Preparing Students For Tomorrow’s World
Koala, French immersion preschool of Raleigh, NC.
During these crucial early years at Koala School, we focus on nurturing emotional bonds, fostering attachment, and promoting socialization, all of which set the stage for acquiring essential social skills. Our preschool program is meticulously crafted to cater to young children, employing targeted educational methods: learning through play, tackling real-world challenges, practicing skills, and building foundational knowledge.
This environment forms the bedrock where children not only begin their journey toward becoming students but also develop their unique identities within a supportive group dynamic, fostering collaboration with peers. At Koala French immersion school, preschool instills self-confidence and nurtures crucial skills such as critical thinking, active learning, and ultimately, achieving success.
children ready to succeed
At Koala, French immersion preschool of Raleigh, students will gain age-appropriate knowledge and skills tailored to their individual needs, essential for their well-being and growth.
The aim is to foster a love for learning in a calm and stimulating school environment. Acquiring fundamental skills (reading, writing, arithmetic) in elementary school involves developing knowledge from an early age, promoting self-esteem and respect for others among students. Our bilingual program supports this by enhancing their language, sensory, motor, cognitive, and social development, contributing to their emotional well-being.
The French educational system is a globally recognized model for its rigor, organization, and commitment to equal opportunities and academic excellence.
Why a French Immersion School?
Today, a greater proportion of the world’s population is bilingual or multilingual rather than monolingual.
This trend not only enhances cross-cultural communication but also benefits cognitive abilities. Research indicates that bilingual brains often exhibit superior attention and task-switching skills compared to monolingual brains, due to their enhanced capacity to inhibit one language while using another.
Moreover, bilingualism yields benefits across the age spectrum: Bilingual children as young as seven months adapt more readily to environmental changes, and bilingual seniors tend to experience slower cognitive decline.
A nurturing space designed to inspire exploration, movement, and focus..
Infants refers to the nurturing classroom environment tailored for infants aged approximately 3 to 12 months. In this setting, expert staff warmly and carefully attend to all the developmental needs of the young children. This includes supporting their desires to walk and talk, fostering independence in eating and drinking, and helping them explore and understand the world around them.
For children ages 16 months – 3 years
Children aged 16 months to 2.5-3 years experience an incredible period of growth, achieving significant milestones in communication, independence, physical movement, problem-solving, and social interactions. These early years are foundational, as children rapidly develop skills that set the stage for future learning and personal growth. The Toddler program is meticulously designed to support this vital phase of development, offering a structured environment where young children can thrive. By providing tailored activities and guided learning experiences, the program helps children optimize their progress, encouraging them to explore, engage, and master new skills. Through focused support and nurturing care, the Toddler program ensures that each child reaches their full potential during this critical stage of their development.
For children ages 3 years to 6 years
In our French immersion school, students participate to diverse activities, fostering the development of knowledge, confidence, and social skills. Teachers empower children to fully utilize the available materials, spanning practical life activities, geography, and mathematics. This approach not only enhances their learning but also immerses them in the French language, promoting bilingualism and cultural understanding from an early age.
A nurturing space designed to inspire exploration, movement, and focus..
Les touts petits, meaning “Small kids” in English, refers to the nurturing classroom environment tailored for infants aged approximately 3 to 18 months. In this setting, expert staff warmly and carefully attend to all the developmental needs of the young children. This includes supporting their desires to walk and talk, fostering independence in eating and drinking, and helping them explore and understand the world around them.
For children ages 16 months – 3 years
Children aged 16 months to 2.5-3 years experience an incredible period of growth, achieving significant milestones in communication, independence, physical movement, problem-solving, and social interactions. These early years are foundational, as children rapidly develop skills that set the stage for future learning and personal growth. The Toddler program is meticulously designed to support this vital phase of development, offering a structured environment where young children can thrive. By providing tailored activities and guided learning experiences, the program helps children optimize their progress, encouraging them to explore, engage, and master new skills. Through focused support and nurturing care, the Toddler program ensures that each child reaches their full potential during this critical stage of their development..
For children ages 3 years to 6 years
In our French immersion school, students take charge of their own activities under the supervision of their principal teacher, fostering the development of knowledge, confidence, and social skills. Teachers empower children to fully utilize the available materials, spanning practical life activities, geography, and mathematics. This approach not only enhances their learning but also immerses them in the French language, promoting bilingualism and cultural understanding from an early age.
FAQs
Many visitors to our website have questions about our French immersion school. Below are answers to several of our most frequently asked questions. If you have others, or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Why immersion?
Koala School students in immersion programs naturally acquire their second language without the need for constant translation. By beginning at a young age, they develop native-like pronunciation, intonation, and inflection. Research indicates that these students exhibit stronger listening and study skills, achieve higher academic performance in reading and math, and gain a deeper understanding of the diverse world around them.
How does Koala differ from a typical American private school?
Koala is dedicated to following the French educational system, which is internationally recognized for its comprehensive and rigorous curriculum. This approach fosters active and responsible learning in students. Our preschool program, led by credentialed teachers, serves as the cornerstone of our educational system, laying the groundwork for students’ success in the primary grades.
What are the qualifications of the teachers?
Our teachers are recruited according to the standards set by the French Ministry of National Education. All, including preschool teachers, hold teaching credentials from their home country. The requirements for teaching preschool and elementary school children are equivalent to a master’s degree in the United States.
What is the minimum age for enrollment?
6 weeks
How long will it take for my child to become fluent?
Research has shown that young children can develop linguistic proficiency within a year of participating in an immersion program, provided they have ample exposure to the French language. To ensure maximum progress, it is crucial for students to be enrolled full-time. We closely monitor both academic and linguistic progress to identify and address any obstacles to the challenging curriculum. Our Head of School is available to provide you with studies that highlight the benefits of a bilingual education.
Together for the success of our children.
