WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE

The Mini-Maternelle program is an exciting way for Brooklyn’s parents to provide their children with the building blocks needed for a lifetime of learning while exposing them to the benefits of a foreign language in a nurturing and supportive environment.

Our program offers a unique hybrid of outdoor and classroom-based learning. We spend as many mornings as possible exploring nature in Fort Greene Park. At LLS, we know that young children learn best through hands-on discovery and when they are relaxed and having fun. We keep children excited about learning by building on their own discoveries and interests.Through their own hands-on explorations and with questions designed to elicit conversation, the children form ideas about the world around them.

We provide a secure and loving place for children to learn and play. Play is the most complete curriculum when implemented as the primary focus for teaching and learning. Play is learning for children, it is how they get to know their world. Children engage in what Lev Vygotsky referred to as inner speech where they self-talk, assessing what has occurred, what they are engaged in, and possible solutions.

We believe that a child’s intelligence and reasoning are exercised through playful creativity: trying out new ideas, expressing emotions, taking different roles, making choices, repeating known ways of enjoyment. Play is a natural medium for children to express pleasure, curiosity, autonomy and is integrated as a primary way of learning.

Our well-trained, highly dedicated teachers work to build on each student’s unique strengths, interests and learning style while taking into account his or her needs and levels in terms of intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth.

The daily schedule includes a balance of stimulating and relaxing developmentally appropriate activities. Through the well-known power of educational tools, our educators awaken in the children a life-long love of learning, empathy towards others and creative thinking.

Play is learning and learning should be play-filled in early childhood education programs now more than ever. 

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Our daughter attended LLS for two years (at ages 3 and 4, before starting kindergarten). I wish she could have attended forever. We really cannot say enough good things about LLS. The program is perfect - it is intellectually engaging, but also fun for the children. The teachers are so caring and do everything possible to make sure the kids are happy and comfortable. Pascale is an amazing resource. She is very involved in the classroom and so knowledgeable about children in general and bilingual education in particular. And our daughter learned French! She still asks to attend the summer camp every year, and always has a great time.
K.V.
Parent

CURRICULUM

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As students struggle to create their own futures two kinds of knowledge are critical: knowing how to learn and knowing how to think” Covington

Creating Education for Global Citizenship as it continues to maintain the goal of “cultivating happiness” (Goulah, 2021) and actively engaging to shift and shape a more harmonious world.

The program is divided into 5 domains of development:

  1. Language: Expressive & Receptive
  2. Social-Emotional
  3. Cognitive
  4. Physical: Gross Motor- Fine Motor
  5. Sensory: 5 senses, Touch, Proprioception, Interoception, Vestibular

We use an integrated approach to curriculum so that children see the direct application of these skills in their learning. Projects are designed to stimulate the children to search for answers to questions in a variety of ways and through a variety of mediums. We provide opportunities for experiences that encourage invention and innovation.

We put an emphasis on interaction with the world around them both outdoors and in the classroom – The wisdom to perceive interconnectedness of all life and living.

The program boasts a two-year age range of pupils to encourage an interactive social and learning environment. This system allows flexibility in learning pace and permits the mutually beneficial relationship to develop whereby younger children seek to emulate older children, and older children naturally become teachers by sharing what they have learned with the younger ones.

All activities will be led in French!

All learning is a three part process; first emotion, then reflection, and finally action.
Rudolf Steiner (1921)

Our daughter attended LLS for two years of pre-k. Not only did she come away fluent in French but was cared for and educated in the gentlest and most caring manner that one could ever imagine. All the teachers were loving and well as imaginative in their approach to the teaching and caring for all the children that went there. We still say that it is probably the best educational experience she will ever have. We were not alone in that feeling as parents either. I cannot describe in words how great an experience it was for our whole family.
S.M.
Parent

2022-2023 ADMISSIONS

WHO CAN ATTEND

There are no French language requirements to attend our Mini-Maternelle program – only an openness and desire on the part of the parents or guardians for the children to learn a new language!

Children must however be between 2-1/2 and 4 years of age by the time they start school in September 2022 to enroll in the 2022-2023 academic year. In other words, the children must be born after March 1, 2018 but before March 1, 2020 in order to be considered for the upcoming school year.

