FOCUS ON YOUTH
February 2021
PRESCHOOL OF THE ARTS
Federation Star
37
www.chabadnaples.com / 239.262.4474
Fostering imagination By Ettie Zaklos, Preschool of the Arts Founder & Director
W
hen choosing the name for our preschool 10 years ago, I knew I wanted to put our leading philosophy right there in the title. As “Preschool of the Arts,” arts are not just an element of our program, but an intrinsic part of our identity. Every day, our teachers use the arts – visual, musical, performing, culinary and more – to engage our children in open-ended experiences that inspire their creativity and ignite their sense of wonder about the world. By inviting children to create, explore possibilities and take chances, we provide them with endless opportunities to learn. Earlier this school year, we set out on an initiative to enhance our indoor Studio of the Arts and transform our outdoor Artist Corner into a new outdoor studio. The initiative, titled “Art With Heart,” sought to raise $35,000 to purchase nature-inspired furniture and materials that would create a magical environment for creativity and exploration. So many in our community stepped up to contribute by purchasing a “Circle” to paint for our Ripples of Kindness Art Installation and by dedicating big ticket items for our new studios. We are grateful and humbled by the outpouring of love from every donor and friend. We are so excited to begin the process of creating beautiful and fully-equipped art studios that will offer our precious children a wide variety of natural materials and high-end art tools. With tons of natural light, our children will be encouraged
to use our professional art materials to get creative in this space, curated to spark curiosity and exploration. But our philosophy does not just stop at the arts. We want to prepare our children for every opportunity ahead with exposure to modern mediums of education. In the month of January, our expert in-house curriculum developer designed an exciting curriculum titled “Full STEAM Ahead,” with a month dedicated to exploration, creation, invention and learning. What is STEAM? The acronym STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math. Throughout
the year, STEAM is naturally integrated into our classrooms through immersive learning experiences. Our teachers introduce inspiring materials and objects to stimulate children’s curiosity and prompt them to think and ask questions. The scientific method comes alive in our classrooms, beginning the moment the child makes an observation, which is documented by the teacher and the child. Children represent their thoughts and findings through drawing, writing, creating 3D models, dancing, singing and creating graphs. All month long, children were given ample opportunities to invent, explore,
create and build. From engineering with Q-tips to constructing cardboard creations, children let their imaginations run wild, learning about teamwork and problem-solving along the way. Of course, arts were incorporated at every level with children creatively using “loose parts” (recycled and found materials), painting, cutting and decorating incredible creations that blew us away. Our children are naturally curious, and we were thrilled to observe how our inquiry-based approach inspired our children into critical thinkers and selfmotivated learners.
Join our community! Our innovative programs and incredible staff are an open Naples secret, and our award-winning preschool has grown exponentially every year. We have already reached capacity enrollment in many of our classes for the 2021-2022 school year. Families applying to classes that are full will be placed on our waitlist. Get a taste of what makes Preschool of the Arts so popular at our unique Summer of the Arts experience! Our widely acclaimed program for children ages 18 months-8 years integrates music, water play, art, culinary arts, sports, yoga and science through exciting, stimulating, hands-on activities. For more information or to register, please call 239-263-2620 or visit our website at www.NaplesPreschoolOf theArts.com.
Our Preschool of the Arts children love to get creative. From outdoor art explorations to Pajama Day, they’re always having fun!
