Throughout its 53 years in operation, Preschool at the Chapel of the Cross (PCC) has remained a notable part of the Chapel Hill community. Not only does PCC provide quality early childhood education to our incredible students, but we are proud to be the only half-day preschool program in town that offers health insurance benefits to our staff.
The Preschool at the Chapel of the Cross was established in 1971 by two Chapel of the Cross parishioners. The original school was made up of twelve children from nine parishioner families who gathered once a week to learn and grow together. In 1972, the school had a growth spurt and quickly expanded to a weekly, tuition supported preschool serving children up to age three. The intent of the original co-founders was that the small school begin by serving the parish, with the ultimate goal of opening spaces for the entire community of Chapel Hill. Since opening our doors in 1972, our school has welcomed over one thousand children of all diverse walks of life. What started as a one-day-a-week preschool serving nine parishioner families has blossomed into a five-day-a-week program that serves over 40 families each year. Whether we’re serving 12 children or 30, our philosophy has stayed the same: We believe that each child is a unique and special individual and should be welcomed as such.
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.”
At PCC, we believe that each child is a unique and special individual and should be welcomed into our classrooms as such. As professionals in the field of early childhood education, we recognize that children develop at different rates and have needs and interests that vary from day to day. PCC values the diversity that each child brings to our school. We respect the many different cultural heritages present and celebrate both the similarities and differences among us. Most importantly, we believe that childhood should be a time of exploration and curiosity. To foster each child’s sense of wonder, it is our privilege to provide them with a safe, stimulating, and caring environment that will encourage growth at their individual paces . The goals of the Preschool’s program are:
PCC operates Monday through Friday, year round, with the school year starting in September and continuing on through August.
Please note: Bunnies (2’s) and Bears (3’s) can participate in two-day, three-day, and five-day programs. Birds (4’s) can participate in the 5-day program only.
Two Days: Tuesday/Thursday 8:15-12:15
Three Days: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 8:15-12:15
Five Days: Monday-Friday 8:15-12:15
