WHAT WE DO
Stages Academy is a performing and fine arts preschool where the arts and academics are taught on an even playing field.
Every day, our students have opportunities to learn through music, dance, drama, and art, right alongside reading, writing, math, science, technology, and other academic experiences. We believe children don't have to choose between learning and creativity. In fact, we think the two work best together.
Our goal isn't simply to prepare children for kindergarten. We want them to become confident, curious learners who aren't afraid to ask questions, try something new, solve a problem, or approach a challenge in a different way.
And, of course, we want them to have fun while they're doing it.
A Different Kind of Preschool
There are a lot of preschool options out there, and we know that choosing one over another can be difficult. So many programs are basically the same.
For us, what makes Stages different is the way all of these pieces come together.
A child might spend part of the morning working on early literacy skills, then head to dance, explore a new concept through art, participate in music, and use drama to bring a story to life. They're learning throughout the day, but they're not sitting at a table doing worksheets all day.
We believe children learn best when they're actively involved in what they're doing.
That's why the arts aren't an occasional special activity at Stages. They're part of the everyday school experience.
We Keep Our Classes Small
We intentionally keep our classes small because we believe children learn better when their teachers have the time to really know them as individuals.
Our small classes allow teachers to give children individual attention, notice when a child needs a little extra help, encourage a child who is ready for a new challenge, and really get to know each child's personality and interests.
It's also important to us that children have plenty of opportunities to participate. We don't want the same few children answering every question, volunteering for every activity, or getting all the attention.
We want every child to have a chance to be heard, to try, and to succeed.
The Blog
How Many Days Per Week Should Your Child Be in Preschool?
So you’ve decided that it’s time that your child should be in preschool. But how do you decide how many days per week is right for them? While there are certainly financial considerations and family considerations when you’re making the decision, there are some child-based considerations as well.
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5 Top Tips for Diffusing Drop Off Drama
I’m not a psychologist, but after running a preschool and having three kids of my own, I think I’m qualified to give a little advice. It’s more the norm than the exception that first time students (and even some non-first timers) have a tough time leaving Mom and Dad the first few days. It’s normal.
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The Top 3 Signs That Your Child is Ready for Preschool
Is your child ready for Preschool? Many parents question whether their child is ready for an academic program (rather than a daycare/play type program) before they enroll them. Everyone thinks that their child is the smartest and most talented child in the world, but does that make them ready for preschool?
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How We Approach Learning
Our preschool curriculum incorporates principles of the Reggio Emilia approach, particularly the idea that children are active participants in their own learning.
Rather than simply giving children information and expecting them to remember it, we encourage them to investigate, ask questions, make connections, and figure things out.
It's an approach that dovetails seamlessly with the arts.
A child can explore a story through drama, experiment with color and materials through art, discover patterns through music, or work on coordination and spatial awareness through dance. They're learning important skills, but they're also learning how to think.
We also recognize that a large part of the preschool experience isn't just about academics.
Children are developing socially and emotionally at the same time. At Stages, they are learning how to communicate, cooperate, negotiate, take turns, solve problems, work with others, and handle challenges. We strongly believe in our Social/Emotional curriculum in helping preschoolers navigate difficult emotions, relationships, and working together.
Those are skills that matter long after preschool is over.
What You See When You Walk Through Stages
One of my favorite things about Stages is that there isn't really a typical classroom scene.
You might see children dancing in one room, creating an art project in another, working with a teacher on early reading skills, or gathering for music. You might hear a dramatic retelling of a story happening down the hall while another group is experimenting with something from this week's science unit.
There is a lot going on.
But what we love most is seeing children who are genuinely engaged in what they're doing—children who are excited to show their teachers what they've made, eager to participate, proud when they figure something out, and increasingly confident about trying something new.
That's what we're trying to create at Stages Academy.
A place where children can learn, create, move, explore, and grow, and where they can begin to discover what they're capable of.
A Preschool Built Around the Whole Child
Of course, preparing children academically for kindergarten is important. But we don't believe that academic skills are the only measure of whether a child is ready for what's next.
We want our students to leave Stages knowing how to think, how to solve problems, how to express themselves, how to work with others, and how to keep trying when something doesn't come easily.
And we want them to leave with something else, too: a genuine love of learning.
That's what we mean when we say that we put arts and academics on an even playing field. We aren't adding a few art and dance classes to a traditional preschool program. The arts are part of how we teach, how children experience their day, and how we help them grow.