We enroll infants through four-year-olds. There are five classrooms at CPDS: Infants (ages 6 w-1 yr), Ones (1-2 yrs), Twos (2-3 yrs), Threes (3-4 yrs), and Fours (4-5 yrs).
CPDS is a full-time school. Please speak with our school director if you have a special scheduling request, to find out whether we can accommodate it.
We are open every day of the week. Please visit our Offerings page for more information about our weekly schedule.
Children learn from watching others and from doing tasks with them. Our goal is to encourage students to use their natural sense of wonder and their desire for discovery to solve peer conflict and to grow in confidence. We take pride in helping students develop empathy for others, respect for their own bodies, and appreciation for life's natural consequences.
In order to accomplish all this, CPDS does not follow any one educational philosophy. We take a "multiple intelligences" approach, choosing the best from various methods and we borrow especially heavily from two methods:
Montessori
Like a Montessori school, we allow students to grow and learn independently, teaching them to take responsibility for their actions and encouraging creativity.
Project Based Learning (PBL)
PBL adapts to age and ability. We introduce students to themes such as "Things that Go," or "My Family and Culture." Then, students discuss and explore these topics, taking on projects which encourage collaboration and problem solving.
CPDS welcomes families from all different faiths and backgrounds. We never insist that students or their families hold certain doctrines or belong to any faith-based organization.
We are Jesus followers and we share the teachings of Jesus with our students. We have open conversations about Bible passages, pray before lunches, and have a child-friendly worship service each Wednesday, which we encourage parents to attend.
CPDS is a ministry of Chandler Presbyterian Church (CPC) and CPC members receive tuition discounts. Throughout the year, we provide opportunities for families to enjoy our other ministries, including Sunday worship, classes, community service events, and social gatherings. We hope that eventually you will feel God's spirit tugging you to join our amazing community of Jesus followers.
Children bring their own lunches and snacks from home. We provide cool filtered water throughout the day.
We assess students within 60 days of enrollment and then again at the end of each school year using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) and the ASQ-2 SE (social-emotional) assessment scale. A child's teacher and family both participate in the process.
Assessments support open conversations about each student's goals and concerns. Throughout the school year, we observe students every day and maintain open communication with their families to gauge progress.
We take a holistic approach to correcting undesirable behaviors. We always treat every student with respect and dignity, allowing them to feel natural emotions and teaching them to select positive actions to flow from those emotions.
CPDS teachers address age-typical undesirable behaviors in the following order:
1. Acknowledgement. We first acknowledge the child without encouraging the undesirable behavior. Sometimes, recognition is enough to interrupt the undesirable behavior.
2. Redirection. Changing the environment or task can refocus students on more productive behaviors.
3. Reflection. When appropriate, and depending on the maturity level of the child, we start an open-ended dialogue with the child, exploring why the behavior happened, identifying alternative behaviors, and how any harm caused to another child might be healed.
Simply use the "Inquire Now" button below to get in touch. If you have a question about CPDS, we'd like to answer it.
We are also happy to answer questions about CPC's teachings, ministries, or anything else.