ABOUT US
We are a sliding-scale preschool and kindergarten committed to serving diverse families.
OUR CURRICULUM
Play Based
At Beatie Street, we value child-led play and having fun. Childhood is a short-term, joy-filled time, and we want to provide an environment that will let children explore, create, interact, and grow on their own terms for the majority of their day. As children develop in the program during Year 2 and 3, hands-on academic programs are added as appropriate.
Montessori Influenced
Beatie is a Montessori-influenced program, and the core components of Montessori are embedded throughout the school day. Independent learning activities, daily living routines, and supporting children to be independent is paramount to our program. The philosophy of Montessori-based instruction is found throughout the school.
Social Justice Focused
Our school and parent community have a commitment and focus on social justice and progressive social values. We teach preschool-friendly themes related to allyship, racial equity and the celebration of different cultures and languages, gender & family diversity, conservation and care for the planet and more.
Enrollment Process
During a typical year, Beatie Street has 15 students, broken evenly into the 3 age groups (3 years, 4 years, 5 years old) who are taught together in a mixed-age class. The older and younger students gain many skills by being together, including a sense of pride from older students as they provide leadership for younger kids.
With this, we typically have 5 available spots per year, starting at a flexible date over the summer. Families sign a one-year contract. If the contract is broken, families are required to pay tuition until the child’s spot is filled. Beatie Street is a 3-year program, and the hope and expectation is families will ideally stay within their cohort and as part of our tight-knit family community for the 3 years when possible. We understand extenuating circumstances may occur.
The last year is called the “pencil box” year and stands-in for a traditional TK or kindergarten year. Students in their pencil box year have their very own painted pencil box which signals their special entry into their position of leadership during the last year at Beatie Street. Many students transition from pencil box year straight to a 1st grade class. In alignment with the public school system, students with birthdays falling between September 2nd-December 2nd do their “pencil box” year as a “TK/Transitional Kindergarten” year and transition to kindergarten after Beatie.
Interested students must turn 3 prior to December 2nd of the calendar year they begin at Beatie. The admissions window opens Nov 1 of the prior calendar year, and the school will notify families regarding acceptance by March, if not sooner. Being potty trained is expected and preferred by the child’s third birthday.