Our Teaching Philosophy

Our Preschool Environment:

The first years of a child’s life are the most influential. During these years a child develops the social, emotional, and cognitive skills needed to succeed. Island Prep provides an enriching environment with a teaching philosophy that encourages students to explore, create, interact, and discover in a positive setting. The classrooms are designed to meet each developing stage in a child’s life. The teachers at Island Prep also understand how important it is to guide students into purposeful play. Each day, teachers plan activities that teach our students the importance of exploring and discovering their own likes and dislikes. Island Prep provides our students a place to learn, play, and explore the world around them.

Island Prep is different. You will not find brightly colored walls or children sitting around a television or ipad. Instead, you will find a melodious oasis filled with children sorting blocks by color and shape, watering the classroom plants or taking part in a sign language lesson. Island Prep provides a serene environment that does not distract the students but enhances his/her ability to discover and blossom academically, socially, and emotionally. Each item in the class has been intentionally placed to enhance a child’s learning. Island Prep is also an environmentally conscious learning center. The students learn the importance of recycling, reusing, and conserving the Earth’s precious resources.
We want to welcome your family to the Island Prep family! Thank you for sharing our philosophy on childcare and education! The goal of our program provides a balance between preparing for the future and living fully in the present. Children learn through multi-sensory/child-centered/organized experiences, and discovery.

Our goals for each child:

• Develop positive self-esteem

• Foster emotional well-being

• Ease adjustments to routines and transitions

• Foster independence and self-direction

WHAT WE WORK TOWARDS EVERYDAY

At Island Prep we strive to create a positive environment that fosters learning through hands-on experiences, active play and enrichment.  We believe that in order for students to be successful and happy in school they must be treated as individuals who learn differently based upon developmental readiness, learning styles, and interests.  We want every student to feel safe, cared about, and excited when they come to school each day!

This is our home, this is our family. Island Prep is an extension of the families that are in our community, sharing the same values that we each have for our children including: community, kindness, acceptance, nurturing. We teach the children not only reading, writing and all the core educational subjects but we also instill a readiness to help others which often fosters a sense of community.

This school is a coming together of like minded neighbors and creating something wonderful for our children that will allow them to grow and become contributing members of our community.

Our mission moving forward is to become a more integral part of the community and become a staple of St Augustine. A permanent fixture of education in the town we love.