Beginner’s Guide to Early Education at Wilkes Barre Academy
A Quick Look at Early Education Wilkes Barre Academy
Early education Wilkes Barre Academy begins with Small Wonders Preschool, a single-location early learning program that serves children from infancy through Pre-Kindergarten. It is designed for families who want nurturing care, early academic skills, and a clear path into Wilkes-Barre Academy’s Kindergarten through 8th-grade program.
| What families can expect | Quick answer |
|---|---|
| Early learning stages | Infant Room, Nursery School, Preschool, and Pre-Kindergarten |
| Learning approach | Play-based exploration paired with structured literacy, math, motor, and social-emotional learning |
| Kindergarten readiness | Pre-K is led by a certified teacher and aligns key learning with Pennsylvania standards |
| What comes next | A transition into Wilkes-Barre Academy’s small, non-religious K-8 learning community |
Small Wonders was established in 1978, and its success with young learners helped inspire the creation of Wilkes-Barre Academy in 1995. For busy parents, that shared foundation matters: children can grow from early milestones, such as communication and self-help skills, into a K-8 environment built around individualized attention and close family-school relationships.
This guide reviews what that early education path includes, how it supports kindergarten readiness, and what families should know before scheduling a tour.
History and Mission Behind Small Wonders Preschool
To truly understand early education Wilkes Barre Academy offers, it helps to look back at where our journey began. Small Wonders Preschool was established in 1978 by twin sisters Cletta Salavantis and Cappie Evers. At the time, regional demand for reliable, high-quality childcare was expanding as dual-income households became more common. Driven by personal dedication and a deep appreciation for meaningful early learning, our founders set out to build a safe, loving place where every child felt genuinely valued.
What started as a single-location preschool quickly blossomed. Families were so pleased with their children’s cognitive, social, and emotional growth that they petitioned our founders to extend the educational experience beyond early childhood. In response, a parent-led capital campaign was launched, bringing Wilkes-Barre Academy to life in 1995.
As we celebrate our 30th graduating class in 2026, our single-location campus in Luzerne County remains firmly grounded in that original mission. We believe early childhood education should do more than just supervise; it must inspire. You can read more about how our school community grew by visiting Our Story and discover Why Wilkes Barre Academy Is The Talk Of The Town among local families.
Comprehensive Guide to Early Education Wilkes Barre Academy Programs
Our early education framework recognizes that young children learn best when nurturing care is paired with structured, hands-on exploration. We view our school as a community where milestones are celebrated, curiosity is encouraged, and strong partnerships with parents are built right from day one.
Choosing the right starting point for your child can feel overwhelming. If you are currently navigating your options, check out our helpful guide on Finding The Best Preschool In Wilkes Barre Without Losing Your Mind. We invite you to learn more about our early childhood options on our dedicated Small Wonders Daycare page.
Core Stages of Early Education Wilkes Barre Academy Offers
Our early childhood progression is broken down into four distinct developmental stages:
- Infant Room: In our infant care setting, we focus on fundamental physical and communicative milestones. Beyond nurturing personal care, rolling, crawling, and walking, we introduce basic sign language to help infants communicate their basic needs before full speech develops. Early counting activities (1 through 5) and sensory play give our youngest learners a gentle head start.
- Nursery School: As toddlers grow, our nursery school program emphasizes emerging language, social interactions, and early literacy skills. Children practice counting from 0 to 20, participate in group storytimes, and master essential self-help skills—including guided potty training and personal hygiene routines.
- Preschool: Our preschool classroom expands on early academics through playful immersion. Children explore alphabet stories and songs, engage in simple hands-on science experiments, practice fine motor tasks like scissor control, and refine social-emotional skills like sharing and group problem-solving.
How Early Education Wilkes Barre Academy Prepares Students for K-8 Success
The capstone of our early childhood pathway is our Pre-Kindergarten program. Led by a certified teacher, our Pre-K classroom is specifically designed to align with Pennsylvania state learning standards to ensure every child transitions seamlessly into primary school.
Our Pre-K curriculum balances core academic benchmarks with functional independence:
- Literacy & Phonemic Awareness: Early letter and sound recognition, vocabulary building, and story comprehension activities aligned with PA state standards.
- Early Mathematics: Pattern recognition, sorting, spatial concepts, and counting skills beyond 20.
- Fine and Gross Motor Mastery: Pencil grip development, cutting precision, playground games, and outdoor play activities (weather permitting).
- Self-Help Skills: Mastering practical daily tasks such as managing buttons, coat zippers, snaps, and maintaining personal cubbies.
