KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
Winter & Spring 2021
By Natalie Cook Clark
Katy’s top preschools meet and exceed the variety of requirements, schedules, and curriculum sought by local families. Through the pandemic, these area schools have adapted to keep children safe while building a sense of community through learning and development.
Primrose Schools offers multiple Katy locations.
Katy parents have provided feedback on their favorite preschools in the area. Visit the websites for more information on their programs.
Infants through kinder, plus after and before school care
Multiple Katy locations
Primrose has a long-standing reputation of excellence in early education. They offer a balanced approach to learning that fosters curiosity and confidence.
“Wonderful teachers and staff, they treat our children like their own,” says Megan Bishop. “Our 3-year-old daughter loves attending. She has learned so much and is definitely advanced for her age! We love that she is involved in so many activities such as music, language, art, play, math, reading, etc.”
To keep students safe, parents are not allowed inside the Primrose buildings. Daily temperature checks are required, and asks are required for staff as well as students over 10 years of age. Everyone frequently washes their hands and the bottoms of student shoes are cleaned upon entering.
Open enrollment begins at the end of March.
“We could not have better things to say,” says Bishop.
Part-time programs for ages 3 to 4; Mother's Day Out for 6 months to 35 months
22111 Morton Ranch Rd.
281-579-8687
Holy Covenant focuses on the principle that children learn best when actively involved in their world. They are known for having an excellent staff who provide consistent learning in a happy Christian environment. Planned activities stimulate growth in developmental areas and children attend chapel once a month.
Registration for the fall has been moved to March 1. Like most preschools, Holy Covenant is closed to in-person tours, but virtual tours can be found on their website.
“I can’t say enough good things about both the curriculum, enrichment, and staff at Holy Covenant,” says Kathy Penney, who had both of her children attend the school.
“They prepared my daughter so well academically and socially for kindergarten that her teacher asked where she went to preschool,” says Penney. “They were the first to identify that my son needed Early Childhood Intervention services and called them and went to bat for us to get him the services.”
Holy Covenant also offers a transition class for 5-year-olds. This class is created to help give students extra time and tools to better prepare them for kindergarten wherever they choose to attend. They are also NAC accredited.
“Holy Covenant is hands down amazing,” says Magui Hurt. “This will be our fourth year there. Fantastic staff and school.”
Offers two- to five-day programs for ages 2 - 5; also has infant and toddler programs
1407 W. Grand Parkway S.
281-693-1999
Accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC,) Katy's ECEC is known for their excellent staff and nurturing programs with a focus on providing a quality preschool education in a loving environment. They provide year-round programs and extended hours for the convenience of working parents, and also have programs for infants and toddlers.
“Katy Early Childhood Enrichment Center is phenomenal,” praises local moms on the popular Katy Moms Facebook page.
One Katy mom says her son has attended Katy’s ECEC since he was one years old and she can’t say enough wonderful things about the program.
Katy's ECEC is known for being very hands-on and innovative, and teaching through a pandemic hasn’t slowed down the interaction and warmth that families expect from the school. By following safety procedures, the school maintains its status in Katy Magazine’s Top Preschools while helping students learn and thrive.
Immersive Spanish program
1721 East Ave.
832-437-4982
Trinity Spiral School in Old Katy is a Spanish Immersion preschool with a Montessori curriculum. They offer before and after school programs as well as camps during the summer.
“We love Trinity Spiral School,” says Ashley Shott. “They focus on handling emotions and building relationships/community. Each week they have yoga and PE as well as gardening. My daughter is thriving there. She absolutely loves her teachers and talks about them often.”
Trinity Spiral recognizes that all kids are different and focuses on creating a program that works for each student while taking extra precautions to keep families safe during the pandemic. Teachers wear masks, check temperatures, and disinfect students’ shoes and backpacks at the start and end of the day.
“We disinfect with a professional electrostatic sprayer using approved non-corrosive products with zero cytotoxicity, totally safe for our kids,” says Leo Paez.
Trinity Spiral School is currently enrolling for the fall term.
Two days a week preschool on Mondays and Wednesdays
6655 S Mason Rd.
281-579-3100
Photo credit: Little Ranch Preschool
Little Ranch Preschool describes themselves as “an outreach for Christ to our community and church family by loving, nurturing and teaching children to know the awesome love that God has for us all.”
They strive for each child to feel positive about themselves and the world around them and to experience God’s love through loving relationships and happy times at school in a Christian environment.
“My daughter loved Little Ranch Preschool,” says Sabrina Rae.
“We are following all of the recommended Texas Childcare COVID guidelines including teachers wearing face masks/shields, extra cleaning and sanitizing, as well as keeping children from different classes physically distanced,” says Director Cassie Smith.
Like many schools, they are also using a carpool at drop-off and pick-up to minimize people entering the school as well as daily temperature checks.
Two to four-day programs for ages 18 months to 5 years, depending on age of child
2655 S. Mason Rd.
281-646-1903
Photo credit: Grace Preschool
Grace Fellowship United Methodist Church preschool has a popular academic and Christ-centered program that has established quite a following. Their curriculum covers a well-rounded choice of unit/weekly themes, covering science, math, arts, language, pre-reading, music, and motor experiences.
