LITTLE STARS PROGRAM
Age Minimum of 2.0 by date 12/31 in the school year of entry

Monday - Friday 9:00 am – 12 noon or 2:45 pm (lunch from home)
OR
Monday / Wednesday / Friday 9:00 am - 12 noon or 2:45 pm (lunch from home)
OR
Tuesday / Thursday 9:00 am - 12 noon or 2:45 pm (lunch from home)

Extended day is offered by advance sign up with classroom head teachers:
Early drop off for all children: 8:30 am
Late pick up for Little Stars 12 pm children: 12:30 pm
Late pick up for Little Stars 2:45 pm children: 3:15 pm
Children who stay at school for late pick up bring their lunch from home.

At Woodward, the Little Stars Program is designed to provide a warm and supportive environment for two-year-olds, focusing on both their emotional and developmental needs. Running from 9 am to 12 pm, the program offers enrollment options of 2 to 5 days per week, allowing families to choose what works best for them. A gradual transition from home to school helps children feel secure, fostering trust between them and their teachers without the stress of sudden separation.

Each day follows a carefully structured routine, providing children with the consistency they need to feel comfortable and confident. The curriculum is highly responsive to both the group and individual needs, adapting to each child’s strengths and interests to ensure a meaningful learning experience.

Learning is naturally integrated into every aspect of the day. Cooking activities, for example, introduce basic math and science concepts, while imaginative play helps children practice important social skills like sharing and cooperation. The manipulatives section offers opportunities for developing fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities, while the art area encourages creativity, along with early math and science understanding.

Activities like working with Play-Doh not only strengthen hand muscles but also give children the chance to safely practice using scissors. In the block area, cooperative play fosters spatial reasoning and teamwork. Group activities—whether during indoor circle time or outdoor play—allow children to develop social awareness, practice listening, and learn to collaborate with others. Colors, numbers, shapes, and more are introduced through fun songs, stories, and games.

The ultimate goal of the Little Stars Program is to nurture every aspect of a child’s growth as they adapt to a daily schedule with their peers, away from home, while providing a supportive foundation that helps each child reach their full potential.


RAINBOW PROGRAM
Age Minimum of 2.9 in September in the school year of entry

Monday - Friday 9:00 am – 2:45 pm

Extended day is offered by advance sign up with classroom head teachers:
Early drop off: 8:30 am
Late pick up: 3:15 pm

The Rainbow curriculum supports and values the whole child while strengthening their individual abilities through play and their investigations of the environment.

Thought-provoking, developmentally age-appropriate activities are introduced to the children in thematic units. These units focus on children's interests and include the themes of apples, pumpkins, friendship, shapes, hibernation, the solar system, dinosaurs, butterflies, gardening, transportation, seasons, holidays, etc.

Learning centers in the classroom allow for the children to move freely and choose their own activities during play time. These include the block area, dramatic play, the art table, easels, sensory table, manipulatives and the library. Each learning center is thematically focused to expand on the curriculum and enhance fine and gross motor skills, cognitive skills, language development, social skills and emotional development.

Project work is a favorite part of the day. This time is a wonderful opportunity for the Rainbow children to work one-on-one with the teacher, or in a small group with only a few other children. Project work helps the children to develop the ability to follow step-by-step directions. It is also a good time for the teacher to understand where each child is developmentally, as well as to assess their skills and strengthen their language development.

Specials in the Rainbow classroom include yoga, science, cooking, Spanish and music and movement.

Weekly music class and weekly movement class are taught by specialists who visit Woodward to help children explore these art forms.

The main goals for the year are to help the children form meaningful relationships with their teachers and peers, and to foster each child’s sense of independence, socialization and curiosity.



Watching my boys grow and thrive at Woodward has been a truly rewarding experience. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to promote not only academic readiness but also emotional and social development. I have seen my sons blossom into confident, curious, and compassionate individuals. The various activities, from art projects to outdoor play, have allowed them to explore their interests and express themselves creatively. I wholeheartedly recommend Woodward Nursery School to any parent looking for a nurturing environment that prioritizes community and personal growth.

LITTLE STARS & RAINBOW

The William Woodward, Jr. Nursery School
435 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 744-6611       Fax: 212-744-0685
E-mail: info@wwjns.org

NYS Board of Regents, NYC Dept of Health, ISAAGNY, Parents League of NY