“We carefully design our learning spaces to encourage self-directed discovery, balancing structured activities with Montessori materials and open-ended play.”Bronwyn Holman, Director of Early Childhood
On a recent morning, PreKindergarten students transformed the new Exploration Garden into a world of imagination, just as it was designed to do. Rocks, logs, boards, and large cable spools became props for dog kennels, pirate ships, and even banana bread baking.
"I have a snake factory. There’s an anaconda," a 4-year-old boy said, pointing off into the distance. "And there’s a python, and there’s a rattlesnake."
Nearby, two girls filled dump trucks with rocks, using the largest ones as pretend loaves of banana bread, which they placed on a picnic table to cool.
"Did you know you can do whatever you want with these logs?" another 4-year-old boy, who was playing pirates, told a nearby group. "This playground, it’s my favorite!"
This sense of discovery and collaboration defines The Colorado Springs School’s Early Childhood program for PreK students ages 3 to 5. Children are immersed in a nurturing and engaging environment that cultivates a lifelong love of exploration, creativity, and discovery.
The curriculum blends Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia philosophies, emphasizing individualized learning through hands-on exploration, rich creative expression, and project-based experiences inspired by each child’s interests.
"We carefully design our learning spaces to encourage self-directed discovery, balancing structured activities with Montessori materials and open-ended play," said Bronwyn Holman, Director of Early Childhood. "Our approach emphasizes the arts, nature experiences, and collaborative projects, fostering both independence and connection."
What Sets PreK Apart at CSS
A process-over-product philosophy that emphasizes how children learn, explore, and create—rather than focusing on the final outcome or product.
Thoughtfully prepared environments as the “third teacher,” designed to inspire curiosity, independence, and exploration.
Recognition of the many languages of children, including movement, art, music, and storytelling, valuing diverse forms of expression.
A strong partnership with families through the Parents as Partners approach, engaging caregivers as active collaborators.
Mixed-age classrooms that foster social, emotional, and cognitive growth.
"I love having mixed-age classrooms because it creates wonderful opportunities for building a strong classroom community," Mrs. Holman said. "Older students naturally step into mentorship roles, becoming positive role models that younger children look up to and want to emulate. This dynamic creates an environment where children learn behavioral expectations and social skills from one another, not just from adults.
"The impact is particularly significant when developing leadership abilities and personal responsibility in our older students, as these skills emerge through authentic, meaningful interactions rather than direct instruction."
Step into any PreK space, and you’ll find a world alive with motion, laughter, and discovery. Small scientists crouch over dirt mounds outside, investigating holes and wondering which creatures might live beneath them. Inside, children play with globes and maps, charting the South Pole, while others conduct experiments inspired by penguins, icebergs, and snow.
"PreK has always been my favorite grade level," PreK Teacher Joisse Alicea said. "I love the freedom to pivot day by day, based on what the kids need or what comes up that day. It's our responsibility to nurture that love of learning from the very start."
In September, Ms. Alicia’s class explored apples and their life cycle, culminating in a hands-on baking experience with gluten-free apple muffins, bringing learning to life.
"Students enjoyed being part of the process, learning how to follow a recipe, why precise measurements matter, and how patience and time can result in a sweet reward," she said. "This month, we’re turning our attention to pumpkins and their life cycle—and while the students don’t know it yet, another baking day is just around the corner."
Each of the three PreK classes is led by a lead teacher and supported by an assistant teacher. Students benefit from a rich co-curricular program that includes Spanish, STEM and computer programming, art, physical education, library, and social-emotional learning through Friendship Group. Outdoor education and music are seamlessly woven into daily experiences.
For the teachers who lead these youngest learners, every day is rich with possibility and wonder.
"I teach young children because they’re hilarious and fun," PreK Teacher Gina Thompson said. "There’s never a boring day. I love being outdoors with them, exploring this amazing campus, and having the freedom to teach in ways that really fit them."