By building confidence in both academic fundamentals and personal self-reliance, our students walk into Kindergarten ready to excel. Explore our complete K-8 learning structure on our academics page.
Campus Security, Extended Care, and Financial Options
Parents deserve peace of mind while their children are under our care. Our single-location campus features multi-layered physical and digital security protocols, including smart key-card entry systems, protective Mylar window security films, comprehensive digital video camera surveillance, and strict internet content filtering on student devices.
To support working parents, we offer robust extended care options that operate directly on campus. Unlike standard programs, our full-time extended care provides coverage during unexpected weather delays, snow days, early dismissals, scheduled in-service days, and school holidays.
| Extended Care Plan | Weekly Rate | Payment Installment Option | Operating Hours | Key Features Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time Extended Care | $83 / week | 10 installments of $340 | 6:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Morning & afternoon care, snow days, delays, in-service days, holidays |
| Morning Care Only | $50 / week | 10 installments of $200 | 6:30 AM – 8:45 AM | Before-school supervision and structured morning activities |
| Afternoon Care Only | $50 / week | 10 installments of $200 | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM | After-school supervision, outdoor play, and homework support |
Find complete details regarding scheduling and logistics by visiting our Before After School Care page.
Financial Aid and Tuition Structure
We believe high-quality private education should remain accessible and straightforward for local families. For the 2026-2027 school year, single-student tuition for Wilkes-Barre Academy is $7,150 per year, which can be conveniently broken down into 10 monthly installments of $715 managed through the FACTS Tuition Management System. Families enrolling multiple children receive a discounted tuition rate of $6,650 per year for additional siblings.
To help offset tuition costs, we encourage families to explore multiple financial assistance avenues:
- EITC & OSTCP Tax Credit Programs: Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs allow participating businesses to direct tax dollars toward private school scholarships. This year, over 70 of our qualifying students received financial assistance through these programs, covering nearly two full tuition installments.
- Voucher (Gift Card) Rebate Program: Our unique parent-run gift card rebate program allows families to purchase everyday gift cards for groceries, gas, and shopping, with a percentage of every purchase credited directly toward their annual tuition balance.
To begin an inquiry or submit registration details, visit our enrollment portal or explore our main admissions section.
Extending the Educational Foundation into Primary Grades
One of the greatest advantages of enrolling in early education Wilkes Barre Academy offers is the direct bridge to our K-8 elementary and middle school programs. Because Small Wonders and Wilkes-Barre Academy share a single campus infrastructure, young graduates step into primary school already familiar with our welcoming community, values, and environment.
Our K-8 school model is purposefully built around a single classroom per grade level. This structural commitment maintains small student-to-teacher ratios and allows our state-certified faculty—many of whom have taught at our institution for decades—to deliver individualized learning tailored to each child’s needs.
As a private, non-religious academy, we bring together a diverse student body focused entirely on advanced academics, character development, and peer mentorship. Discover why local families choose our primary program by reading Why A Private K 8 School In Pennsylvania Makes The Grade.
Frequently Asked Questions About Early Education
For quick reference, we have compiled answers to common questions regarding our early education programs. For additional information, please visit our complete Frequently Asked Questions page.
What age groups are served at Small Wonders Preschool?
Small Wonders Preschool serves children starting in our Infant Room and progresses through Nursery School, Preschool, and Pre-Kindergarten. Our comprehensive care path accepts infants, toddlers, and young children preparing for Kindergarten entrance.
How does the Pre-K curriculum align with Pennsylvania state standards?
Our Pre-Kindergarten classroom is led by a state-certified teacher who implements early literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies concepts aligned directly with Pennsylvania early learning standards. We focus on letter-sound recognition, counting foundations, fine motor control, and independent self-help skills to ensure full kindergarten readiness.
What extended care options are available for working parents?
We offer flexible morning care starting at 6:30 AM and afternoon care ending at 5:30 PM. Full-time extended care packages cover routine before-and-after school hours as well as snow days, delayed openings, teacher in-service days, and holiday breaks.
Conclusion
Choosing the right early learning environment sets the stage for your child’s entire academic path. At Small Wonders Preschool and Wilkes-Barre Academy, our single-location campus in Luzerne County brings together nurturing early care, certified instruction, multi-layered campus security, and a seamless transition into private K-8 education.
Whether your child is taking their very first steps in our Infant Room or gearing up for Kindergarten in Pre-K, our dedicated faculty is here to support your family every step of the way. Contact our admissions office today or visit our Small Wonders Daycare page to schedule a private tour!
