MISSION

For over 125 years, Third Street Music School Settlement has been a place that fosters growth, creativity, and individual expression. Here at Third Street Preschool, we draw upon that same tradition of community commitment to deepen young children’s curiosity about their world and equip them with the tools to explore it. Upon a foundation of music, movement, and visual arts, our students grow as creative thinkers and smart problem-solvers, as risk-takers with dynamic interests, as imaginative playmates, and as kind classmates. 

PHILOSOPHY

For over 125 years, Third Street Music School has been a place that fosters growth, creativity, and individual expression. Here at Third Street Preschool, we draw upon that same tradition of community commitment to deepen young children’s curiosity about their world and equip them with the tools to explore it. Upon a foundation of music, movement, and visual arts, our students grow as creative thinkers and smart problem-solvers, as risk-takers with dynamic interests, as imaginative playmates, and as kind classmates.

Inspired by the proven importance of artistic experiences in early childhood and the Reggio Emilia philosophy, we believe our children are...

• Capable problem-solvers who thrive in an interactive learning environment. We value the voices of children in the learning process.
• Creative communicators who express and develop their thinking in a variety of ways, including through music, nature, and other artistic media. We value children’s many languages.
• Listening beings who notice and ask questions as a part of the ongoing process of learning.
• Social beings who are a part of a community of learners that values opportunities for meaningful collaboration, celebrating both similarities and differences.

During their day, preschoolers engage in a range of rich, arts-related experiences, including music classes, instrument exploration, and movement. Children are encouraged to ask questions and explore their environments, building skills as they grow from toddlers to kindergarteners.

Music serves as the formative backbone of our program and our preschoolers’ path toward life- long, exploratory learning. Whether experimenting with patterning or caring for our Learning Garden, students engage in mathematical thinking and scientific discovery. Through storytelling, author visits, and role play, students are immersed in literature, expanding their worldview and building early literacy skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

We believe that children learn best by taking an active role in learning. As they sing, move, build, cook, plant, paint, and write, our preschoolers learn about themselves. And with their teacher’s guidance, they enjoy an emerging sense of competence, independence, and respect for themselves and others.

At Third Street, our teachers curate play experiences that support the holistic development of each child, welcoming families as valued partners and collaborators. A joyful preschool experience is the best foundation for ongoing school readiness. With our teachers’ expertise and guidance, young children explore their environment while gaining skills needed for kindergarten and beyond.

Preschoolers thrive in environments that are well-crafted to their interests and developmental stages, both in and out of the classroom.

Preschool classes frequently visit our artistic spaces. We use our outdoor areas and the East Village as extensions of the classrooms. And wherever we go, we set the stage for explorations and play.

Third Street’s roots hold firm in equity and belonging. It is with this understanding that teachers shape curriculum, partner with parents, and design meaningful classroom experiences. As a result, children benefit from engagement with the world around them, thriving in an atmosphere of trust, warmth, and respect for all.