Preschool

The vision of the Mary C. O’Brien Preschool Department was born out of a desire to provide opportunities to enhance our excellent educational programs. Our goal is to create program that reflect our commitment to providing high standards for quality programs within a nurturing, friendly, and safe environment.  MCOB Preschool is an inclusive, joyful learning environment where young children participate in fun, engaging, learning activities. Our preschool staff are focused on providing learning experiences that build all five areas of development: cognitive, communication, motor, social/emotional, and adaptive/daily living. As early childhood educators, we are play artists and engineers, we believe play is the work of children, and our job is to craft meaningful, purposeful learning environments. At MCOB Preschool, children will build language, number sense, and executive function skills along with a foundational love of learning. Our language-rich, developmental approach to learning provides hands-on experiences to meet the needs of all preschoolers. We welcome and recognize families as partners in early learning and encourage active participation and healthy communication.

We believe that our classrooms should resemble our diverse communities and families and that we are better when we learn together. The MCOB Preschool Program follows the AZ Early Childhood Standards. The Arizona Early Learning Standards, 4th Edition (AzELS) provide a framework for the planning of quality early learning experiences for all children three to five years of age. The AzELS framework provides an essential first step for designing and/or choosing an effective, high-quality preschool curricula.

MCOB Preschool is licensed and inspected by the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS). Facility inspection reports are available for public viewing at the Arizona Department of Health Services, 150 N. 18th Avenue, Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ 85007-3244 and on campus.

Children enrolled in MCOB Preschool will develop the following skills:

• Reading readiness, number sense, and beginning writing skills.
• Communication skills, both receptively and expressively.
• An understanding of a healthy lifestyle during indoor and outdoor physical activities.
• Empathy, patience, a sense of sharing and other social and emotional skills.
• An appreciation of science and social studies in the world around them; and
• An appreciation of fine arts through music, song, and dramatic play.

For more information regarding enrolling your child in MCOB Preschool please contact Lisa Raymond at 520-450-4400