will not be moved on birthday dates. Children may be moved earlier or later than these ages based on social, emotional, and cognitive stages. It is most likely to see these “Move Ups” throughout the year in the Infant and Toddler Programs. “Move Ups” from the Toddler Programs to the Pre-School and Pre- K Programs are usually done at the beginning of the academic year but could occur during through our the year.
We offer full-time and part-time enrollments and accept enrollments throughout the year. Choose from 2, 3, 4, or 5 days.
Children go outside every day; weather permitting. Our preschool ratio is 1:6. Our Pre-K ratio is 1:10.
We offer parents observation times for their children to get to know our program for 2-3 hours while their parents complete some paperwork. This helps the child and the parent transition. The child will bond with staff and the parents can become more comfortable with our operations.
Our Curriculum
The curriculum at Les Petits Cherubs is based on the Pennsylvania Early Childhood Education Standards. These research-based standards identify key learning areas of development for children.
The PA Learning Standards guide our teachers to integrate developmental knowledge with attitudes, skills, and concepts. This helps children to make progress in all of the learning areas. The Creative Curriculum is also incorporated into our daily activities and lesson plans. Les Petits Cherubs Pre-School, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten also use the core curriculum.
The most important goal of our early childhood curriculum is to help children become enthusiastic learners. This means encouraging children to be active and creative explorers who are not afraid to try out their ideas and to think their own thoughts. Our goal is to help children become independent, self-confident, inquisitive learners. We’re teaching children how to learn by incorporating the following centers in all of our classrooms:
- Cognitive Teacher Directed
- Science and Discovery
- Creative Art
- Transportation and Blocks
- Fine Motor
- Library
- Music and Movement
- Gross Motor
- Dramatic Play
- Computers
The lesson plans at Les Petits Cherubs are based on monthly themes. This allows the teachers to creatively plan activities that focus on the seasons and holidays. Each month presents a new shape, color, number, and letter for the classroom to explore and learn; as well as a set of opposites. Each month a community helper is introduced. Each teacher’s objective is to plan activities that focus and target children’s individual strengths and weaknesses. We work with families to understand both the child’s needs and the family’s desires when developing individual care and lesson plans.
Parents also play an important role in our curriculum. Parents are a child’s role model for learning. A parent’s attitude towards learning can inspire children to continue on their learning journey. Parents can aid in their child’s development by exploring nature, cooking together, counting together, and especially reading together. Parents can show children how exciting and meaningful learning can be by extending what children have learned in school to their homes. As children grow into school-age children, parents become their children’s learning coaches. Parents can help their children to organize their time and support their desires to learn new things in and out of school.
Our curriculum offers:
- Monthly Themes
- Number and letter recognition
- Seasons and Holidays
- Fine motor and gross motor skills
- Literacy
- Science
- Develop more structure of the day
Schedule
Daily schedules and routines are important in the lives of children because they provide children with a sense of safety and stability. Our daily schedules allow time for fun and exploration in all of the learning areas as well as set aside time for meals and rest. Creativity, exploration, and experimentation are balanced with teacher-facilitated themes and projects. Although the daily schedule helps us to organize the day, we don’t want it to limit our ability to be spontaneous and flexible. Schedules are flexible enough to accommodate each child’s individual emotional, social, physical, and academic needs.
Pre-K Counts
Our Pre-K in Partnership with the School District of Philadelphia participates in the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Program. The Pre-K Counts Program is designed to bring quality education to all children between the ages of 3 and until they enter Kindergarten in the state of Pennsylvania. For more information on Pre-K Counts, visit the Pennsylvanis Pre-K Counts web site.
What’s Included
All meals and beverages are provided to our enrollments. We serve locally grown, in-season, fresh fruits and vegetables and use only whole grains. No trans fats in our meals!
Optional Activities
Parent Steering Committee
We have a parent steering committee within each of our programs at each location. Our parent steering committee gives parents the opportunity to have a voice in their child’s day-to-day activities here at our school.
