Our Programs
Pre-K
Children who are turning 4 years old by Sept. 1st.
Our Pre-K program in Gilbert is designed to prepare students to enter Kindergarten. The students learn to read through phonemic awareness (letters have specific sounds); consonants and vowels; blending sounds to create words and combining words to make sentences; left-to-right and top-to-bottom progression; and reading words with two vowels. We are the only preschool in Arizona licensed to teach the Learning Dynamics Reading Program (a nationally recognized early reading model). Most students graduate from the Pre-K program being able to read on a Kindergarten to First Grade level.
In addition to our reading program, we teach Pre-Math and Pre-Science through daily theme-based lessons and activities using music, art, and hands-on learning. Students also learn to write their first and last names using both upper- and lower-case letters.
2-Day – T | TH
3-Day – M | W | F
Morning Session – 9:00am-11:15am
Afternoon Session – 12:00pm-2:15pm
Pre-School
Children who are turning 3 years old by Sept. 1st.
Our Preschool program in Gilbert is the pre-reading phase of the program. It consists of teaching the children that our words are made up of letters that make sounds and in turn these words make up our language. We teach the children the name and sound of each letter (always associating the two together) through music and the use of flashcards.
We are the only preschool in Arizona licensed to teach the Learning Dynamics Reading Program (a nationally recognized early reading model). Students finishing the school year with the Preschool Program are prepared for the Pre-K Reading phase of the program, which teaches more in-depth reading skills.
In addition to our reading program, we teach Pre-Math and Pre-Science through daily theme-based lessons and activities using music, art, and hands-on learning. Students also learn to write their first names using both upper- and lower-case letters.
2-Day – T | TH
3-Day – M | W | F
Morning Session – 9:00am-11:15am
Afternoon Session – 12:00pm-2:15pm
Mini’s
Children who are 3 years old.
The Mini’s Program is intended for children who miss the September 1st cut-off date that would allow them to attend our Preschool Program, yet still desire to attend school. It is designed to be an introductory program, with many value-added concepts taught in couplets. The program runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
The focus of the Mini’s Program is to provide a place for these very young children to learn through creative exploration, learn to briefly separate from parents, learn to get along in a group setting, and learn to hear instructions and translate those instructions into actions. Minis also practice early skills like hand strengthening, fine motor skills, pre-writing skills, colors, shapes, counting, and numbers 1-10.
2-Day – T | TH
Morning Session – 9:00am-11:15am
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Yes, especially for younger children who may need an introductory school experience. The Mini’s Program helps children learn to briefly separate from parents, participate in a group setting, follow instructions, build early motor skills, and develop foundational pre-writing, color, shape, counting, and number skills.
-
Hillstone Academy Preschool offers the Mini’s Program for children who are 3 years old but miss the September 1 cutoff for the Preschool Program.
-
Yes. Hillstone Academy Preschool offers 2-day and 3-day program options for Pre-K and Preschool. The 2-day option meets Tuesday and Thursday, and the 3-day option meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
-
Hillstone Academy Preschool offers three main programs for young children: Pre-K, Preschool, and Mini’s. These programs are designed for children around ages 3 to 5, depending on age, readiness, and the September 1 cutoff date.
-
The Pre-K program is for children who are turning 4 years old by September 1. It is designed to help students prepare for kindergarten through reading, writing, pre-math, pre-science, theme-based lessons, music, art, and hands-on activities.
-
Hillstone Academy Preschool’s Pre-K program teaches phonemic awareness, consonants and vowels, blending sounds, word reading, sentence building, left-to-right and top-to-bottom reading progression, and words with two vowels. Students also learn pre-math, pre-science, and how to write their first and last names using upper- and lower-case letters.
-
Many Hillstone Academy Preschool Pre-K students graduate reading at a kindergarten to first-grade level. The program uses the licensed Learning Dynamics Reading Program, a nationally recognized early reading model, and reading is taught one-on-one at each student’s individual level.
-
The Preschool program is for children who are turning 3 years old by September 1. This program introduces children to the pre-reading phase, where they learn that words are made of letters and that letters make sounds.
-
The Preschool program teaches letter names, letter sounds, music-based learning, flashcard activities, pre-math, pre-science, theme-based lessons, art, hands-on learning, and first-name writing using upper- and lower-case letters. It prepares children for the Pre-K reading phase of the program.
-
The Mini’s Program is an introductory preschool program for children who are 3 years old but miss the September 1 cutoff date for the Preschool program. It helps young children learn through creative exploration, separate from parents, participate in a group setting, follow instructions, and build early fine motor, pre-writing, color, shape, counting, and number skills.
-
The Pre-K and Preschool programs offer 2-day and 3-day options. The 2-day option meets Tuesday and Thursday, while the 3-day option meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Morning sessions run from 9:00am to 11:15am, and afternoon sessions run from 12:00pm to 2:15pm. The Mini’s Program meets Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00am to 11:15am.
-
The right program depends on your child’s age, September 1 cutoff date, and school readiness. Children turning 4 by September 1 are typically eligible for Pre-K. Children turning 3 by September 1 are typically eligible for Preschool. Children who are 3 but miss the September 1 cutoff may be a fit for Mini’s. If you’re still unsure, we recommend that parents schedule a tour or contact our team at Hillstone Academy for guidance.