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Park Street Academy
Serving Children Ages 2 ½ to 6 Years Old
Park Street Academy preschool in Montclair, New Jersey, has been a fixture in the community since we opened our doors in 1996. Our student population is diverse and we pride ourselves on recognizing the importance of celebrating different cultures. We also understand the challenge of raising knowledgeable, responsible and caring children. Our students come to school eager to learn and integrate new information into their every day lives. We help our children to become responsible and caring by helping them understand risks and opportunities, to see beyond themselves, and to appreciate the concerns of others. Park Street families quickly learn that they are a part of a community that is welcoming, nurturing and sincerely concerned about them.
Goals of Park Street Academy
Many important learning and life skills are formed during early childhood education. Reading and math, science and social studies, performing and fine arts, as well as fine and gross motor activities are incorporated into every level of our program.
Our primary goals are to:
Enable children to see themselves as unique individuals, and to become aware of, and appreciate the differences of others
Foster the development of positive social and emotional well-being and confidence
Provide experiences in all academic areas through the use of thematic units that incorporate a multi-modal approach to learning
Develop a sense of curiosity and the ability to observe, explore and analyze information using critical thinking skills
Emphasize the importance of physical fitness for brain development and facilitate the advancement of coordination and motor skills
Encourage independence, respect and self-control
The School Day at PSA begins in each classroom with “Circle Time,” a time to promote social and emotional learning while discussing the day ahead. Activities include the alphabet, phonemic awareness, numbers, shapes, calendar and weather. Song and movement are used to express and reinforce these concepts.
Following Circle Time, each class has an exciting schedule of activities designed to engage, stimulate, and spark curiosity. Reading, writing and math skills are introduced through developmentally appropriate teaching methods. Pre-K and Kindergarten classes incorporate higher level skill-building in reading, math, current events and geography. Our monthly thematic units, based on science and social studies concepts, provide learning opportunities through art, books, special presentations and hands-on learning activities. PSA kids enjoy a robust program of art, music, dance and movement, while dramatic play provides an opportunity to explore the world through pretend. While academics are an integral part of our focus, we consider fostering social and emotional intelligence to be the most important domain of early childhood education and it is woven throughout our curriculum.
PSA’s balanced approach provides ample time for free play and physical activity along with sensory discovery. Our exciting afternoon program is filled with structured enrichment activities, organized games, free play and storytime.
