The Ultimate Guide to Wilkes Barre Academy Preschool
A Quick Look at Wilkes Barre Academy Preschool
Wilkes Barre Academy preschool is Small Wonders Preschool, a single-location early childhood program that serves infants through pre-kindergarten. It combines nurturing care, play-based learning, early academic skills, and social development in a non-religious private-school community.
| What parents want to know | Quick answer |
|---|---|
| Programs available | Infant Room, Nursery School, Preschool, and Pre-Kindergarten |
| Learning approach | Age-appropriate play, literacy, math, movement, science, self-help skills, and social growth |
| Kindergarten readiness | Preschool phonics and Pre-K learning help children build foundations for Wilkes-Barre Academy Kindergarten |
| Pre-K instruction | Led by a state-certified teacher and aligned with Pennsylvania learning standards |
| School connection | Small Wonders was founded in 1978 and later helped inspire the creation of Wilkes-Barre Academy |
For busy families, the key point is continuity. Children can begin with early learning at Small Wonders and move into a small, individualized school setting through eighth grade. Wilkes-Barre Academy has one classroom per grade level, supporting closer communication between families and teachers.
This guide reviews the preschool’s history, age-level programs, kindergarten transition, tuition support, and first steps for scheduling a tour.
History and Core Philosophy of Small Wonders Preschool
The story of our early childhood community began back in 1978. Small Wonders Preschool was established by twin sisters Cletta Salavantis and Cappie Evers. As working mothers needing dependable, high-quality childcare for their own six young children, they recognized a growing need in Luzerne County for standard-setting early education. What started as a dedicated effort to serve local families soon blossomed into a beloved educational haven.
From day one, our mission has been centered on offering a safe, warm, and inspiring environment where young minds can flourish. Because we operate as a non-profit, non-religious private learning facility, our focus remains entirely on student growth, character development, and academic exploration. Over the decades, our single-location facility in Wilkes-Barre has stayed true to its core values: treating every child as an individual, fostering a deep love for learning, and welcoming families from all cultural backgrounds.
As the children in our original preschool program thrived, parents advocated for the expansion of our educational philosophy into the elementary years. In 1995, a passionate parent cohort organized a capital campaign that led to the founding of Wilkes-Barre Academy. Today, as we celebrate decades of service—including our 30th graduating eighth-grade class in 2026—our single campus continues to provide a seamless educational pathway from infant care all the way through 8th grade. If you are currently navigating your options in Luzerne County, our guide on Finding the Best Preschool in Wilkes-Barre Without Losing Your Mind offers practical advice for choosing the right environment for your child.
Why Parents Choose Wilkes Barre Academy Preschool for Early Education
Choosing the right early childhood setting is one of the most important decisions you will make for your child’s developmental journey. Families choose Wilkes Barre Academy preschool at Small Wonders because we combine the warmth of a close-knit community with a structured academic foundation.
Our core differentiator is our single-classroom-per-grade structure across our single-location campus. Rather than packing hundreds of students into multiple tracks, we deliberately limit enrollment to just one classroom per grade level. This structural choice ensures that:
- Individualized Learning: Our educators get to know every child’s strengths, personality, learning style, and growth areas in detail.
- Strong Home-School Partnerships: Parents and teachers stay in constant communication. Whether through modern digital parent portals or face-to-face afternoon check-ins, we collaborate closely with families.
- A Tight-Knit Community: Students build deep, lifelong friendships with peers and feel known and celebrated by every staff member on campus.
- State-Certified Leadership: Our classrooms benefit from state-certified teachers who regularly complete continuing professional education to keep teaching strategies dynamic and engaging.
By keeping our campus focused and personal, we create an atmosphere where children inherently feel safe to explore, ask questions, and build confidence. You can explore our dedicated Small Wonders Daycare page to see how our environment supports early growth.
Comprehensive Programs at Wilkes Barre Academy Preschool
Our early childhood structure is meangfully broken down into four distinct age-appropriate programs. Each stage builds on the previous one, ensuring that as your child grows physically, emotionally, and cognitively, their classroom experience naturally evolves to match their needs.
