Written by: Andrea Carneiro • August 6, 2018• Coral Gables In Our Schools

The Pineview Difference

The Pineview Way

A look at the curriculum that makes Pineview tick:

For infants and toddlers (ages eight weeks to 36 months)
Teachers use the The Creative Curriculum, which balances teacher-planned and child-initiated learning, emphasizing responsiveness to children’s strengths, interests, needs and learning styles. In addition to The Creative Curriculum, sensory play is a big part of the toddler curriculum at Pineview. “Research indicates that children rely on sensory input to learn about their environment, and sensory play helps build neural connections that supports cognitive development,” explains Suarez.

For preschoolers (ages 3-5)
For preschoolers, Pineview implements both Early Literacy and STEAM curriculums to create well-rounded students. Early literacy builds cognitive development through literacy and phonological awareness via a curriculum designed to expand children’s vocabularies and refine their understanding and comprehension of words they know and use. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), is intended to engage children in experiences that foster the development of the 21st century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. Through developmentally appropriate, hands-on activities, children develop these skills while simultaneously building the academic knowledge needed to be successful in kindergarten.

In 2002 longtime educator Cynthia Suarez set out to create a Coral Coral Gables-based preschool with the objective of providing a safe, positive and nurturing environment for the children of South Florida. 16 years later, Suarez now oversees four schools (all of which are accredited and awarded the Gold Seal by the state of Florida) and more than 450 students, providing those same services to children in South Miami, Downtown Miami and Parkland in addition to the original Douglas location.

“At Pineview our goal is to enrich and enhance each child’s preschool experience by providing stimulating opportunities for children to explore, discover, play and learn,” says Suarez, now executive director of the schools.

Catering to children ages eight weeks to five years old, the school’s programs are consistent through each location, with the additional benefits of extended hours, a variety of schedules and a catered meal program. “We also offer students a Spanish Immersion Program and various enrichment activities to ensure a well-balanced early childhood experience,” says Suarez. All of this, she says, works toward an ultimate goal of preparing Pineview students for not only Kindergarten, but also all future academic challenges. “We want to make sure they are prepared emotionally, socially and cognitively while fostering creativity.”

Essential in that plan, says Suarez, are both teachers and parents, whom she credits with the consistency of the school’s success and dedication to quality learning. “Parent involvement is a big part of our school community,” she says. “We believe in forming strong partnerships with our parents and families to further solidify the success of our students’ learning experience.” That also includes a dedication to showing their philanthropic side, with the school participating in various community projects and working with charities such as St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Susan G. Komen and Miami Rescue Mission.

For Pineview that means not only sticking to a solid curriculum (see sidebar) but looking toward future trends in not just academia but the real world as well. To that end, the school places a strong focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and Early Literacy. In addition to an academic curriculum, Suarez says the school is committed to fostering social-emotional development, something she calls “essential” in an early childhood program. “Our character development program encourages the expression of feelings in the classroom while developing a positive sense of self,” she says. “When parents walk through the door, they see it’s a clean, safe and professional environment. Our goal is always for parents to feel confident that their children are secure, nurtured and loved.”

For more information about Pineview Preschools, please visit pineviewpreschools.com. License #C11MD0096

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