Student Services Pre-Kindergarten Program

Student Services

Special Education

Guidance

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MD Program

Pre-Kindergarten Program

Full-Day Pre-Kindergarten Program

Igniting the potential of every child through purposeful play, early literacy, and social-emotional growth.

Pre-Kindergarten Classroom Team

Mrs. Brianna Androvette

Pre-K Teacher
Email: bmerriman@rumsonschool.org
Instructional Assistant: Meghan Ferone

Mrs. Rachel Hayes

Pre-K Teacher
Email: rhayes@rumsonschool.org
Instructional Assistant: Amy Powell

Related Services & Support Team

Students benefit from an integrated team that supports communication, motor, and sensory development within the classroom setting:

Speech-Language Pathologist: Ursula Glackin
Occupational Therapist: Stephanie Valdeon
Physical Therapist: Sibel Zentai
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA): Durie Leidner

Speech and occupational therapists use a variety of service delivery models including consultation, pull-out, and the push-in model, which is utilized to promote natural skill generalization within the learning environment.

Dr. Ursula Glackin
Speech-Language Pathologist & Pre-Kindergarten Case Manager
Email: uglackin@rumsonschool.org

Program Overview

The Rumson School District’s Full-Day Pre-Kindergarten Program, housed at Deane-Porter Elementary School, provides a rich, nurturing environment that builds the social, emotional, and academic foundations essential for future school success.

The program serves three- and four-year-old learners through a play-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum that supports language development, early literacy and math readiness, and self-regulation skills. Instruction is aligned with the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards and the district’s mission to ignite the potential of every learner.

Program Highlights

Full-Day Learning: A structured, balanced schedule that integrates academics, play, and rest to support young children’s developmental needs.
Research-Based Curriculum: The program utilizes Tools of the Mind, Fundations, Heggerty, and Handwriting Without Tears, ensuring a strong early-literacy foundation.
Individualized Instruction: Small group and one-to-one learning opportunities meet students where they are and help them grow at their own pace.
Social-Emotional Focus: Daily routines embed SEL, mindfulness, and executive-function skills to support self-regulation and peer relationships.
Collaborative Team Approach: Certified early-childhood educators, instructional aides, and related-service specialists work together to ensure the whole child is supported.

Curriculum & Instructional Framework

Instruction is intentionally designed around hands-on exploration, guided play, and teacher-directed small-group learning. Core components include:

Tools of the Mind: A comprehensive early-learning curriculum promoting self-regulation, language, and cognitive development through purposeful play.
Fundations (Level PK): Builds phonological and alphabetic awareness to prepare students for early reading success.
Heggerty Phonemic Awareness: Daily routines that strengthen listening and sound-manipulation skills.
Handwriting Without Tears: Developmentally appropriate fine-motor and pre-writing instruction.
Pre-K Assessment Data Tracker: Progress monitoring aligned to NJDOE early-learning standards to track growth across domains.

Each classroom integrates centers-based learning, visual supports, and language-rich interaction to foster curiosity, collaboration, and independence.

Learn More About Our Curriculum

Use the links below to explore how the program works and how families can extend learning at home.

Tools of the Mind Official Website learn about the philosophy behind Tools of the Mind, its approach to play-based learning, and the research supporting the program.

Tools for Parents site gives you an introduction to self-regulation, examples of the Tools of the Mind activities, what a typical day looks like, and how you can support development at home.

Tools of the Mind PreK Learn At Home Kit contains the following items: links to the different Let's Pretend e-books; the Self-Regulation Tip Sheet, which explains what self-regulation is and what it looks like in young children; and sample math and literacy activities.

A Sneak Peek at Our Day

Each day in our full-day Pre-K program is carefully structured to balance academic readiness, play, movement, and social-emotional learning — all within a nurturing and engaging environment.

Here’s a glimpse of our daily rhythm:

8:25–8:55 AM: Arrival, Mystery Question, and Morning Work
8:55–9:20 AM: Opening Group
9:20–10:00 AM: Small Group Math & Literacy

10:00–10:30 AM: Snack
10:30–11:50 AM: Make-Believe Play Practice (MBPP)
11:50 AM–12:30 PM: Gross Motor Movement (Indoor/Outdoor Play)
12:30–1:10 PM: Lunch / Second Snack
1:10–1:50 PM: Rest & Relaxation
1:50–2:20 PM: Large Group Literacy
2:20–2:50 PM: Fine Motor Activities
2:50–3:05 PM: Closing Group, Pack-Up, and Dismissal

Family Partnerships

Family collaboration is a cornerstone of the Pre-K Program. Teachers and staff maintain open, ongoing communication through newsletters, conferences, progress updates, and family events. Parents are invited to participate in Parent Academy workshops, classroom celebrations, and early-learning readiness sessions to extend learning beyond the school day.

Program Placement Process & 2026 Open House

Admission to the Pre-K Program is based on district residency and age eligibility. The program is designed to run five full days per week and follows the same calendar as the rest of Deane Porter school. Students must be three years of age by October 1, 2026. Each class is integrated and includes a mix of 3 & 4 year olds, promoting peer modeling and a community of learners.

Online registration will be open as of Monday, January 5, 2026 . Please visit the school website to register your child for Preschool by following the instructions on our homepage or click here - https://www.rumsonschool.org/rumson/District/Registration%20Information/

We also invite interested parents and their children to attend our Preschool Open House on Tuesday, January 27, 2026; however attendance is not mandatory in order to register!

Please know, this is not a “first come, first serve” registration process. Depending on the number of registrations vs. the amount of openings available, we would decide if a lottery is necessary. To ensure participation in the possible lottery, your registration MUST be completed & submitted online by Tuesday, February 3, 2026 . Anyone registering after that date will be put on a waiting list. After the February 3rd deadline, you will be contacted with an acceptance offer requiring a $1,000- deposit to secure your child's seat, or notified of an upcoming lottery if necessary, which is tentatively scheduled for February 5, 2026.

The following link includes Tuition Rates

Interested in Learning More?

Families or districts seeking additional information about program registration, eligibility, or observation opportunities may contact:

Ms. Laura Randazzo
Administrative Assistant, Department of Student Services
732-842-0811
Email:lrandazzo@rumsonschool.org

Deane-Porter Elementary School
50 Blackpoint Road

Rumson, NJ 07760

Deane-Porter School 50 Black Point Road Rumson, NJ 07760 Phone: 732-842-0330	Forrestdale School 60 Forrest Avenue Rumson, NJ 07760 Phone: 732-842-0383	Superintendent's Office 60 Forrest Avenue Rumson, NJ 07760 Phone: 732-842-4747	Business Office 60 Forrest Avenue Rumson, NJ 07760 Phone: 732-842-0354
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