Computers
In this technologically advanced age, it is never too early to introduce computers. Each child over the age of two years old has the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the computers in their classrooms. They will begin with learning basic computer knowledge, including mouse and keyboard skills. Based on each individual child’s skill level, age-appropriate educational games will also be provided for each child on a daily basis.
Dance
Children two years of age and up have the opportunity to enroll in a ten-week dance session. The half-hour weekly class consists of ballet, rhythmic play, creative movement, and tap. Please check with the campus director for registration forms and session costs.
Violin
For all children ages three, four, and five, the half-hour weekly violin class introduces our little “Mari Ben-ari’s” to classical violin beginning basics. The children will begin with holding the violin and become comfortable with the instrument and the bow. Instructions include learning proper techniques and musical notes. Children will eventually be learning to play songs that they will perform at our Holiday Concert and Spring recitals.
Karate
Children Pre-School and up are eligible to train in a Karate program as part of their weekly after-school curriculum. The program is a comprehensive character-enrichment program, which seeks to use karate as a tool to convey lessons, such as self-confidence, focus, self-discipline, respect, goal setting, and self-control, all while being introduced to the traditional martial arts of Kenpo and Tae Kwon Do. The cost to participate varies according to the length of the session.
French
This class will give campers an introduction to the French language as well as culture. They will learn the pronunciation of new words and even begin to build a new vocabulary.
Soccer
Soccer Shots is a co-ed soccer clinic will help players to improve their basic soccer skill. Campers should bring their own shin guards and water bottles.
Field Trips
Throughout the year, the children will have scheduled field trips to local museums, theaters, and attractions. Sufficient notice will be given before a field trip to allow parents to participate in these activities.
Library
Our Pre-School children are introduced to the enjoyment and responsibility of the library. The children receive their own library card and travel to the local library at least once a month. During their visit to the library, the children enjoy a story hour and are taught about the many parts of the library. The children are able to choose and check out their own books and are responsible to care for and return their books at their next visit.
Building Bridges
Pre-K children getting ready to move to kindergarten will be involved with a transition program that has great transition strategies and terrific tips that will ease them into the formal years of elementary education. We have formed relationships with local elementary schools that your child may be enrolling in for kindergarten. We set up visits with a kindergarten teacher, as well as invite a kindergarten class to come and visit for a special storytime. We also have a pen pal program with kindergartners and kindergarten teachers.
Intergeneration Program
This unique opportunity allows our children to share part of their day with seniors from the Cathedral Village Retirement Home. Our children participate in art, gardening, and seasonal celebrations. The typical senior adult enjoys interaction with our children while the typical pre-school age child gains respect and comfort from this special bond.
Inclusion Program
Our preschool-age children share part of their day with other preschool-age children who face developmental and physical challenges. The benefit for all children involved is unique and not found in many settings. A typical preschool child will gain increased self-esteem and be more accepting of diversity, from the interactions that come naturally when helping other children who have developmental and/or physical challenges.
Many studies show a marked improvement in interdisciplinary behaviors when children with developmental and/or physical challenges are combined with typical preschool-age children. Behaviors improve, self-confidence grows and an IEP is well in place and prepares them for the transition into a public or private school setting. They are well on their way to being mainstreamed through this unique paring of the children found at Les Petits Cherubs.
We currently participate in Inclusion Programs with Elwyn SEEDS (Special Education for Early Developmental Success) and the Clarke School for Hearing and Speech.
Campus Location
Our campus is a secure, protected environment that is clean, friendly, and stimulating for children.
We offer playgrounds at every facility that are specifically designed for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and K-5 aged children. The surface of our playground is rubber.
Roxborough-Ridge
7901 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128
Staff
Our staff is dedicated, compassionate, and certified by state and federal requirements. Background checks of every staff member are required. Our teachers hold degrees in Early Childhood Education.
Enrollment Information
Click here for our Enrollment Information.