Caldwell-West Caldwell Integrated Pre-Kindergarten Program

The CWC School District offers an integrated preschool experience for students between the ages of three and five years old. Designed to provide a nurturing and safe learning experience, special needs and typically developing children are placed together in an integrated learning environment that utilizes a developmental approach. Children are immersed in a variety of planned activities that promote readiness skills, language and social-emotional growth. Research has shown that all students benefit from being in this type of program.

The daily schedule includes circle time, small and large group activities, snack, story time and teacher-facilitated play time. Learning activities are based on the New Jersey Department of Education’s Preschool and Teaching Learning Expectations and are responsive to the individual needs and abilities of each child. The class size of fifteen students will include five special needs and up to ten typically developing children who apply to the program. Special needs preschoolers are those identified by the Preschool Child Study Team and found eligible for special education and related services under the New Jersey Administrative Code.


Our pre-kindergarten state-approved curriculum addresses a variety of fine motor, large motor, cognitive, social/emotional, and language skills. Using these developmental areas as a guide, lessons are created to include: math, science, literacy/language, writing, sensory, social studies, technology and visual arts. We integrate these developmental areas and lessons into our classroom using a weekly thematic approach. Some examples include:

• All About Me
• Nocturnal Animals
• Fire Prevention
• Farm
• Dental Health
• Senses
• Insects
• Seasons
• Shapes
• Plants
• Holidays Around the World