New Preschool Program In Montclair Will Offer French Classes For Kids

MONTCLAIR, NJ — For almost 15 years, the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) Montclair has offered French and francophile community classes for children, teens and adults. And next year, they’ll be adding preschoolers to the list.

Earlier this week, the organization announced plans to open their FIAF Preschool: Montclair in fall 2023. According to the FIAF:

“Since 2017, FIAF Montclair has served families with toddlers with its à petits pas Excellence Program, offering a limited number of preschoolers half-day and full-day French immersion classes. Today, because of an increasing demand from parents, the decision was made to expand FIAF Montclair to include a preschool program.”

The preschool will operate from September through June and will welcome children of all language proficiency levels and backgrounds. Enrollment will be open for children ages 2 ½ to 4 years-old and will begin on Dec. 7. The preschool will offer two preschool classes, limited to 15 children per class, per year. There will be a full-day preschool class option, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and a half-day class option, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Extended care will also be available until 6 p.m.

Need more motivation? According to the FIAF:

“The FIAF Preschool: Montclair is modeled after the success of the FIAF Preschool: Manhattan which has been in operation since 2012. Taught entirely in French for a fully immersive language experience, the FIAF Preschool combines the best of French and American teaching methods within a rich, multicultural environment. Specially crafted for toddlers with or without previous exposure to French, the FIAF Preschool provides children with all the proven benefits of bilingualism, while preparing her/him with the educational, social, and emotional tools needed to succeed at any kindergarten. The FIAF Preschool: Montclair curriculum will gently introduce toddlers to reading, writing, numbers, science, and the arts through a wide range of activities.”

“Montclair is proud of its schools, and we hope that the FIAF Preschool will be a great addition to this tradition of excellence in education,” FIAF Montclair director Marie-Catherine Glaser said.

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