Preschool
At La Scuola International School, Silicon Valley, children’s natural curiosity and joy forms the heart of a program uniquely constructed to build a lifelong love of learning.
Nothing without Joy
Our one-of-a-kind approach to early childhood education blends Italian immersion to expand perspectives and awareness, the Reggio Emilia Approach to encourage autonomy and collaboration, and the International Baccalaureate Early Years and Primary Years Programs to build critical-thinking skills.
All of this is imbued with the warmth and joy that allows young learners to feel at home in their school environment, and open to endless discovery.
These elements, combined in this way nowhere else, build something exceptionally beautiful and uniquely La Scuola. It’s the beginning of an education that knows no bounds.
Why Italian?
Italian is not only a beautiful introduction to Romance languages, but also an entry point into the study of European art, music, history, and science. It benefits English-speaking students with an understanding of Latin roots.
Early exposure to other languages — such as Italian — enables more neural connections to form in children’s brains. Multilingual students have better control over their attention, decision making, and planning.
Your children and your family do not need any background in Italian to enroll in La Scuola or to become a very welcome part of the community. Most preschoolers at La Scuola arrive new to speaking or understanding Italian.
How the Elements of Our Approach Intertwine
La Scuola International School, Silicon Valley leverages the Reggio Emilia Approach, the International Baccalaureate, and language immersion from preschool on to advance a love of learning.
Preschool Program Exploration
Ateliers
Preschool at La Scuola comes alive with ateliers — dedicated laboratories of learning in which children inquire, explore, and develop their ideas. At our Silicon Valley Campus, music, art, and garden ateliers nurture a lifelong love of learning in a beautiful, engaging environment.
Environment as Teacher
The learning environment is a principal factor in how students learn. Because of its importance, the Reggio Emilia Approach considers the environment to be “the third teacher” alongside faculty and families. Color, light, beauty, furnishings, and architecture all play an important role in making education and understanding a joy.
100 Languages of Children
Loris Malaguzzi, the founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach, believed children have ‘100 Languages’ or more with which they express themselves and learn. Art, music, tinkering, body language, storytelling, feeling, thinking, inquiry — these are only a few examples of their potential modes of expression. His poem, “No Way. The Hundred Is There” shares our motivation to keep children’s multifaceted engagement with the world alive.
Niente Senza Gioia
At La Scuola, niente senza gioia — or nothing without joy, nada sin alegría — is more than a motto. Throughout each day, we pour joy and love into learning, play, and exploration. Education, especially at preschool age, should be filled with joy so that each child develops a lasting affection for discovery and all the world around has to offer.
Preschool Program Overview
La Scuola International School, Silicon Valley offers three preschool levels, five-, three-, or two-days a week, available either as half days (8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) or full days (to 5:30 p.m.).
Piccoli
Ages 2 to 3
Grandi
Ages 3 to 4
Grandissimi
Ages 4 to 5
Children may begin in our Piccoli class before they are toilet-learned. They need to be toilet-learned to enroll or continue in Grandi and Grandissimi classes.
Children do not need to speak Italian to enroll at La Scuola. Most do not.
Sample Schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:15 A.M. | Children arrive |
| 8:30 A.M. | Morning activities |
| 9:00 A.M. | Good morning assemblea |
| 9:30 A.M. | Breakfast |
| 10:00 A.M. | Inquiry time / Ateliers |
| 11:00 A.M. | Outdoor time |
| 12:00 P.M. | Lunch, bathroom, and transition to map |
| 12:45 P.M. | Half-day pick up |
| 1:15 P.M. | Nap / Quiet time |
| 3:00 P.M. | Wake-up time |
| 3:15 P.M. | Snack |
| 3:45 P.M. | Outdoor time |
| 4:30 P.M. | Afternoon activities and pick-up time |
“Prospective parents: if you want your child to have a creative but also educational part of their development, this is the place to be.”
—
Bonnie & Mark A.
La Scuola Parents