The Metuchen Preschool program offers a nurturing environment focusing on the social and academic development of each student utilizing a play-based curriculum. Our curriculum enhances the development of the whole child — cognitively, socially, physically, and emotionally. All of our classes are single-grade for optimal learning and social development. At The Metuchen Preschool children are placed in classes by age and students are kept together with their class for the entire school year. Movement to the next grade occurs in September.
Early Learners- Our Early Learners class (for students 2.5 years old, or close to it) is perfect for a child’s first school experience. The classroom routine and activities are designed to give children an opportunity to develop attachments to their teachers as they are adjusting to separating from family members and caregivers. The day provides time for teachers to support children as they learn self-care tasks like putting on jackets and using the bathroom while they are learning traditional school routines such as lining up, walking in the hallway and participating in group activities. As teachers build individual connections with each child, they facilitate the development of the social skills and emotional regulation necessary to forming friendships. Both indoor and outdoor play is part of the daily schedule.
Our Early Learners class is offered two days a week (Tuesday/Thursday) from 9:00-12:00 or 9:00-1:00; and three days a week or five-days a week from 9:00-1:00 or 9:00-3:00. A daily snack is provided. Diapers are permitted in the Early Learners class. An optional 8:00 drop off is available for an additional fee. Students staying until 1:00 or 3:00 bring lunch and eat at The Metuchen Preschool. The Early Learners class is for students 2 1/2 (or close to it) to by October 1, 2025.
Pre-K3 - The Metuchen Preschool’s three year old class continues to focus on a child’s social and emotional confidence. Early academics such as letter recognition and number awareness are embedded in the classroom environment. Letter formation, patterning, imaginative play, independence skills, social development and fine motor skills activities are the foundations of the program. The Preschool Three class includes daily circle time and small group instruction. Both indoor and outdoor play (weather permitting) is part of the daily schedule. Children should be potty-trained, but we will accommodate students that are nearly there.
Classes for Pre-K3 students are offered three, four, or five-day a week from 9:00-1:00 or 9:00-3:00. A daily snack is provided. Students bring lunch. An optional 8:00 drop-off is available for an additional fee along with an optional 5:00 pick-up. Students must be three years old by October 1, 2025 to start int the Pre-K3 class. Additional story time, music, and gym time will be included for students staying until 3:00. Pre-K3 students who are under four years old staying until 3:00 or beyond have a NJ State mandated 30 minute rest time. Students have the option of participating in Pizza Friday lunch including a vegetable, fruit, cookie and drink for a small additional fee.
Pre-K4 - The focus of The Metuchen Preschool’s four year old class is getting students prepared for kindergarten by focusing on traditional academics in a nurturing, child centered, play based classroom. The students are provided with hands-on learning activities and use analytical skills like comparing/contrasting, making predictions, graphing, and sequencing in a developmentally appropriate manner. The curriculum integrates literacy, mathematics, science, art and social studies. Hands-on activities, such as block building, drawing, painting, and writing promote deeper discovery, fine- and gross-motor skills, and nurtures children’s natural curiosity. As children show more independence, their responsibilities expand to include classroom jobs which nurture their perception of themselves as competent, capable members of a classroom community. The Letter People curriculum is part of the Pre-K4 program. Both indoor and outdoor play (weather permitting) is part of the daily schedule.
Classes for Pre-K4 students are offered three, four or five days a week from 9:00-1:00 or 9:00-3:00. An optional 8:00 drop-off is available for an additional fee along with an optional 5:00 pick-up. A daily snack is provided. Students bring lunch. Students have the option of participating in Pizza Friday lunch including a vegetable, fruit, cookie and drink for a small additional fee.
Students must be four years old by October 1, 2025 to start. Students in the Pre-K4 class move on to kindergarten the following September.
Please see the Photo Gallery for pictures from our school day!
Afternoon Enrichment for Pre-K4 students - Classes run from 1:00-3:00 and are included for the Pre-K4 students staying until 3:00. Students can stay for the Afternoon Enrichment classes any or all days in a week. Each class will have additional time on the playground and/or in the gym. The Afternoon Enrichment classes are:
Adventures in Literacy - Using fun and creative tools such as puppets, felt board props, games and projects to explore different avenues of literacy from rhyming and letter sounds to dialogue and story comprehension.
Art - A fun class that will start with the color wheel and cover painting, sculpture, print making and other media. Brush strokes, lines, organic and inorganic shapes will be covered. The children also will be exposed to different styles of art through the works of Dali, Kandinsky, Monet, Laurel Burch, Keith Haring, and others.
Music & Movement - A class that will have students thinking and moving. Students will play educational games, fun games, and games that focus on physical development. Music and Cosmic Yoga are part of the program. Class will be held in the classroom and in the gym.
Spanish- A fun and interactive class where the children will learn beginning vocabulary (colors, numbers, etc.) in Spanish. The students in the class will also learn about the cultures of Spanish speaking countries. Art projects, playing games, and singing songs are part of the program.
STEM - Children will have the opportunity to explore interesting topics through age appropriate hands-on activities and experiments to help them build essential problem solving, logic and planning skills. The students will also be taught the science/technology/engineering/math behind each activity. Examples include making lava lamps, using catapults, sink or swim experiments, beginning coding, building bridges and more!
After 3:00 aftercare program: An option to stay from 3:00 - 5:00 is available for the Pre-K3, Pre-K4 and Kindergarten Wrap students. Additional play time, gym time and a snack are included. Please inquire when registering.