The Caldwell-West Caldwell School District is now accepting applications for its Integrated Preschool Program for the 2024 - 2025 school year.  The program will be located at Harrison School, 104 Gray Street, West Caldwell, NJ 07006. 

*Students must be at least 3 years old and not turning 5 before October 1, 2024.

*Students must be fully toilet trained upon entry to the program.

*Caldwell and West Caldwell residents receive first preference for acceptance into the program, then the program will be open to residents of other towns.

Philosophy: The  Caldwell-West Caldwell School District offers an Integrated Preschool program, designed to provide a nurturing and safe learning experience for young learners ages 3-5. In the Caldwell-West Caldwell School District, we hold ourselves to high ethical standards of character and integrity, model equity and inclusion, and treat ourselves and others with empathy, care, and respect. We believe all children can learn and we work to provide them with the skills that they need to meet their full potential. In the Integrated Preschool Program, students with and without special needs are placed together in an inclusive learning environment, where the unique needs of students are addressed and the Creative Curriculum is implemented.  

Curriculum:  The Creative Curriculum includes developmentally appropriate goals and objectives for preschoolers, within four main categories: Social/Emotional, Physical, Cognitive, and Language. Objectives for development and learning are linked to Literacy, Math, Science and Technology, and the Arts. Units of Study include, but are not limited to: trees, clothing, building, balls, pets, bread, exercise, signs, recycling, simple machines, tubes and tunnels, music, light, and sound.

Description: Instruction is consistent with the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning standards. The maximum class size is 20; 8 of whom may be students Eligible for Special Education and Related Services under the New Jersey Administrative Code. The program is held five days a week, at Harrison School. The morning class meets from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The afternoon class meets from 12:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. The full day program runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. and includes a 45 minute lunch/recess period. 

Daily Schedule: The daily schedule includes a morning meeting, large and small group activities, read aloud or story time, choice time, snack, gross motor activities, rest/quiet time, and play-based learning. 

Breakfast and Lunch: Morning program students may purchase breakfast and Full Day students may purchase breakfast and lunch provided by Maschio's Food Service. Snacks must be sent from home.  Lunch and snacks must be peanut and nut free.

Communication: The Home-School connection is valued and on-going communication is encouraged and supported.  Parents/Guardians are encouraged to attend Back to School Night in September, as well as a formal meeting with their child’s teacher during scheduled conferences in December. A progress report is sent home, four times per year, as per the district’s schedule: November, February, April, and June.

Celebrations: Harrison School’s seasonal celebrations include: a Fall Pumpkin Patch, a Winter Wonderland, a Spring Festival, and an End of Year Celebration. Parents/Guardians have the opportunity to volunteer to be a Class Captain. Two to three adults are assigned to support the class for each of the above events. All Class Captains receive communication via email from their child’s teacher. In turn, Class Captains serve as liaisons to any of the parents who have volunteered to support the children as they engage in fun class activities during these celebrations. 

Tuition: 

Full Day Rate: $850/monthly

Half Day Rate: $425/monthly

Tuition is collected on a monthly basis, over a ten-month period, September - May. Payment for one month’s tuition is due at time of registration (once notified of acceptance). This payment will be applied to the June 2025 tuition. 

Students who are Eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch will qualify for reduced tuition.

Application Process: To apply, the student must be at least 3 years old and not turning 5 before October 1, 2024. In addition, the student must be fully toilet trained upon entry to the program.

Please complete all of the required application forms and submit them to our office at 104 Gray Street, West Caldwell with a copy of your child’s birth certificate by Friday, March 28, 2024 at 3:00pm.

If the number of applications exceeds the available space, student acceptance will be determined by lottery. The lottery drawing is projected to take place on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Notification of acceptance will occur by Friday, April 12, 2024 and deposit of one month's tuition will be due within 7 calendar days.

All forms can be found at the bottom of this page.