Seton Pre-School

The Elizabeth Seton Pre-School, established in August 1980 as an extension of Seton Day Care, a Center for infants and toddlers, is an all day pre-school program for 35 children ages 3 to 6 years. The Pre-School, like the infant center, is sponsored by the New York Foundling as a means of responding to the needs of working parents as a family-support service. Its program style and philosophy are based on Montessori strategies - a strong yet flexible framework in which children learn independently from experimentation and exploration, from their peers by working together, and from adults, with encouragement and guidance in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.

The Pre-School’s primary commitment is to provide each child with a supportive and nourishing all-day learning environment. In home-base rooms and additional activity rooms that are carefully ordered with a wide variety of materials, children are encouraged to make their own choices and discoveries and to develop self-confidence and skill in independent learning.The learning and play materials used in the program are ungraded and include an extensive subject area so there is something for each child. Specific learning materials help the children to develop the foundations for success in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Equally important in the curriculum is the growth of the child’s emotional and social life both as individuals and as members of the group. Within the Pre-School program, children are provided with every opportunity to develop to their fullest potential. The staff consists of certified and experienced teachers and qualified assistant teachers and teacher aides. The Pre-School is licensed by the Day Care Division of the NYC Department of Health and is an affiliate of the American Montessori Society. Children are provided with a nourishing hot lunch. Parents bring in the planned (morning / afternoon) snacks of the day for the group once approximately every five weeks or so. Parent involvement is one of partnership and cooperation. Daily “ad hoc” contacts between staff and parents are informal and strong. The more formal aspects of parent involvement are scheduled parent-teacher conferences and several parent-education meetings during the year.

Application may be made at any time during the year. Please contact Elizabeth Seton Pre-School directly for more detailed information regarding the application process.