4 minute read
Preparing for an exceptional school year
Ettie Zaklos, Founder & Director
As we step into our 14th year at Preschool of the Arts, it feels like a new beginning. Our campus is currently under construction as we watch our “Big Build” construction project – a 17,000 square foot expansion of our facilities – go up brick by brick, day by day. We have made so much progress in such a short amount of time and are on track to complete construction within this academic year! While every new school year brings the promise of endless possibilities, this year, our potential is shining brighter than ever. This significant milestone is made possible through the generosity of Jay and Patty Baker, along with all our dedicated friends and supporters. We are immensely grateful and invite more of our community members to get involved as we continue to build a brighter future for our children.
We believe so strongly in our vision for excellence in early childhood education and are working tirelessly to ensure that as many children as possible can benefit from a high-quality preschool experience during their most formative early years. We cannot wait to open our doors to many more families next year and in the years ahead.
While the new building construction was underway, we spent time over our very short summer break preparing our campus and our team for an exceptional year ahead. Our entire facility has undergone thorough deep cleaning and received a fresh coat of paint, giving our beloved school a rejuvenated and welcoming atmosphere.
In preparation for the academic year, our amazing team also underwent a robust week of professional development and training. We were privileged to welcome Professor Rick Ellis of Bank Street College of Education to lead a series of lectures and training. Ellis is an esteemed educator with over 40 years of experience in early childhood education and has worked closely with our staff for many years to develop our educational philosophy and Reggio-based methodologies. His hands-on training sessions guided our teachers through creative and exploratory approaches, conflict resolution strategies and innovative methods for teaching literacy and math, using real-time examples.
Our very own expert educator, Assistant Director Jennifer Cashman, M.S.Ed, also conducted extensive training on our "Peace Table" and "Safe Place" initiatives, which are crucial elements in promoting social-emotional development and creating nurturing classroom environments.
We take immense pride in our leadership role in preschool education at POTA and celebrate the unique stages of childhood. We are excited to roll out new enhancements to our learning centers specifically designed for toddlers, ensuring that every child receives personalized, age-appropriate education.
We have also ensured that our dedicated teachers undergo CPR and first aid training, along with reviews of all our security protocols, to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students. We take every measure to provide a safe and secure environment where children can explore, learn and thrive.
Our innovative programs and incredible staff are an open Naples secret, and our award-winning preschool is growing exponentially every year. We are proud to welcome many new and returning students this year, and most of our classes have reached full capacity with an eager wait list.
In a rarity for Preschool of the Arts, we currently have a few openings in our Pre-K classrooms for this school year. A few last-minute changes in enrollment have allowed for a few limited openings in these classrooms!
Our classes are renowned for their play-based approach to academic learning which gives children a warm and nurturing environment to learn the foundational skills needed to prepare for kindergarten. If you would like to enroll your child in POTA or know someone who is interested in joining our program. Please call 239-263-2620 or email NaplesPreschooloftheArts@gmail. com. Please note that space is extremely limited and likely to fill up quickly, so we encourage you to act fast.
It is an honor to provide a top-notch preschool experience for our local Naples children. We look forward to the school year ahead and sharing our highlights along the way. For more information or to schedule a tour, please visit our website at NaplesPreschooloftheArts.com or call 239-263-2620. We are excited to make this year our best one yet!
Summer of the Arts