Hands-on learning abounds. One example in Mrs. Thompson’s class: students visited the school garden, observed growing vegetables, and later harvested them to make soup—chopping produce themselves with plastic knives. Literacy and math are integrated through songs, clapping syllables, counting hearts in jars, and graphing favorite fruits. Physics, engineering, and creative thinking are explored through activities such as balloon-powered rockets.
New this year, PreK students are participating in CSS’s Great Pumpkin Drop on October 29, 2025. Using the Engineering Design Process—ask, imagine, plan, create, improve—students are building pumpkin pods to be hoisted 75 feet into the air by the Colorado Springs Fire Department. Upper School STEM students will guide the PreK classes in applying concepts of gravity and motion.
"We’re going to explain concepts like gravity and how slowing things down can prevent breakage, as well as the design process—you have a question and you test it and refine it," said senior Hudson S. ’26, who will be helping students.
Our PreK teachers follow an emergent curriculum, transforming children’s curiosity into learning opportunities. For example, noticing geese on campus might inspire lessons in math, art, and language.
One notable project emerged earlier this year when CSS alumna Kylie Crow ’20, working alongside PreK Teacher Debbie Rowe, shared details of her upcoming trip to Antarctica.
"The students were curious about what Antarctica was," Ms. Rowe said. "Kylie shared a little about her experiences, and we began to study Antarctica, the South Pole, the globe, and the creatures, especially the penguins that live there. This work built on their connection with her and their natural curiosity about place."
What began as a simple conversation turned into a multi-disciplinary exploration:
Globe Exploration: Created multiple globes to learn the location of the South Pole and understand spatial relationships.
Habitat Play: Played with toy penguins and “icebergs,” exploring habitats and adaptations through imaginative play.
Geography & Environment: Reinforced concepts through songs about the planet.
Active Learning: Incorporated physical activity with games like catching a globe-shaped beachball.
Literacy & Comprehension: Read a mix of fiction and nonfiction books about Antarctica.
STEM Experiments: Continued hands-on learning with experiments, including making “snow” in class.
"This work continues as Kylie is now in Antarctica and sends updates and photographs," Ms. Rowe said. "The children feel a real connection to her experiences and see the tangible link between exploration and learning."
PreK students also take part in Fall Adventure each autumn and Colorado Expedition in the spring—age-appropriate versions of CSS’s signature Experiential Education programs.
Fall Adventure focuses on community building and campus exploration. This year, students visited the Trianon, the Upper School STEM lab, and enjoyed a puppet show from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, featuring characters inspired by their classroom animal names—the Bunnies, Hedgehogs, and Cubs.
"Our students asked such thoughtful, relevant questions," Mrs. Holman said. "The zoo team even commented on how our students asked the best questions. To me, that is a huge compliment!"
In the spring, COEX extends learning into the surrounding community, with students meeting local professionals, observing nature, and discovering how they fit into the broader world. “Just like older students, our PreK children are curious explorers discovering their place in the community,” Mrs. Holman said.
PreK at CSS emphasizes social-emotional growth and independence, helping children navigate first separations from home while fostering responsibility and confidence.
"Our job is to nurture the love of learning, to make school a safe, joyful place where children feel heard and capable," Ms. Alicea said.
From hands-on garden explorations and multi-disciplinary projects inspired by pumpkin drops and STEM collaborations, to immersive Fall Adventure and COEX experiences, CSS PreK nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a strong sense of community—preparing children for Kindergarten while laying the foundation for lifelong learning.
Meet our PreK Team
From left to right: Mary Whitman, Assistant Teacher; Bronwyn Holman, Director of Early Childhood; Julie King, Early Childhood Administrative Assistant; Joisse Alicea, Lead Teacher; June Chen-Hayes, Assistant & STEM Teacher; Gina Thompson, Lead Teacher; Viktoria Neville, Assistant Teacher; and Debbie Rowe, Lead Teacher.
Our Next Upcoming Summit to Success Event in the Trianon
November 6, 8:00-9:00 a.m.: Elevating STEM & Innovation at CSS
