Academics
La Maternelle - Preschool & Kindergarten
A Foundation for Learning
At North Seattle French School, our Maternelle program—Petite Section, Moyenne Section, and Grande Section—offers a warm, nurturing, and multicultural environment for children ages 2.5 to 6 years old. These early years are essential for sparking curiosity, instilling a lifelong love of learning, and laying the foundation for future academic and personal success.
Based on the French Maternelle curriculum and enriched by our bilingual and multicultural environment, our Maternelle program focuses in the whole child: intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially.
Key Information
Half-day Preschool and PreK: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Ages 2.5 to 5
Full-day Preschool and PreK: 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Monday through Friday
Ages 2.5 to 5
Kindergarten: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Ages 5 to 6
No prior French experience needed to start in preschool, preK and K. Please see our FAQ for age cut-off date requirements.
What Our Students Learn
Throughout their time in Maternelle, children learn to:
- Nurture natural curiosity and wonder
- Develop autonomy and independent thinking
- Acquire language skills in both French and English
- Build strong social-emotional skills
- Strengthen gross and fine motor coordination
- Express themselves through language, movement, and the arts
- Begin to think critically and engage in structured reasoning
We believe children learn best when they feel safe, supported, and seen. Our classrooms are joyful spaces where learning happens through play, exploration, collaboration, and discovery.
How Our Students Learn
Our approach is hands-on, play-based, and intentionally designed to meet children where they are. Each day offers a balance of structured routines and open-ended exploration. Children are invited to express themselves and make connections across disciplines through:
Play
Play is how young children make sense of the world. Whether they are building towers, creating pretend restaurants, sorting buttons, or telling stories, play fosters creativity, cooperation, and cognitive growth. Our teachers design rich, purposeful play opportunities that promote problem-solving, early literacy, numeracy, and social skills.
The Arts
Art is a powerful way for young children to explore their emotions, express ideas, and connect to the world. From painting and drawing to sculpture, drama, and music, children engage in daily artistic activities that build confidence, fine motor skills, and imagination.
Physical Activity
Movement is woven into the daily rhythm of Maternelle. Children build gross motor skills through outdoor play, dance, games, and structured physical education. These activities also support self-regulation, spatial awareness, and teamwork.
Exploration
Curiosity is the engine of learning. Our students explore themes and projects that connect to their interests and lives—from food and seasons to world cultures and nature. They observe, ask questions, classify, and experiment, developing early scientific and critical thinking skills.
Bilingual Language Acquisition
You and your child don’t need to know French to join the NSFS community. Language acquisition happens naturally in a warm and immersive environment. Our preschool and kindergarten teachers use body language, visual cues, facial expressions, and expressive intonation to effectively communicate with students. Consistent routines make students feel comfortable and increasingly autonomous, fostering their confidence. Your child will thrive in a nurturing environment and make progress in the French language with lots of encouragement.
English instruction is introduced gradually through daily activities, read-alouds, and evidence-based literacy practices like the UFLI phonics method.
By the end of Grande Section (Kindergarten), most students are confidently navigating both languages, building a strong foundation for bilingual learning in the elementary years.
Social-Emotional Learning & Community
We believe that children thrive when they feel connected. Our Maternelle classrooms emphasize kindness, empathy, and respect. From resolving conflicts with words to helping a friend zip up a coat, children learn the social-emotional skills that are the foundation of lifelong learning and well-being.
NSFS uses the evidence-based Second Step program to support emotional literacy and problem-solving across all grades. We also practice Positive Discipline, creating a safe, respectful, and encouraging classroom environment.
Children are seen not just as learners, but as full members of our community. Our bilingual, multicultural setting celebrates each child’s identity, language, and culture—encouraging them to feel proud of who they are and open to the world.
A Place to Grow, Belong & Thrive
From the very first day, your child becomes part of a warm, inclusive, and vibrant school community. Whether your family speaks French at home or is completely new to the language, we partner with you every step of the way.
Regular communication in English helps you stay informed and engaged, and our experienced teachers are here to support your child’s journey with care and intention.
NSFS’s Maternelle program is more than preschool—it’s a joyful, meaningful start to a bilingual education and a lifelong love of learning.
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