Manhattan Preschool
Curriculum

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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.

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Curriculum

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
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

  • Greetings for parents and children
  • Supervised play session
  • Academics
  • Enrichment (science, art, cooking, yoga, music, movement, or library)
  • Healthy snack provided by the school
  • Physical activities
  • Storytelling and reading
  • Lunch
  • Dismissal
  • Greetings for parents and children
  • Supervised play session
  • Academics session 1
  • Enrichment (science, art, cooking, yoga, music, movement, or library)
  • Healthy snack provided by the school
  • Physical activities
  • Storytelling and reading
  • Lunch
  • Play-time on the school outdoor play area
  • Rest
  • Academics session 2
  • Dismissal or optional extended day

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

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

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

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
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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.

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