To give you a clear overview of how our classrooms progress, the table below highlights the target age groups, primary focus areas, and key learning milestones for each stage of our program:
| Program Level | Typical Age Range | Primary Focus Areas | Key Learning Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant Room | 6 Weeks – 15 Months | Nurturing care, sensory exploration, basic sign language, motor development | Rolling over, crawling, early steps, first words, counting 1–5 |
| Nursery School | 15 Months – 3 Years | Socialization, verbal skills, basic concepts, fine motor building, routine habits | Counting 0–20, shape recognition, basic sign language, sharing, potty training support |
| Preschool | 3 Years – 4 Years | Letter recognition, guided play, hands-on science, social-emotional learning | Letter identification through stories and songs, color mixing, personal hygiene, group cooperation |
| Pre-Kindergarten | 4 Years – 5 Years | PA standards-aligned academics, phonics introduction, self-help skills, advanced reasoning | Letter-sound matching, clothing fasteners (buttons/zippers), cutting with scissors, pencil grip mastery |
All of our programs share a common commitment: blending structured academic preparation with joyful, play-based exploration. Daily outdoor play on our secure playground is a priority (weather permitting) to foster physical health, balance, and gross motor strength alongside classroom activities.
Age-Specific Curriculum and Key Learning Milestones
Each room within our single-location facility is specially equipped to meet the developmental tasks of early childhood. Here is a closer look at what your child will experience at each stage:
Infant Room Care
Our Infant Room provides a peaceful, clean, and loving home away from home. We focus heavily on sensory stimulation, gentle verbal interaction, and foundational physical milestones such as sitting up, crawling, and taking early steps. To bridge the communication gap before full verbal fluency develops, our caregivers introduce basic sign language for common words like more, please, and milk. We also begin subtle early math exposure through songs and fingerplays that introduce counting from 1 to 5.
Nursery School
As toddlers become active movers, our Nursery School program directs their natural curiosity into constructive habits. Children practice counting from 0 to 20, identifying primary and secondary shapes, and recognizing colors. Social skills are a core element of this stage; toddlers practice sharing toys, using polite manners, maintaining personal hygiene, and building confidence with potty training routines. Basic sign language continues to be integrated alongside expanding spoken language.
Preschool Classroom
In our Preschool program, early literacy takes center stage through interactive read-alouds, rhyming games, and alphabet songs. Children dive into hands-on science experiments that spark curiosity about nature, weather, and basic cause-and-effect relationships. Group activities encourage emotional maturity, encouraging children to express their feelings constructively and collaborate on group projects.
Pre-Kindergarten Classroom
Led by a state-certified teacher, our Pre-K program follows curriculum standards aligned directly with Pennsylvania Department of Education frameworks. In Pre-K, children hone their fine motor control by working with safety scissors, writing tools, and learning practical self-help skills like managing buttons, snaps, and zippers on their jackets. Early literacy focuses heavily on letter recognition and corresponding letter sounds, setting the stage for smooth kindergarten reading.
To help prepare your child with the exact classroom tools needed for their age group, check out our official Small Wonders School Supplies List.
Seamless Transitioning from Wilkes Barre Academy Preschool to Kindergarten
One of the greatest benefits of enrolling your child in Wilkes Barre Academy preschool is the seamless bridge we build directly into our elementary program. Because our elementary and middle school classrooms operate on the exact same single campus, the transition into Kindergarten feels natural, safe, and exciting rather than overwhelming.
Our Pre-K phonics preparation allows our Kindergarten teachers to hit the ground running on day one of the school year. Kindergarten at Wilkes-Barre Academy is known for its impressive reading standard—students typically master 60 sight words by midterm and reach 120 sight words by the end of their kindergarten year!
This high achievement is made possible through:
- Strong Early Literacy Standards: Introducing phonics sounds and letter blending during the preschool years so reading readiness is already established.
- Detailed Teacher Transition Briefings: Prior to the new school year, our Pre-K certified teacher meets directly with our Kindergarten teacher to review each student’s academic portfolio, personality, and specific learning preferences.
- Kindergarten Entrance Assessments: We administer a friendly developmental readiness assessment prior to entry to ensure each child is properly positioned to thrive in our advanced curriculum.
- Enrichment Integration: Incoming kindergarteners effortlessly step into specialized subjects including computer lab, library, Spanish, sign language, art, music, and Scholastic News current events studies.
