The Carousel Academy in Lancaster and North Tonawandais looking for new students to join it new science and nature classes. As WBFO'S Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley says the pre-school is teaming with the Buffalo Science Museum and Tift Nature Preserve.
"We are going to be putting a four-year-old, full-day pre-K into the Science Museum and also Tift Nature Preserve," said Deanna LaDuca, CEO of The Carousel Academy.
For 50-years the pre-school has provided early childhood learning for three and four year olds. Parents pay tuition for universal, private, pre-K.
"We're very much a part of the whole child and making sure that they're ready to grow and prosper," said Deanna LaDuca, CEO of The Carousel Academy.
The school hosting an open house at the Science Museum Saturday at 10 a.m. to 12 noon to showcase its new program for four-year olds as it seeks new students.
"And we are very excited about this partnership with Museum and Tift and we think that it is just very innovative and exciting for the community," stated LaDuca.
The new Pre-K program will bring young learners directly to science and nature.
"One of the aspects that we are very proud of is that we are encouraging STEM learning and we are going to be talking about solar energy and we are going to be talking about all exciting concepts that really they sometimes save just for middle and high school kids. Now we are going to be introducing at the pre-k level," noted LaDuca.
LaDuca said The Academy is on the cutting-edge of preparing a children for what's ahead in Common Core Learning.
"And we are a provider of education that gets students ready for kindergarten, the demands and the rigor of Common Core and the New York State standards," said LaDuca.
While the pre-k program stresses academics, including math and reading, it also allows students to explore learning through creative programs and experiments.
"We're very much a part of the whole child and making sure that they're ready to grow and prosper," said LaDuca.