Barat Center Early Education
At the Barat Center, our warm and inclusive community celebrates and values every child, fostering an environment where they can explore, play, laugh, learn, and grow. We strive to nurture a lifelong love of learning, helping each child become an enthusiastic learner, an independent thinker, and an explorer of the world.
Located in a beautiful cottage adjacent to our Lower School, the Barat Center for Early Childhood Education offers a dynamic learning environment for boys and girls ages 3 to 5. The classrooms encourage both multi-aged collaborative play and developmentally appropriate learning opportunities based on each child’s age and individual growth. Throughout the day, children engage in small, flexible pre-literacy and math groups designed to meet their evolving skill sets, sparking joy in discovery.
AGE REQUIREMENT:
To apply for the 2025-2026 school year, children must turn 3 years old by December 31, 2025.
For children turning 3 after August 1, 2025, they are eligible to attend half days (8 a.m.-noon) for the fall semester. With the agreement of the Barat Center, these students may transition to a full-day schedule starting January 1, 2026.
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AND PLAY
Students at the Barat Center blend learning and play through creative and imaginative activities. These experiences foster key social, cognitive, and emotional skills essential for future academic success. Peer conversations enhance communication and cooperation, while teachers guide project-based learning units focused on themes like “All About Me,” family, and community. This inquiry-driven approach helps students gain knowledge while building empathy, self-awareness, and an appreciation for diversity.
READING READINESS
Students start each day with a lively Morning Meeting that promotes conversation and language development. Teachers foster a love for books and stories, encouraging children to discover the joy of reading. Students engage in a variety of readalouds and opportunities for print exploration. They participate in the Wilson’s Fundations program to connect letter names, sounds, and written forms, while Heggerty Phonemic Awareness lessons enhance critical skills like rhyming and blending sounds. These foundational activities prepare them for literacy mastery in Kindergarten.
MATH DISCOVERY
Students develop strong number sense through hands-on activities with manipulatives, exploring foundational math concepts by matching, sorting, and comparing objects. They engage with shapes, patterns, and numbers up to 10, graphing data, and tracking time in daily learning. Problem-solving activities throughout the curriculum build critical thinking skills, laying the groundwork for more advanced concepts in the Lower School’s Singapore Math program.
SPECIALS:
Art classes provide a vibrant environment for young students to explore diverse materials and artistic experiences. Focusing on fundamentals like color, shape, line, and texture, these classes encourage creativity and self-expression. Through hands-on projects, students develop foundational artistic skills and an appreciation for the visual arts and the creative process.
Library classes introduce students to literature and library culture through engaging storytimes and read-aloud sessions. Exploring various genres, students learn parts of a book, build literacy skills, and start choosing books, fostering a love for reading and storytelling.
Music classes introduce students to sound and rhythm through interactive experiences with a music teacher and rhythm instructor. Activities include singing games and instrument play. By age 4, students learn proper violin techniques and develop listening and fine motor skills, fostering creativity and an appreciation for music.
Mustard Seeds & Science classes promote confidence through hands-on exploration in our outdoor classrooms. Students engage in activities across our 110-acre campus, including the mud kitchens, vegetable garden, and frog pond, fostering curiosity and a love for science and nature.
Physical Education classes help students develop fundamental locomotor skills and spatial awareness through individual and group activities. Students engage in play that promotes fitness, coordination, and teamwork, including swimming instruction, fostering a love for movement and instilling healthy habits for life.
Spanish classes immerse students in language through seasonal stories, songs, poems, and games. Spanish continues through Lower School, then they can choose Chinese, French or Spanish in Middle School. This program fosters communication skills and cultural awareness.
Theology classes invite students of all faiths to explore and deepen their appreciation for God’s love. Students engage in prayer practices, express gratitude, and embrace values of sharing and caring for one another, their families, and the wider world. Through participation in school liturgies and Lower School Chapel services, they are welcomed into our spiritual community, strengthening their connection to faith and fellowship.
We must know how to inspire in our pupils a passion for the beautiful.
:: SAINT MADELEINE SOPHIE BARAT