Pilgrim Community Nursery School

Pilgrim Community Nursery School was established in 1966 to provide a quality preschool program as part of the Pilgrim Congregational Church Outreach Program. The initial program had two classes for 18 three and four-year olds. Now, over 40 years later, 130 two to six-year olds attend classes in the morning or afternoon in six classrooms.

As early Childhood Educators Pilgrim Community Nursery School believes:

Early childhood programs should be planned to stimulate the balanced growth of a child: physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually. Each child has a unique rate of development which should not be hurried or forced. Different levels of development and ability are expected, valued and accepted. Play is an important part of the early childhood learning experience and should be reflected in the daily schedule. Children learn by doing, imitating, experimenting and questioning. Young children learn best through self-selected, hands-on experiences and active participation with their environment. An environment rich in sensory motor experiences encourages a child to see and experience more. Intellectual development should be approached in a developmental manner with emphasis being placed on process rather than product. Language stimulation is an integral part of all experiences provided. Guidance in an early childhood classroom should include positive reinforcement, firm and consistent procedures and individual and group problem-solving which encourages the child to move toward self discipline, independence and responsibility for their actions. Parents and families are an important part of each child’s life and should be actively involved in their child’s education.