At West Salem Preschool, the goal is to ignite a lifelong love of learning through play. A nurturing, engaging, and developmentally appropriate environment is key to fostering growth in all children, embracing each child's unique journey.

The curriculum and playful lessons offer diverse opportunities for growth in every child – academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. Play is how children learn best, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and social skills crucial for their future success. The program utilizes The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, a research-based approach that empowers children to be confident, creative, and caring learners through play-based, hands-on investigations. This curriculum incorporates language, literacy, and mathematics throughout the day, and is aligned to early learning standards.

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) at West Salem:

The Early Childhood Special Education Program at West Salem provides specialized services to preschool children living in Salem who are identified with significant developmental delays. Children are evaluated in five key developmental areas: personal-social, adaptive, motor, communication, and cognitive, to determine eligibility. Children may receive services in various settings tailored to their needs, including consultation and intervention in local preschools, home-based support, or center-based services within classrooms at West Salem. The two preschool classrooms serve children aged 3-4 years old. The Creative Curriculum provides guidance for working with all learners, including those with disabilities.

Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI):

The Virginia Preschool Initiative at West Salem provides a high-quality, free preschool program for eligible three and four-year-old children within Salem City Public Schools. VPI children engage in enriching educational experiences, discover through play with learning materials and new ideas, and build essential skills in preparation for kindergarten. The Pre-K curriculum is research-based, promoting the development of literacy and math skills while building a strong social-emotional foundation for a lifetime of learning. Each class has a maximum of 14 children, supported by a certified teacher and a full-time instructional assistant. The VPI program follows the elementary school schedule, Monday through Friday. Please contact Megan Crew (mhcrew@salem.k12.va.us) if you are interested in applying for the VPI program.

Watch these Cardinals soar as they discover the joy of learning through play!