Newcastle Preschool5510

I can't give enough praise to this wonderful Preschool! I live in West Jordan and make the drive to Draper three times a week just so my son can attend this school. It is worth it in every way. We moved here about a year ago and placed my son in a preschool that he enjoyed but wasn't advancing in. It was suggested that we hold him back. I decided not to hold him back in the 3 year old class and to switch preschools. Since the switch to Newcastle his progress has sailed and he has had no problems. His confidence level is so much higher and he can't wait to go to school. He is sad when he has a break from school. Kathleen and the teachers are so knowledgeable and understanding to each individual child's ability. They are very organized and plan awesome projects and special days for the kids. I fell in love with this school after the summer camp and have continued to love it throughout this preschool year. I look forward to sending my other children to this wonderful school.

About 7 years ago I began a journey that would eventually lead me to The Newcastle School. I have been trained by outstanding teachers in the early childhood community to recognize a quality care PRESCHOOL, and I found just that at the Newcastle School. I am a new parent to the school and my son is an - -active- -creative- -growing - child who will benefit from the experiences he will have here. I have a pin that I acquired at a NAEYC (National Association for the education of young children) conference that says "CHILDHOOD IS A JOURNEY NOT A RACE" and I look forward to enjoying the journey along with the well trained teachers and the amazing founders, who by the way greeted my son and I at the door! I appreciate the commitment and the care that goes into every aspect of The Newcastle School. The design is optimal for age appropriate development, and I am so very happy that my son will not be working to play but he will be learning from his play! I encourage everyone who reads this to take a moment and get down on the floor and see what your child sees at his or her level while searching for a quality care preschool. The moment I was led into the school I was encouraged to observe the teachers naturally interacting with the kids at their level. There was no sense of rehearsal, just plain honest care and learning in action. I noticed the placement of the teachers who were quite comfortable sitting on the floor with the kids reading a story. I noticed the helpful teacher on the playground. I noticed the positive energy being created in the learning centers. I noticed the clean bathrooms and well kept class rooms, and I noticed the friendly children who welcomed my son with open arms. Thank you Kathleen and Larry for giving parents in our community every parents dream preschool. I look forward to volunteering in my sons class, hugs and kisses goodbye and hugs and kisses hello, seeing him happy and well-adjusted to social situations, but most importantly knowing that his journey has started with love and care at the Newcastle School.

One thing I really enjoy about The Newcastle Preschool is their amazing art projects. From painting with pudding, marbles or bubble wrap to decorating with shaving cream or blowing colored bubbles on paper, my son returns home excited and proud of his creative and fun art projects that he was able to do himself. Learning fundamentals is important but I love the fact that, along with the basics, the staff at The Newcastle School celebrate creativity and encourage a child's imagination.

Several years ago, I was a nanny for two young girls that went to the Newcastle preschool. I was so impressed by the school, that I told myself I would want to send my kids there someday. Several years later when it was time to send my first child off it was so much easier to know that the Newcastle School was there. I was so assured sending him there that he would have the best start possible and never worried that he would be taken care of. The school is amazing how it hasn't changed a bit over the years. It is still full of outstanding teachers that truly care about each child and do the best that they can to make sure each child gets the attention and learning that they need. I especially like how the school balances fun and learning, making the children feel at home while they are there. Kathleen Jensen is exceptional. She is amazing and runs the school flawlessly, and is always there to help. Both of my children have gone to the Newcastle school and I am excited to send my younger son when he is ready. The playground is my children's favorite. Also my kids love the summer camps they love the cooking and playing on the playground. I would definately recommend sending your kids to the camps before school starts it really helped my kids start school. Thank you to Mrs. Kathleen and Mr. Larry for helping my children learn with their individual needs. We are so thankful we can send our kids there.

My family and I absolutely LOVE Newcastle! I have had four of my children attend this Draper preschool from 2000-2008 and each one of them would come home so excited because of how much they had learned or what they had painted or songs that they want to sing to me. I have twins that are attending right now and I decided to start them early because I knew what Newcastle preschool provided. I personally talked to Kathleen, the director and owner about my concerns and she suggested starting them early and repeating 4/5 year old class. That was the BEST suggestion for them because it has given them a chance to mature and grow at their own levels. All my children have enjoyed the teachers! They are experienced and love each one of their students like their own. We especially like Ms. Dawn. She is the most kind, loving teacher and she truly loves teaching children! One of my children’s favorite activities are the singing programs that they have twice a year, they think they are the stars of the whole program! If you are honestly considering the preschool options for your child, your search is over. At Newcastle preschool you will enjoy every minute of your child’s experience!

