The Calvary Baptist Preschool provides a quality start to a life long learning for young children by setting a firm foundation and enabling their parents to be gainfully employed. Calvary works with the Paterson Public School District to provide preschool services for 3 and 4-year-olds. This working relationship provides funding for a maximum enrollment of 135 children in nine classes.
The school day for preschoolers is 7 hours. Those participating in extended day services sponsored by the Department of Human Services may drop-off children as early as 7:00 am and remain as late as 5:00 pm. Children may remain with Calvary’s Preschool for a maximum of two years before moving on to kindergarten.
Calvary Baptist Preschool follows The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool. It is one of the most widely used pre-K curricula in the nation that emphasizes social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Lessons are designed to have children actively engaged in a wide variety of cultural programs, activities, and projects that support the curriculum. Children are assessed four times a year, using the Teaching Strategies Gold Assessment System.
Calvary teaching staff members regularly participate in professional development opportunities and activities provided by Calvary and the Department of Early Childhood Education. Parents are actively involved in the education of their children. The Pre School PTA is active and meets four times each year, addressing issues including workshops, speakers, and activities involving parenting issues, school policies, guidelines, and the curriculum. Family Workers make regular contact with the parents in the home. Parents and community members volunteer in the school regularly. Bilingual services are provided for children and parents.
All children receive a full, wholesome breakfast and lunch and an afternoon snack daily. All meals are prepared in Calvary’s Kitchen by certified professionals. The meal program is sponsored by the Child and Adult Care Food Program. No one is discriminated against because of sex, race, religion, color, national origin, age, or disability. Alternative meals are provided for those children with specific identified food allergies.
Emphasis is placed on partnering with community groups and programs, including the Paterson Community Health Center, Paterson Department of Health, Public Library, Fire Department, nearby fruit and vegetable farms, the Farmers Market, etc. All classes participate in many and varied field trips and assembly programs for learning and fun.
Daily each class engages is gross motor (physical) activities using our state of the art playground and Fellowship Hall. All classes are equipped with desktop computers and iPads for the use of each child and teacher. Calvary Baptist Preschool is nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, NAEYC. The accreditation is updated annually.