Children who complete our early childhood program step into Kindergarten feeling fully at home in their school environment, surrounded by familiar faces and supportive educators.
Tuition Rates, Financial Support, and Extended Care Options
We believe that exceptional private education should be transparent and accessible to dedicated families in Luzerne County. For the 2026-2027 academic school year, our primary school tuition structure is straightforward:
- Single Student Tuition (2026-2027): $7,150 annually (or structured in 10 convenient monthly installments of $715).
- Multi-Child Discounted Rate: $6,650 annually for second and subsequent siblings.
We utilize the flexible FACTS Tuition Management System, allowing parents to spread tuition payments over a predictable 10-month schedule.
Financial Support Programs
To keep tuition manageable, we offer multiple unique financial support avenues:
- EITC and OSTCP Tax Credit Assistance: Through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTCP) programs, we provide significant financial aid to qualifying families. In a single recent year, over 70 of our enrolled students received nearly two full tuition installments funded directly through tax credit contributions!
- Parent Gift Card Voucher Program: Our popular parent-run Voucher Tuition Assistance Program allows families to purchase gift cards for routine daily shopping (groceries, gasoline, retail stores, and dining). A percentage of every gift card purchase is credited directly back to the family’s tuition account, allowing parents to lower their tuition bills simply by making everyday family purchases.
Extended Care Services
For working parents who require flexible scheduling beyond regular school hours, we offer comprehensive Before and After School Care right on our single-location campus. Our extended care options cover early morning drop-offs (starting at 6:30 a.m.) and late afternoon pick-ups (until 5:30 p.m.), including coverage during snow delays, scheduled holidays, and weather cancellations:
- Full-Time Extended Care (Morning & Afternoon): $83 per week (or 10 monthly installments of $340).
- Morning-Only Care (6:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.): $50 per week (or 10 monthly installments of $200).
- Afternoon-Only Care (3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.): $50 per week (or 10 monthly installments of $200).
Our campus safety infrastructure includes multi-layered physical security measures—such as smart key-card entry systems, Mylar safety window films, comprehensive digital surveillance, and strict internet content filtering—giving parents total peace of mind throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Preschool Enrollment
Is the preschool affiliated with any religious organization?
No. Wilkes-Barre Academy and Small Wonders Preschool operate as an independent, non-religious private non-profit institution. We welcome students and families from all religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. Our community focuses on universal values such as kindness, respect, honesty, teamwork, and academic effort.
What age groups are served at the single-location preschool facility?
Our early childhood center serves children starting from infants as young as 6 weeks old up through 5-year-olds in Pre-Kindergarten. Every age bracket operates in a specialized classroom environment tailored to that specific stage of child development, all housed within our single-location facility in Wilkes-Barre.
How can families schedule a private tour or initiate enrollment?
Scheduling a visit is simple! You can arrange a private tour of our campus by calling our office directly at (570) 823-7574 or by filling out the online prospective student contact form on our website. During your tour, you will have the opportunity to walk through our classrooms, observe our state-certified teachers in action, ask detailed questions about our curriculum, and learn more about our simple admissions procedures.
Conclusion and Admissions Guide
Investing in your child’s early education sets the stage for a lifetime of confidence, curiosity, and academic achievement. At Wilkes Barre Academy preschool, we combine decades of educational expertise with the warmth of a close-knit, single-location community. From our Infant Room through our state-aligned Pre-Kindergarten classroom, your child will be safe, valued, and inspired to learn every single day.
Whether you are looking for early infant care, a stimulating nursery program, or a state-certified Pre-K that guarantees reading readiness for elementary school, our dedicated staff is here to walk alongside your family.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
- Reach Out: Contact our admissions office to speak with our welcoming staff.
- Schedule a Private Tour: Visit our single-location campus in Wilkes-Barre to experience our single-classroom-per-grade environment firsthand.
- Explore Admissions & Financial Aid: Learn more about our enrollment paperwork on our official Admissions page, and ask our team how to utilize our gift card voucher program or EITC tax credit financial aid.
- Join Our Community: Reserve your child’s place in our early learning family by visiting our Small Wonders Preschool Programs page today!