Available Programs

There are two Mini-Maternelle programs available depending on the child’s age:

Petite Section, FOUR-Days Program:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:30am – noon or 2:30pm

Grande Section, FIVE-Days Program:

Monday through Friday, from 9:30am – 2:30pm

The Extended Day Option allows children to stay through lunch until 2:30 pm. This extended period includes supervised lunchtime, a transitional activity, rest time and dismissal. Children bring lunch from home and eat together while conversing in French.

We also offer an early drop off option from 8:30.

Students may additionally register for “l’Atelier” every day from 2:30pm to 4pm. Both of these programs require minimum enrollment of five children to be offered.

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Our son attended the LLS Mini-Maternelle program for 2 years and it was the most amazing, loving, kind and educational environment we could have hoped for. Pascale's program nurtured his curiosity, taught him autonomy and ignited his creativity. The French immersion was exactly what we were looking for and our son bonded with his teachers and school mates in a way we have not experienced since. All the carefully crafted parts of her program have given him a powerful platform to continue on to primary school. I would unreservedly recommend LLS and their programs to anyone.
J. D.
Father

APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR NEW STUDENTS

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TO APPLY FOR 2023-2024
Note: we are still accepting children for the current school year 2022/23)
  1. Fill out an application.

  2. Attend our Fall 2022 Discovery Day open house.

  3. Admissions notifications will be sent in March 2023.

  4. Enrollment confirmation and non-refundable tuition deposit  are due within one week of acceptance. 

  5. Complete your enrollment agreement.

MEETING AND TOUR

When you fill out your application we will invite you over to our 2022 open house event. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the school and meet our teachers and for us to meet your family and see if the Mini-Maternelle is the best fit for your child. You will learn more about our unique program, our mission, and our philosophy.

 Re-Enrollment 

Current (2022 – 2023) Mini-Maternelle parents who wish to enroll their child(ren) in the following school year receive information on how to do so directly from LLS in November.

My son attended the mini-maternelle for 2 years and it was the perfect environment for him to flourish as a person and also to build on his exposure to French. Now that I am in the mainstream education system I have fully realized what an outstanding foundation for children LLS provides. My son had a French nanny twice a week from age 1-3, and then his two years at LLS allowed him to become fully bilingual without either parent speaking French at home. He is now one of the most confident and active students in his class. He has no fear when leaving me in the morning, and he is embracing the challenge of school. I was surprised by how quickly they have started teaching them to read and also to write in lowercase at his public school, but thankfully he had two years of gentle experimenting with reading and writing at LLS, so he is doing well. LLS supported him as the sensitive and unique child he is (and aren't they all?), and I am very grateful for that. I believe that really good preschool education is a subtle art, and it can be hard to define or understand - but trust me, they know what they are doing at LLS, and you won't find a better preschool program!
S. G.
Mother

SCHOOL CALENDAR 2022-2023

Please note that this is the Mini-Maternelle calendar. The calendar of the weekly classes may be different  (please refer to the confirmation email that you received after signing up).

First Day of School Grande Section: Thursday, September 8th 

First Day of School Petite Section: Monday, September 12th  

Early Drop-Off and Atelier Begin: Monday, September 19th  

We will be closed on the following days:

  • September 26th – (Monday): Rosh Hashanah
  • October 5th (Wednesday): Yom Kippur
  • October 10th (Monday): Indigenous Peoples’ Day
  • November 11th (Friday): Veteran’s Day / Parent-Teacher Meetings, Children do not attend   
  • November 23rd – 25th (Wed.-Fri.): Fall Break
  • November 28th (Monday): School closed for staff development
  • December 19th – January 2nd (Mon – Fri): Winter Break, Classes resume on January 3rd
  • January 16th (Monday): Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • February 20th-24th (Mon.-Fri.): Presidents’ Day Break
  • March 31st (Friday): Parent Teacher Conferences, Children do not attend  
  • April 3rd -14th (Mon – Fri): Spring Recess, Classes resume on April 17th
  • April 21st (Friday):  Eid al-Fitr 
  • May 29th (Monday): Memorial Day
  • June 2nd (Friday): End Of Year Celebration in Prospect Park, Parents Attend with Children 

 Last Day of School: Friday, June 9th, 2023

 

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OUR COVID-19 SAFETY PLAN

Over the past few months, in conjunction with guidelines from the CDC, the NY State Department of Health and in collaboration with Early Childhood program leaders across Brooklyn, we have created a detailed plan to ensure the health and safety of the children, the families, and the staff. Here, you will find a summary of the main points from this plan.

