Keystone STARS Program in PA
Visit the PA Keystone STARS program website for more information.
Safe and Secure
All areas of our centers are safe and well maintained with 24-hour surveillance. Each center’s outdoor play area is self-enclosed and well-maintained with safe, age-appropriate features for all our students to enjoy.
All of our personnel have a PA child abuse history clearance issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and criminal clearances issued by the Pennsylvania State Police.
KenCrest abides by strict procedures on visitors, as well as who can sign the children out. These precautions provide peace of mind, while being convenient and flexible.
Healthy and Well
To ensure each child grows up healthy and well, our program provides daily, nutritious meals and snacks (for after-care students only) that appeal to a young palate. We select and prepare our menus in accordance with the health standards outlined by the state of Pennsylvania meal preparation guidelines. All kitchens are inspected and certified, and our staff is certified in the safe handling of food.
Staying well involves good hygiene practices. We teach all children to practice good hygiene skills, like handwashing and how to cover their cough or sneeze.
To combat the coronavirus pandemic, we’re abiding by protocols for health and safety as set by the CDC. Our staff constantly monitors the health conditions in the class. We let families know immediately of any concerns that may arise on rare occasions. Learn more about the protocols we’re following.
Curriculum
HighScope
The HighScope early childhood education approach that is used in our preschools was developed in the 1970s, using a philosophy based on child development theory and research.
In its teaching practices, the HighScope curriculum supports children and helps them build on where they are and provides them with opportunities to choose materials, ideas, and people to interact with, based on their lessons. The adults working with the children see themselves more as facilitators or partners than as managers or supervisors and have flexibility with the program to adjust to the group.
Positive educational as well as social outcomes with HighScope have been shown to be much superior to those of children not in this curriculum. Our educational setting is a fully inclusive environment. The teachers are educated in required practices that can be supportive of any student with a variety of needs. All classes comprise children of mixed age groups and ability levels.
In addition to our highly qualified early learning team, we offer access to an extended team of professionals consisting of special instructors, therapists, and nutritionists.
Main program concepts are:
- Active learning with participation
- Well-defined, high-interest areas of learning with choice built-in
- Predictable daily routines
- Plan-do-review work sequence
- Adult-child interaction
- Key developmental indicators/content areas: (1) approaches to learning; (2) language, literacy, and communication; (3) social and emotional development; (4) physical development and health; (5) mathematics; (6) science and technology; (7) social studies; and (8) creative arts
Take a moment to review our 2022-2023 KenCrest Family Handbook
