Manhattan Preschool
Curriculum
L’Alliance New York’s Preschool in Manhattan combines French and American teaching methods in a vibrant, multicultural environment. Our curriculum offers a pas de deux of instructional approaches: we follow the French tradition of learning through structure, which is enhanced by adding creative American teaching practices.
The structure of traditional French programs offers children firm guidelines and clear expectations, and the American approach stimulates creativity through positive reinforcement and interactive activities. The mix of these two approaches encourages expression and allows children to reach their full potential regardless of learning modality.
Our highly trained teachers draw from different educational philosophies to create an inclusive and engaging environment for different types of learners. We strive to provide fun activities that contribute to a child’s growth, confidence, and self-awareness. Students learn to question, investigate, and make real-world connections. We encourage independent, analytical thinking and urge students to embrace mistakes as the wisest of all teachers.
L’Alliance Preschool values the arts and the creativity they nurture in children, both for the sake of creativity itself and for future problem-solving skills. Our bi-cultural teaching philosophy is conducive to an interdisciplinary approach – we blend lessons from art, literature, science, and writing into individual class projects. Such multifaceted activities inspire curiosity and encourage students to become active participants in their own education.
While the subject areas remain the same at different levels, the activities and projects evolve based on the children’s emotional, cognitive, linguistic, and physical development.
Subject Area | Instructional Approach |
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Socialization & Interpersonal Skills | Children learn to be better students by working in group settings and developing social skills like collaboration and cooperation. |
Language Arts | Children learn to express themselves in groups, verbalize feelings, ask questions, and use sentences in progressive complexity. They learn about books and alphabets, build vocabulary, and take the first steps toward writing. Weekly story hours help reinforce new vocabulary. |
Mathematics & Science | Children learn numbers, counting, matching, classification, measurement, and geometry through age-appropriate materials and hands-on activities. |
Motor Skills | Children enjoy daily physical activities, including free play and structured exercises like yoga or movement, which improve balance and spatial awareness. Drawing and painting help develop fine motor skills as the first steps toward handwriting. |
Arts & Cooking | Children draw, paint, and discover visual arts through museum visits and in-class lessons on different artists. Children discover new sounds and rhythms in music sessions. Cooking activities introduce new flavors, table etiquette, and cooking techniques. |
A Typical Day
Half Day (Mornings) Mon–Fri, 8:30 am–11:30 am |
Full Day Mon-Fri, 8:30 am–4:30 pm |
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Extended Day Option
An extended-day option is available Monday through Friday, 4:30 pm–6 pm.
Academic Calendar 2024-2025
If any calendar changes occur, parents will be notified directly via email.
Fall Term |
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Tue, Sep 3 | First day of school (one hour only for all students) |
Wed, Sep 4 | First full day for full-day students |
Tue, Sep 17 | Curriculum Night |
Mon, Oct 14 | Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous People’s Day - No school |
Tue, Oct 24 | Exmission Night for the PreK class (6:00pm-7:30pm) |
Fri, Nov 11 | Parent-Teacher Conferences - No school |
Mon-Fri, Nov 25-29 | Thanksgiving Break - No school |
Mon, Dec 2 | School Resumes |
Wed, Dec 18 | Parents Breakfast following the Winter show (9-10:30am) |
Fri, Dec 20 | Last Day of School |
Mon, Dec 23-Wed, Jan 1 | Winter Break - No school |
Winter Term |
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Thu, Jan 2 | School Resumes |
Fri, Jan 17 | Admission Day - No school |
Mon, Jan 20 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No school |
Fri, Feb 7 | Professional Development Day - No school |
Mon-Fri, Feb 17-21 | Mid-Winter Break - No school |
Mon, Feb 24 | School Resumes |
Mon, Mar 10 | Parent-Teacher Conferences - No school |
Mon, Mar 30 - Fri, Apr 4 | Spring Break - No school |
Spring Term |
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Mon, Apr 7 | School Resumes |
Thu, May 22 | Preschool Cocktail (6:30pm-8:30pm) |
Fri, May 23 | Professional Development Day - No school |
Mon, May 26 | Memorial Day - No school |
Wed, Jun 18 | End-of-Year Show + Picnic at Central Park - Last day of School |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
At what age can children start?
Children must be at least 2.5 years old to attend the Preschool at L’Alliance New York.
Does my child need to speak French?
No, your child does not need to speak French to attend the Preschool, though some prior exposure to French is preferred for the Pre-K upper-level class. We recommend our seasonal à petits pas classes for ages 1–4 as preparation for preschool.
Does my child need to speak English?
No. We also offer English lessons at an additional cost for French-speaking students and children who speak other languages at home.
Does my child need to be potty-trained to start?
Yes, your child must be toilet-trained before attending the Manhattan Preschool.
Can we find out what our child is learning in school?
Yes, we provide a monthly calendar, a Cahier de classe to keep track of progress, and a Cahier de vie rotating between families. We also communicate with parents regularly via L’Alliance New York’s Preschool app. In addition, we hold a curriculum night as well as two parent-teacher conferences per school year.