If at any point revised information becomes available from the CDC or licensing bodies, these policies will be amended to reflect the most up to date guidance possible. 

 

Training

• All staff will be trained prior to reopening, and training will be ongoing as new information is released on all things related to coronavirus. 

 Health and Safety: Hygiene Precautions

• We will ensure adherence to hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection requirements as advised by the CDC and DOH.

• Scheduling will be changed to maximize outdoor time.

• Toys from home are not permitted at school at this time. 

• Classroom furnishings will be rearranged to maximize distance between students.

 

Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Shared Spaces and Materials

• High use surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected frequently at specific points during the school day with child-safe, CDC-approved products, as well as a thorough, intensive cleaning every evening.

• Toys will be utilized on a rotating basis and cleaned and sanitized between usage. 

• Soft objects will be removed and replaced with items that are easier to disinfect.

• Cleaning schedules will be posted and adhered to. 

 

Napping at School

• Nap sheets and blankets must be brought home and laundered at the end of each week. 

• Nap mats will be cleaned and sanitized daily. Each child will have their own designated nap mat labeled with their name. 

• Children who nap at school will be placed 6 feet apart whenever possible and head-to-toe.

 

Social Distancing at School/Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)


Staff

• As required by the Department of Health, employees will wear face coverings whenever interacting with the children.

• Anytime that staff are less than six feet from one another, they must wear acceptable face coverings.


Classes

• Classes will not be permitted to mix or use shared space at the same time. 

• Teachers will be assigned to regular/static groups and will not commingle with other classes/groups.


Families

• All guardians/caregivers must wear a face covering during pick-up and drop-off. 

• Guardians/caregivers must maintain social distancing of 6ft outside of the entrance to school and limit gathering before and after drop off. 

• Guardians/caregivers will not be permitted into the facility unless for an extenuating circumstance.

 

Daily Health Screenings

• The school is adopting an app based system that will require all students to enter health data prior to entering school each day.

• When a child arrives at school, a teacher or director will conduct a health screening and welcome the child into school. Each child will then immediately wash their hands.

• Students will have their temperature taken upon arrival (admittance will be denied for a temperature of 100 °F or higher) 


Sick Policies for Staff and Children

• Parents and staff must disclose all symptoms of illness to the school so that proper monitoring and tracking can ensue.


When to keep your child at home

• Fever above 100°F.

• Respiratory symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing) not a previously diagnosed condition (ie. allergies)

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Rash

• Contagious Illness


Returning to school

• All students with a confirmed COVID diagnosis will be required to have a negative COVID test and clearance note from a doctor before returning to school. 

• As per the CDC, a person must be fever free for 3 days with no fever reducing medications and improvement of symptoms, must have no symptoms in the last 10 days and report general feelings of wellness.

• If a staff member or child contracts or is exposed to COVID-19, they cannot be admitted to a center again until the criteria for lifting transmission based precautions and home isolation have been met. 

• If no symptoms, 10 days from the date they were tested.

• Child/staff member may not return to school without a note of clearance from their physician.

 

COVID Exposure Safety Protocol


Quarantining

Whether a close contact needs to quarantine and the length of quarantine depends on their vaccination status, whether they recently had COVID-19 (positive diagnostic test) and recovered, whether they have symptoms of COVID-19 (and if so, the type of symptoms) and COVID-19 testing.

Close contacts should continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14. If symptoms occur, they should isolate themselves, contact their health care provider, get tested for COVID-19 and must not attend school.

 
Developing Symptoms of COVID-19 while at School

• If a child or staff member develops symptoms of COVID-19 while at the facility (e.g. fever of 100 °F or higher, cough, shortness of breath), this person will be immediately separated from the well people until the ill person can leave the facility.

 
Cleaning and Disinfecting after a Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Case

• Areas used by a sick person will be closed off and will not be used until after cleaning and disinfecting by a professional.

 
Notifying Health Officials and Close Contacts

• In accordance with state and local laws and regulations, school administrators will notify local health officials, staff, and families immediately of any case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

• We will inform those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms, and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop. 

• All children/staff sharing a room with the diagnosed COVID-19 person, must enter a 14 day quarantine period and monitor for symptoms.