“While it was our goal to keep as many activities and traditions the same as before the pandemic, several things changed due to state licensing emergency requirements and our desire to keep our Grace Preschool families safe,” says Lori Bynum, Administrative Director.
Such new practices include temperature checks, screening questions, drop-off and pick-up outside the building, and more. All teachers and staff must wear a face mask when out of their classroom. In the classroom, teachers have the option to switch to a face shield.
“We prefer the face shield to a mask so the students can see our mouths,” says Bynum. “So much of what we teach requires the visibility of our faces and mouths.”
Like all schools, the pandemic has brought great change to educational programs but some of that change is good.
“One of the things we have seen during this school year is how amazing and resilient our staff and students are,” says Bynum. “Our students have had such a great year with lots of smiles and giggles in the classroom. They don’t realize that things are not “normal” they are just happy to be at school with their friends.”
Enrollment is currently open.
Two to four-day programs for 20 months to 5 years, depending on age
20775 Kingsland Blvd.
281-492-0623
Photo credit: St. Peter's ECDC.
St. Peter's ECDC is a popular preschool that offers a part-time preschool and kindergarten curriculum that is play-based for ages 20 months to 5 years. St. Peter’s ECDC is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which is a voluntary accreditation system that sets professional standards for high quality programs for young children.
"I find that the staff and teachers work together to communicate and provide each child exactly what they need," says Taylor Koehne. "Both my kids have thrived there and are completely opposite in their personalities, learning styles, and strength/needs. The staff does a great job of rising to the child's learning styles and not expecting them to adapt to the teachers."
In addition to great classes that include music/motor skills, chapel, and STEAM, 3-5-year-olds also take a Spanish class.
The program doesn't offer a kindergarten class, but does offer a transition program only to current students who need an extra year.
St. Peter’s ECDC has also taken great measures to protect their students, staff, and families. In addition to daily temperature checks, parents must answer five screening questions at drop off.
Communication has been key as parents reviewed and signed COVID-19 Addendum Procedures, which includes a commitment to minimizing exposure by following state, county, and local recommendations outside of school.
“I absolutely love St. Peter’s ECDC program,” says Amy Crichton. “The staff and curriculum are wonderful.”
22765 Westheimer Pkwy.
281-395-3950
Treasure Cove uses modified versions of Horizons, Quirkles (science), and Learning Without Tears. Their curriculum is activity-based and child-centered and encourages creative expression, invites conversation/communication.
Treasure Cove’s program incorporates both group activities and independent learning tasks in the area of education, art, music, and story time as well as many opportunities to share Biblical truths.
“Small, faith-based, loving staff,” says Chasity Smith. “I really just love a smaller, intimate environment, and this is perfect for our family. They are a preschool, not a daycare. It's part-time, has a curriculum.”
“We currently have two there and a daughter who graduated from there, she was very well prepared for kinder,” says Erin Macaluso. “We have been there four years and absolutely love it. The director is amazing and so loving, and all the teachers know my kids’ names.”
Children leave Treasure Cover ready to succeed.
“My middle daughter did whole three years there and is one of the youngest in her 1st grade class,” says Ann Marie Fisher. “She was ready for elementary and is getting high grades for reading and math.”
Part-time programs for ages 2 to 4 with various day options
700 S. Westgreen Blvd.
281-945-5133
Crosspoint offers a part-time preschool program for 2-4-year-olds, as well as an additional afternoon curriculum that ends at 2:30 p.m. Their programs prepare students for their kindergarten and transition (Year 2 Grow) program. The students regularly attend chapel where they may worship and receive an encouraging message.
“I just toured Crosspoint in-person last week specifically for Year 2 Grow and kinder and was on Zoom calls recently with the school for both programs,” says Claire, a Katy mom. “I am very familiar and experienced with church preschool settings and I still learned a lot through the tour. They did a great job explaining the differences between the two programs.”
Offers preschool for ages 2 - 5; also has programs for ages 6 weeks to 12-years-old with virtual school assistance
Multiple Katy locations
Katy families love Children’s Lighthouse, with several local schools, including their newer location on Kingsland near Nottingham Elementary.
“I have my three-year-old at Children’s Lighthouse Nottingham on Kingsland and we love it,” says Stephanie Gentry. “The staff is great and so loving. They plan lots of family activities too so we’ve gotten to know a lot of the other parents and created our own little community.”
Children’s Lighthouse offers age-appropriate curriculum as well as before school and after school childcare. The family-focused preschool offers more than childcare but a place where core character values are cultivated and cherished.
They are currently enrolling for immediate care, summer care, and fall care.
“Although we cleaned rigorously prior to “COVID-season,” we have increased our daily sanitizing and disinfecting regimen and have a company come in to perform a fog treatment regularly that further kills germs,” says Allisa Hovis with the Nottingham location.
Temperatures are taken daily and a carpool and drop-off and pick-up also allows for extra safety practices.
“Children’s Lighthouse is great,” says Melissa Grant. “(My) 8-month-old been there since she was 15 weeks. I toured quite a few but I just felt such passion from the team there and I can tell my little is so loved!”
Learn from Katy Moms
Katy offers many great preschools. Talking to local moms is one of the best way to start your research. The Katy Mom’s Facebook group is a great way to connect and learn from other local moms.
Did we miss your favorite Katy preschool? Tell us about it in the comments.