The mission of San Jose Parents Participating Nursery School is to nurture the development of the whole child. Our program supports a child's learning through play, discovery and hands-on experiences. We provide a child-centered curriculum that focuses on the needs, abilities and interests of the young child. Our inclusive approach allows a child to work at his own pace, free of comparisons to other children.

We create an atmosphere of trust and respect by nurturing the social and emotional development of our students. Our parents contribute their talents and energy to make our school a unique and loving environment for the children. Learning occurs when a child feels safe and secure. Making mistakes is an acceptable part of the learning process and children at SJPPNS are comfortable trying new things. Children who leave their first classrooms with healthy self-esteem, a thirst for knowledge and respect for their teachers are on the road to being successful, life-long learners.

ART: Art at SJPPNS is a creative experience of discovery. Children are encouraged to experiment with a variety of materials and see what happens! What is important for a young child is the process of art, not the product. Each day there is easel painting, art media, and a play dough table with tools to explore. On our deck we provide carpentry activities with wood, glue, nails and other assorted materials.

SCIENCE/SENSORY EXPERIENCES: Science means discovery at our school. Any given day a child may enjoy bug collecting, squishing their toes in cooked pasta, dripping watercolors in a block of ice, dunking their hands and arms in a mixture of cornstarch and water, or scooping up rice in the sensory table.

MATH: We explore all of the math skills that a young child should develop prior to entering kindergarten. Children work with manipulatives such as small plastic dinosaurs, stacking cubes or buttons to pattern, sort, and count. Our small group times include math games and activities that are age appropriate.

KITCHEN: Children are free to come to the table as they choose and participate in making their snack. At the kitchen area, children learn a variety of cooking techniques such as pouring, cutting, spreading and shredding while developing their social skills by interacting with the other children and the parent at the table.

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM: Our outdoor environment is spacious, child centered, and open for exploration throughout the day. There are long bike paths, a challenging play structure and a large sand pond with running water. The sand pond is a favorite spot for building volcanoes, rivers and bridges. Making sand muffins and "cooking" swamp soup are every day sand pond activities. A water table with many funnels, cups, sailboats and containers is filled daily. There are also large blocks available for creating obstacle courses or building an airplane!

LITERACY DEVELOPMENT: Our directors share fun and engaging stories with the children each day. Children are encouraged to participate in the stories and act out special tales. The children learn songs, chants and fingerplays, which develop literacy and pre-reading skills. Each day a writer's table is open, with a variety of materials to stimulate writing development. Parents are available to take dictation from children-a letter to a parent or teacher, a story to be read to the class or a description of the child's picture. Our Book Nook is always stocked with favorite books and there is a huge, comfy chair for adults to sit with and read to children.

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT: Our teachers offer opportunities for children to act out dramas, learn rhythms with musical instruments, dance, and have fun!

DRAMATIC PLAY: Our school environment stimulates dramatic play and imagination throughout the indoor and outdoor areas. Our extensive dress-up area is always open for enjoyment. Princesses, cowboys, chefs and animals play at SJPPNS every day! We have a loft area with a kitchen playhouse for those who like to "cook".