Newcastle Preschool in Draper was our first-choice preschool upon searching numerous peschool websites before heading to Utah for our preschool interviews and tours. Coming from a small Idaho community where our daughter had started preschool at 2 1/2 years old for a year already, this was an overwhelming decision to make as we headed to a much larger urban city. We toured larger preschool centers in Salt Lake County but didn't see that they would be challenging, stimulating or very guided in early childhood development curriculum. We reviewed pages and pages of applications for all-academic, somewhat elitist feeling institutions that took me back to the pressures of my college enrollment days ... and then I remembered that this is preschool, she's three years old and she'll have the rest of her life for high-stakes academics. I wanted a preschool that believed in learning fun and creativity that was outside the "worksheets" thinking box. We even visited a Salt Lake County preschool that impressed us initially with fancy building and classroom aesthetics until we learned further that they didn't enjoy outdoor play time, and most of our discussion evolved around the buildings materials and looks, and take-home worksheets, my thoughts again ... for 3-year-olds? This was a distinguished "Best In State" award recipient, and when I asked what that indicated the preschool had to accomplish to receive the award, I was disappointed with the overly simplified response: "A lot." My frustrations in our Utah preschool search all ended at Newcastle's doors with the warm welcome of owners Larry and Kathleen Jensen. We, as parents, felt at home, and were reassured by that same calming demeanor we could sense from the children's and teachers' faces. The kids and adults alike in every classroom we observed were all truly engaged, stimulated and happy to be there. Not only were we impressed by the open rooms, creative learning centers, and large outdoor play area, but we were reassured and confident in the learning curriculum balance we had discovered at Newcastle. We know our daughter is going to learn everything she needs to know to be prepared for kindergarten, but because of the balance Newcastle preschool brings in the belief of educating the "whole" child, our daughter will bring more ideas to learning than just writing letters and numbers. She'll embrace learning new ideas and concepts beyond the grasp of a mere pencil on paper. Instead, she'll see more with imagination, creativity, adventure, risk-taking, diversified applications and, perhaps the most important learning element to motivate children to enjoy school from this age forward: fun.

Each one of my four children have attended Newcastle Preschool from 2001-2008. I drive past many other preschools on my way to and from Newcastle. Newcastle was the right choice for my children. Each child thrived in the structured environment which provided the right mix between academics and socialization. Each one of the teachers is well qualified and trained in early childhood education. Kathleen Jensen is a wonderful director and gave us wonderful parenting advice. All four of our kids experienced some separation anxiety. Kathleen took the time to call us on the phone to suggest a plan on how to help the children adjust well to preschool. The teachers and staff at the school each were aware of the plan and worked together to help the children adjust to the new environment. My kids loved all the art projects, playground, singing time, computer classes and especially Daddy Day. The teachers each made a big impact on each one of our children. We loved the pictures that the school sends home periodically of our kids participating in the activities at school. I love when they ask me to come and volunteer to help the children read, because the teachers and staff make me feel welcome and part of the school system. I am really sad that I have no more children who will be able to attend Newcastle and that my experience with the school is coming to a close.

My husband and I visited several preschools prior to choosing the Newcastle School. From the moment Kathleen greeted us at the door, we felt the school opened its arms and welcomed us in. Newcastle provides an environment filled with a variety of activities and experiences important to the development of a well rounded child. The academic base is enhanced by music, art and in house field trips(firemen, policemen, Tracy aviary) to name a few. We have been impressed with the efficient organization and daily routine of the school. Evidence we feel comes from years of experience and use of proven educational methods. Additionally, the use of Love & Logic principles throughout the school provides a healthy, respectful and consistent atmosphere for the children. We have enjoyed watching our children develop into a well prepared individuals ready for what grade school has to offer.

When I first found Newcastle I fell in love with the preschool. It's in Draper and I live in South Jordan so I probably drive past dozens of preschools to get there but it's worth it. The things I like about the school is that they encourage parents to visit anytime. There are always parents at the school helping in the classes so its kind of hard to park but its great that they are so open to having parents watching how they teach. Kathleen and Larry (the owners) are amazing. Kathleen knows so much about children. One of my boys would not have made it past 5 if Kathleen hadn't been there to advise us on how to handle him. He's still a challenge but the things Kathleen taught me are part of our life now, and it really works. This is getting too long but I also love the teachers - they are all very professional, the music program is just so fun and the art projects are hilarious- boys gone wild with paint. Last I have never talked to anyone who had a complaint about the school and we were there 4 years. You can't go wrong with the Newcastle Preschool.

All four of my children have attended Newcastle over (I think)about 10 years. I spent months l touring preschools with my first child in the mid 1990s and just stumbled upon Newcastle. I was floored when I walked in because it was very, very nice and it smelled better than my house. Kathleen is the owner and she is always there. I'm sure thats why the school is so well organized. The curricullum is great - not too much memorizing like some other schools but the kids still learn and are very happy. I would do it all over again if I were faced with the same decision today. Keep it up Newcastle. We'll always remember you.