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Success Stories

"Excellent program!! Outstanding teachers and staff. I recommend the school/program often." A developmentally appropriate program, like ours, allows young children to learn in a manner which research supports. If you are interested in furthering your knowledge on young children’s learning style and to understand why DPPK’s program and activities give children the opportunity to learn through play, click the link to find out How Young Children Learn.
About the Director
Since 1995, Beth Diehl has been the director at DPPK. She holds a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and a Masters of Science in Child Care Administration. Prior to entering into administration, Mrs. Diehl taught preschool, kindergarten and early elementary school grades. She is active in local, state and national early childhood education organizations. She routinely volunteers as a mentor, trainer and observer with Preschool Partners of the Virginia Peninsula and has served on the board of the Tidewater Association for the Education of Young Children. For the past 12 years she has served on the conference committee for the Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children each time that conference has been held locally. In addition, she has been active in the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and served as a volunteer validator in the recent past, reporting to NAEYC concerning programs seeking national accreditation. Sensing a need in the community, Mrs. Diehl started the Director’s Group for area preschool directors to share ideas and successful strategies. Because she has such an outstanding staff and great families with wonderful children, Mrs. Diehl thoroughly enjoys her position at DPPK. DPPK Director - Beth Diehl
School Philosophy
Our curriculum is based on the developmental-interaction approach. Denbigh Presbyterian Pre-Kindergarten endorses a curriculum based on the developmental-interaction approach in all areas of child development:
· Social/Emotional Development · Physical Development · Cognitive Development · Language Development · Science · Math · Creative Arts · Social Studies
The curriculum includes language aquisition. Children learn best through interaction. The curriculum focuses on the developmental stage of each child, to include language acquisition, on the premise that all children learn best through interacting with materials, activities, peers, and adults.
Emphasis is placed on learning through play and direct hands-on experiences. Emphasis is placed on learning through play and direct “hands-on” experiences.
Cognitive development is coupled with personal and interpersonal processes, such as self-concept and cooperation Growth of cognitive (intellectual) development such as problem solving and recognition of letter and number symbols should not be separated from the growth of personal and interpersonal processes such as self-concept and cooperation.
The teacher creates a safe physical environment in which positive social interactions and high self-esteem will develop. The teacher has the important task of creating a safe physical environment in which positive social interactions and high self‑esteem will develop, as well as the task of preparing the environment for cognitive (intellectual) learning.
The teacher provides constant encouragement and praise for products as well as processes. The teacher strives to provide constant encouragement and praise, not only for the child’s products (crafts, art, and personal accomplishments), but also for the processes which he / she goes through in obtaining those products.
We offer a Christian environment. As a church-sponsored school, we offer a Christian environment in which the children learn simple songs and stories of an inter-denominational nature.
We accept all religions, races, and ethnic backgrounds. We accept children of all religions, races, and ethnic backgrounds.
We accept special-needs children. Additionally, we accept special needs children who will benefit from participating in a mainstream setting.
Parents are the most important teachers. We believe that parents are their children’s most important teachers, and we welcome and encourage their participation in the Denbigh Presbyterian Pre-Kindergarten program!