Many families face systemic barriers to providing the safe, nurturing environments children need to reach their potential. Pearl Buck Preschool provides high-quality early education and family support that foster children's development and empower parents/guardians to build stable, resilient households.
Pearl Buck Center's Preschool holds a five-star rating, the highest possible, from Oregon's SPARK Quality Rating and Improvement System. SPARK is Oregon's statewide program that evaluates the quality of early childhood care and education.
At Pearl Buck Center, we use Creative Curriculum for our lesson planning. The Creative Curriculum helps children learn through play and discovery. Designed for children ages 3–5, it supports growth in all areas; social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and language. Through hands-on projects and guided exploration, children build creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills that prepare them for success in kindergarten and beyond.
In addition, our approach is trauma-informed lens, which emphasizes understanding each child's cultural, family, and community context to guide learning experiences. We also integrate strengths-based practices, recognizing and building on each child's individual talents, interests.
Classes are Monday - Thursday 8:30 - 3:30
Low Ratios is the classroom 13:3
Example schedule:
8:20 a.m. Doors open
8:30 a.m. Drop off
8:45 a.m. Morning gathering
9:00 a.m. Children enjoy a healthy breakfast and settle in for the day
9:30 a.m. Free choice
9:45 a.m. Morning circle
10:00 a.m. Outside play and exploration
10:30 a.m. Learning Centers
11:00 a.m. Gym
12:00 p.m. Lunch: a nutricious, family-style meal following CACFP guidelines
12:30 p.m. Rest time
1:00 p.m. Quiet activities
1:30 p.m. Outside play and exploration
2:30 p.m. Snack time
3:00 p.m. Free choice
3:30 p.m. Pick up / Class ends
Pearl Buck Preschool adheres to CACFP Child Nutrition Program guidelines, providing well-balanced, nutritious meals and snacks that support children's healthy growth and development.
A typical day's menu at Pearl Buck Preschool might include:
- Breakfast: Whole-grain ham and cheese breakfast burrito, ½ cup of berries, and 6 oz. of 1% milk.
- Lunch: ½ cup of macaroni and cheese, 1 oz. of pulled pork, ¼ cup of cucumbers, ¼ cup of orange slices, and 6 oz. of 1% milk.
- Snack: ¼ cup of apples and ¼ cup of celery sticks.
Children are encouraged to explore and try new foods, but are never forced or required to eat any particular item. We believe food should always be associated with positive experiences; therefore, food is never used as a reward or withheld to encourage a child to try or finish another food. Children are encouraged to listen to their bodies and eat until they feel satisfied.
Mealtime is more than just eating—it's a time for children and adults to connect, share, and enjoy being together. We use this time to build community, encourage conversation, and celebrate inclusion and joy.
Free language assistance, auxiliary aids, and/or accommodations are available upon request. Please call us at (541) 484-4666 or send an email to info@pearlbuckcenter.com
Pearl Buck Center’s Preschool Program provides specialized early learning and developmental support for young children with developmental disabilities. Through individualized instruction, therapeutic services, and close partnerships with families, children build the foundational skills they need to succeed in school and in life. While public funding helps sustain core services, it does not cover everything needed to create the rich, supportive learning environment every child deserves. Philanthropic support helps provide specialized learning materials, therapy resources, adaptive equipment, and enriching classroom experiences that help children grow, communicate, and thrive. Your gift helps ensure that children and families receive the support they need during the most important years of development. Explore the different ways you can support this program below.
