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Stepping Stones Preschool was founded in Phoenix Arizona 1977. We became a Parent Participation Preschool in 1985. You, as parents have the opportunity to enter the exciting world of a preschooler! The experience of seeing the world through the eyes of children as they discover is very rewarding. Being actively involved by aiding in our classrooms, nursery, or kitchen, you become a part of a young child's first experience outside the home. Working alongside the Stepping Stones staff, you become a partner in the life long learning process. You could be a member of the governing board, which is composed of parents, actively involved in the daily operation of the school. Active learning is the basis for our educational approach. This learning is initiated by the child rather than “handed down” or “transmitted” by the teacher. We believe children learn best when they are excited and interested in what they are learning.
In the classroom we combine developmentally appropriate teaching with components of the High Scope Philosophy aligned with Arizona State preschool standards. A daily plan-do-review process is at the core of the day, giving children a chance to plan, follow their curiosity and learn by discovery. Adults also work with children in small groups, for more focused teaching. Large group time for stories, songs and movement are also a part of each day, as are snack and outside time.
School Tours
We encourage you to visit the school prior to registration. You are welcome any time school is in session, but because we follow the Deer Valley School District schedule, we recommend you check with the directors in the office in case there is a special occasion, spring break, or teacher inservice no school day.
Pre-school Hours
Classes are in sessions Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. or Monday, Wednesday, Friday, from 12:30-3:00 p.m. For a complete list of classes, days and ages of students, please check our current brochure. We do not have classes on holidays and our school schedule is similar to the Deer Valley School District schedule. Stepping Stones Preschool admits children of any race, color, gender, religious belief, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, political beliefs, family values and other activities of the school. |
The Stepping Stones Preschool program is based on the belief that young children are capable of making decisions and solving problems about activities that are interesting to them personally. We encourage them to become active-learners to discover, question, and make decisions. 
We believe by planting a garden together, children will learn about weather, seeds, textures, nature, and growth. By playing alphabet games and exploring letter sounds, children will develop pre-reading skills. By counting and sorting with parents and teachers each day, children will learn numbers and math skills. 
Our goal is for the child to be aware of the world he/she lives in and the fact that he/she is a unique and unrepeatable human being. We work at helping each child feel good about himself/herself and his/her abilities while providing a wide range of developmentally appropriate activities that broaden his/her horizons now and help him/her become a life long learner. 
We strive to achieve a classroom community. By working and playing with other children, parent helpers, and teachers, the children not only develop their own personal socialization skills, but also develop a sense of community. We believe in learning necessary academic skills through play.