A Hands-on Learning Environment for Kids.
Kirk House Preschool provides a welcoming school environment where children feel secure, accepted, and loved.
Through play and exploration, children learn about their world and have their individual, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs met.
Our Programs
We offer a flexible schedule and curriculum to meet the unique needs of each child. We enrol children from 2 1/2 years to 5 years.
While at Kirk House Preschool, children enjoy activities both inside and out, including art, science, music, dramatic play, and engaging with cognitive materials to foster both mathematical and literacy learning. The children then have a snack followed by a small group experience. During group time the teachers and children enjoy stories, sing songs, learn finger plays and play fun games.
This carefully designed program provides a flexible, enriching environment that promotes individual growth, social interaction and school readiness skills. The children are supervised at all times by a loving, experienced staff. We invite you to join us… there is so much to see and learn.
Tours
In person and virtual tours are available, please contact the director to set up a tour. You can email KHP@menlo.church to contact our administrative staff and director.
Eligibility
If a child turns 3 before Christmas, they may begin the school year in August. If they turn 3 after January 1st, they may start after our winter break. We must receive all the required immunizations before he or she can be admitted to school. Enrollment is open to all children of the community regardless of religion, race, color, national origin or ancestry.
Class Schedules
Our class schedule offers a variety of engaging and educational activities for children. From arts and crafts to outdoor play, our program is designed to stimulate their curiosity and foster their development. If you are interested in having your Preschool or Pre-K student attend 5 days per week please contact the Director.
We are flexible to the needs of your family and which days might work better for you, so please reach out to our director to discuss. We have cohorts by age all five days, so your child will have a peer group their age regardless of which days you chose.
Preschool
(with option to add Wednesdays)
Our preschool program focuses on a positive adjustment to a learning environment. Children learn to use materials appropriately, interact positively with peers, navigate transitions during their school day, function as part of a group, and have exposure to a wide variety of social, artistic, and cognitive activities while exploring and growing in a play-based program.
Pre-K
Our Pre-K program offers a wide variety of activities to help children grow toward Kindergarten readiness. We use the “Handwriting Without Tears” program to introduce letters and sounds, a strong pencil grip, and engaging in teacher-led learning activities. We also emphasize pre-math skills such as 1:1 counting, patterning, and sequencing. Our enriching play-based curriculum offers many opportunities for exploration, fun and learning across all developmental domains.
TK
Our TK program is attended by 4s and young 5s. This program reviews the Pre-K “Handwriting Without Tears” workbook and then advances to the Kindergarten version to reinforce phonics concepts, acquire strong foundational writing skills, and develop a love of literacy. We introduce basic math concepts and focus on Kindergarten readiness to ensure a smooth transition the following year. Our TK program emphasizes self-paced exploration, growing self-help skills, and navigating peer and teacher relationships.
A Typical Day
Sign-In
Our program runs 9:00am to 12:00pm. Extended lunch is available. Children arrive each morning and are greeted at the gate by a staff member. After sign-in, the child will drop off any items brought with him/her (jacket, lunch, etc.) in their cubby.
Exploration Time
After check-in, children are free to explore any open area of the school, where they engage in activities planned by the staff to help them grow. The curriculum offers a different theme each week where children will participate in art projects, science projects, music/movement, pre-literacy and math activities, and more.
Outdoor Play Time
Around 10:30, children will help clean up the classrooms, and then go outside for play time. Afterwards, children will go inside with their core teacher. During this time, the children are served a nutritious snack followed by a small group experience. They will enjoy a story and learn finger plays and songs.
Lunch/Pick-up
Those children not staying for lunch will be picked up at noon. Children who are part of our Lunch Bunch Program will stay and eat lunch and then have additional activities and stories.
Snack Information
Kirk House will provide snacks for students the first two weeks of school at the beginning of the school year. Once our year is off to a smooth start, you will be given a plastic container with a lid with your child's name on it. Families will be responsible for sending in their child's snack each day. Containers will be dropped off at sign in, and then placed in the refrigerator until snack time. Feel free to send perishable items.
Please note we do not allow nuts or nut products in the school. A list of suggested snacks will be included in your enrollment packet. We ask you not to send in cookies, candy or dessert type items. You do not need to send a water bottle to school, we provide water at snack time and have drinking fountains inside and outside our classrooms.