Cascades Academy Pre-Kindergarten
Where Young Minds Thrive
A joyful, hands-on start for 4- and 5-year-olds in Bend, Oregon
Cascades Academy’s Pre-Kindergarten program builds a strong foundation for learning in an engaging, nurturing environment. Here, curiosity is encouraged, creativity is celebrated, and learning is grounded in play, relationships, and exploration — both indoors and out.
Inspired by the child-centered Reggio Emilia philosophy, our Pre-K classroom is a warm, welcoming space where students are known as capable, curious, and full of potential. Teachers act as guides and co-learners, listening closely to children’s ideas and designing experiences that nurture wonder.
Learn More & Visit Campus
We’d love to show you what makes Cascades Academy’s Pre-K so special. Schedule a campus tour, meet our teachers, and experience the warmth and wonder of our learning community.
Building the Foundations for Lifelong Learning
In our Pre-K program, children develop the skills and confidence that set the stage for Kindergarten and beyond:
- Social-emotional skills like empathy, cooperation, and self-regulation
- Problem-solving and critical thinking through play and discovery
- Fine and gross motor development through movement, art, and sensory work
- Early literacy and numeracy through storytelling, building, sorting, and counting
- Confidence and independence through guided choice and exploration
We align our curriculum with Oregon Early Learning and Development Standards and track each child’s growth in ways that connect with our Kindergarten assessments, ensuring a smooth transition and meaningful progress.
A Typical Day in Pre-K
| Time | Experience |
|---|---|
| 8:30 AM | Arrival and morning meeting set the tone for the day |
| 9:00 AM | Open exploration with activities that spark curiosity and discovery |
| 10:30 AM | Snack and outdoor play in the courtyard or nature playground |
| 11:15 AM |
Enrichment time |
| 12:15 PM | Lunch (brought from home) and recess with K–1st students |
| 1:15 PM | Specialist classes: PE, STEM, Art, or Music |
| 1:45 PM | Quiet rest and reflection time |
| 2:30 PM | Dismissal, with optional extended care until 3:30 PM, included with tuition |
| 3:30 PM | Optional aftercare until 5:30 PM, for an additional fee |
Developing Capable, Curious Kids
Our goal isn’t just to accelerate academics. It’s to strengthen the whole child: emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually. We do this every day with:
- Inquiry and exploration through art, storytelling, building, and play
- Teacher observation and reflection to tailor each child’s learning journey
- Emergent curriculum that evolves from children’s natural curiosity
- Collaboration and communication, fostering empathy and independence
Learning That Extends Beyond the Pre-K Classroom
Even our youngest students benefit from the expertise and community of a PK–12 school. Pre-K students participate in:
- Weekly STEM, Music, Art, and PE classes with specialist teachers
- Shared lunches and recess with K–1st grade students to build confidence and community
- Schoolwide traditions and celebrations that connect them to the larger Cascades Academy experience
This connection helps children see themselves as part of something bigger and ensures a smooth, supported transition to Kindergarten.
Outdoor Education on Our Nature-Rich Campus
Located on 45 acres across from the Deschutes River, Cascades Academy’s campus offers ample opportunity for outdoor exploration. Daily play takes place in our nature-based playground and courtyard adjacent to the classroom, and learning frequently extends into the surrounding environment, whether counting pinecones, observing the weather, or storytelling under the trees.
This connection to nature builds curiosity, physical coordination, and respect for the world around them.
From Pre-K to Grade 12: One Seamless Journey
Our Pre-K is the first step in Cascades Academy’s continuum of experiential education. The same values that guide our youngest learners — curiosity, collaboration, and creativity — grow with them through competency-based learning, challenging academics, Outdoor School, Traveling School, internships, and more. Families love knowing their child can begin and grow in one connected, mission-driven community from age 4 all the way through graduation.
Enrollment Details
- Age Requirement: 4 years old by the start of the school year
- Class Size: 12
- Classroom Teachers: 2
- Specialist Teachers: 5
- Hours: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
- Extended Care: 2:30 - 3:30 PM; included with tuition
- Aftercare: 3:30 - 5:30 PM; additional fee
- Accreditation: Oregon Department of Early Learning and the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS)
- Expertise: Pre-K Lead Teacher Emily Bachofner holds a Master’s in Education and Child-Led Practitioner Certification