Ashbrook Independent School’s Beginning school programs provide a quality start for your child’s education. With outstanding teachers, facilities, activities and transparency regarding the student experience, there is no comparable child-care certified program in Corvallis, Albany, or the local area.
Beginning School: Ages 3 and 4
Preschool (Age 3 by Sept. 1st)
This is the first school experience for many of our youngest students. Our goal is to provide a “softer start” to instill a foundational love of learning by providing engaging exploratory activities that stimulate curiosity and wonder while learning how to work and learn along with others. Thoughtful attention is given to the social and emotional growth of our littlest students ages 3-4 years old.
Our curriculum blends educational activities with imaginative play, fostering a joyful approach to learning that keeps children engaged and excited. Our caring and experienced preschool teachers are dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for your child’s growth. From art to music, storytelling to role-playing, we encourage children to express themselves and develop their unique talents. Our program emphasizes collaboration, empathy, and communication, helping children build strong relationships and a positive sense of self. Although we are a certified childcare center, we are not a daycare; our program follows a flexible daily schedule which includes an integrated academic focus. We lay the foundation for academic success through age-appropriate activities that promote language, early math, and cognitive skills. We value parent partnerships, keeping you informed about your child’s progress and involving you in their educational journey.
Pre-Kindergarten (Age 4 by Sept 1st)
These students are preparing for the more academic role in kindergarten. Socially and emotionally these students are ready and excited to participate in more “real school” activities. Activities including small motor development (writing/cutting/ fine finger manipulatives), pre-reading, as well as large motor development best prepare our students to step confidently into kindergarten.
With a focus on cognitive development, social skills, and early literacy, we pave the way for a smooth transition to kindergarten and a lifelong love for learning. Our program lays the groundwork for academic success, focusing on essential skills such as pre-reading, early math, and critical thinking. We believe in learning through play, creating an engaging and joyful environment that encourages exploration and active participation. We nurture social skills, helping children build friendships, communicate effectively, and navigate group settings with confidence. Our caring and experienced teachers provide personalized attention and guidance, ensuring each child reaches their full potential. From interactive projects to creative expression, our program offers a variety of experiences that promote creativity and problem-solving. We value the partnership between school and home, keeping parents informed and engaged in their child’s progress through weekly newsletters, regular conferences, and frequent check-ins.
Click each section to read more curriculum information about each grade level.
Students in Preschool and Pre-K experience literacy throughout the school day through story time, circle time discussions, conversations, songs, rhyming games, print awareness activities, letter recognition, theme-based units, word walls, name writing, story sequencing, dramatization and role-playing, fine-motor development, and family reading nights. We will be tracing, coloring, cutting, gluing, painting, drawing, tweezing, and using lots of playdough to develop all of our fine motor muscles.
Foundational mathematical concepts are covered daily through counting activities, number recognition practice, one to one correspondence practice, learning patterns, simple addition and subtraction, shape recognition and construction, spatial awareness vocabulary, sorting and classifying objects, predicting outcomes, problem solving and critical thinking. We’re all about finding math in the real world and you will likely find us counting the bugs we find on the playground.
Science education in Preschool and Pre-K is integrated throughout all parts of the day as students explore and create. Students are encouraged to ask questions, make observations, express curiosity, participate in hands-on learning and simple experiments, and share discoveries. We will learn about animals, plants, space, body parts, seasons, weather, food, life cycles, dinosaurs, the ocean, holidays, colors, helpers and so much more! We also spend a significant part of our day outdoors. During this time we get to explore, play, and develop our big muscles and we enjoy both a covered playground as well as a large uncovered play area every day.
In our Preschool and Pre-K curriculum, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is seamlessly integrated through daily routines, structured activities, and teachable moments, fostering a holistic approach to early childhood development. Morning circle times provide opportunities for children to express their feelings, set daily goals, and build a sense of community. Storytime and play-based learning activities are designed to teach empathy, cooperation, and conflict resolution, while art and music allow children to explore and express their emotions creatively. Additionally, mindfulness exercises and reflection times help children develop self-awareness and self-regulation skills. Social and emotional learning is the core of everything we do in our Beginning School.
Beginning School Schedule
| 7:50 a.m. | Classroom open for arrival |
| 8:15 a.m. | Self-Directed Choice, Learn Through Play |
| 9:00 a.m. | Morning Meeting |
| 9:20 a.m. | Teacher-guided Intentional Learning |
| 10:00 a.m. | Snack (not provided) |
| 10:30 a.m. | Outdoor Play |
| 11:30 a.m. | Exploring Interests and Expanding Curiosities |
| 12:00 noon | Lunch (or Dismissal for 1/2 day students*) |
| 12:30 p.m. | Outdoor Play |
| 1:00 p.m. | Rest Time |
| 2:00 p.m. | Whole Group Story and Themed Activities |
| 2:45 p.m. | Pack-up and Dismissal |
Our After School Program (2:45—5:30 p.m.) provides planned activities and supervised play for students and allows for a flexible pick-up time for parents.
*Pre-K students starting the year as half-day will become full-day students half way through the year
Ashbrook Beginning School is licensed as a certified childcare center through the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care.
Ashbrook is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research.
