Derry Preschool Mission
When your children are ready to explore the world outside of their homes, Derry Preschool offers many benefits.
Our primary goal is to provide an environment which nurtures every child’s self-esteem. Feeling good about themselves and their accomplishments is most important!
We also offer an atmosphere which promotes positive social interaction with other children as well as adults.
Our curriculum is designed to introduce children to the diversified world around them socially, cognitively, physically and most importantly–creatively.
The Derry Preschool Advantage
☆ Non-profit, nonsectarian school
☆ Licensed by the State Board of Education
☆ Certified teachers
☆ Low teacher-student ratios
☆ Flexibility for parents with extended-day options
☆ Extended-day and Enrichment programs
☆ Outdoor playground
☆ Regular music program
☆ Summer Camp Program
☆ Four-day 5 year old program
☆ A unique Kindergarten Readiness program to prepare students for all day kindergarten.
☆ Twice-yearly parent-teacher conferences
☆ Regular field trips
For 40 years, Derry Preschool has been dedicated
to nurturing the development of the whole child.
Our teachers mix learning and fun, creativity and structure.
We foster individual interests and understanding.
We value cultural and linguistic diversity and we teach acceptance.
We recognize that children need both social and cognitive learning experiences to become successful.
Derry Preschool relies on strong parent participation,
in the classroom and on the school’s board.
Derry Preschool has strong ties to the community.
The school coordinates with local school districts and holds regular events with police and fire departments and other community organizations.
Derry Preschool has done joint research with Penn State
to learn more about promoting English language acquisition for internationally born students.
Family-Teacher Communication
Each class provides regular teacher-family communication through Bloomz. Teachers send out weekly updates and pictures to keep families connected to the classroom and to help provide communication topics with your child about their school day. Bloomz provides a better means of connecting families to the classroom. We want to work as a team to provide the best learning environment for your child!
Derry Preschool holds two conference days for our 3, 4 and 5 year old classrooms. These conference days allow for the parents to meet one on one with the teacher to discuss the great things each child is doing in the classroom. One conference is held in the fall to discuss how each child is adjusting to the classroom with a focus on social and emotional progress. The second conference is held in the spring. Each child completes a preschool portfolio. During the conference, the teacher will explain the portfolio as well as review the progress that each child has made throughout the school year academically, socially and emotionally.
Parent Involvement in the classroom
Each of our classes incorporates ways in which parents can have a chance to be involved in some of our daily class activities. Some of these possibilities for parents are participating in parent reader program, joining with their child in class field trips, helping with classroom parties and volunteering to be the class room parent.