THE WHITE PONY PRESCHOOL
Building a Love of Learning
Children’s days are full of music, dance, art, nature exploration, and activities that instill curiosity, wonder, and a love of learning. Our program is based on sound developmental principles, encouraging children to explore interests in the world around them and the interior world of their feelings, spirit, and the magical realms of preschool thinking. The program is play-based, with Montessori components.
Teacher-child ratios are purposely low, with one teacher for every six to eight students.
CORE EXPERIENCES
Children learn to always try their best and to be open to new learning.
ARTS INTEGRATION
Children learn to express and value themselves through the arts.
VALUES-BASED
Children learn to practice kindness, tolerance, respect, and cooperation.
PROGRAM OFFERINGS
RELATIONSHIPS THAT NURTURE TRUST
The preschool classrooms follow a schedule that provides predictability and security with ample time for free play and discovery, indoors and out. Teachers at the White Pony are highly skilled professionals known for their loving, nurturing, respectful attitudes toward children. We typically keep children with the same teachers for the first two years, so that the children can form close, trusting bonds with their caregivers.
SOCIAL SKILLS AND INCLUSION
Children enjoy learning about social relationships with children younger and older than they are in mixed-age groupings. Many White Pony families come to us from countries around the world, and about 40 percent of our preschoolers are bi- or tri- lingual. Our preschool and elementary classrooms emphasize inclusion, and we have some children who have special needs in our programs.
OUR UNIQUE CURRICULUM
Our program was originally based on Montessori principles and materials but soon added those of Rudolf Steiner (Waldorf) and more recently Reggio Emilia. Over time, we’ve created a curriculum that is uniquely our own, emphasizing the values of compassion, cooperation, and joyful expression through the arts, all elements that are further amplified in our elementary program.
INDOOR/OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS
Classrooms are large and light-filled, with an emphasis on providing a calm, orderly, visually harmonious environment. Learning in the preschool occurs almost equally outdoors, including our preschool play yards, the Preschool Garden, the Children’s Garden, the Seven Circles Garden and trails leading to the big field.
DRAMA AND THEATER IN PRESCHOOL
Play is an essential (and favorite) part of every preschooler’s day. On the playground and in the classroom, play is about fantasy, which is drama in its most delightful and spontaneous form. As children play, their imaginations blossom, and they begin to learn the finer points of sharing, taking turns, compromising, and communicating their thoughts and feelings to others.
Drama takes on structure at circle time as children act out stories read or told by teachers and even short plays. These sometimes become part of holiday programs for parents and family members.
