Community and Cultural Awareness

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Discover the Value of All-Inclusive Tuition at Stepping Stone School

At Stepping Stone School, we believe every family and child is unique and deserving of individualized care and attention. From the moment you walk through our doors, our priority is to understand what matters most to you and your child. We don’t see you as just another family—we see you as a vital part of our community. Every interaction begins with listening to your needs, your child's development, and your hopes for their future. Our deep commitment to building meaningful relationships ensures you and your child feel valued, supported, and truly cared for every step of the way. Our...

Advanced Pre-K
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The Grand Re-Opening of Stepping Stone School Cedar Park!

We are thrilled to announce the historic renovation of Stepping Stone School Cedar Park! After months of hard work and dedication, our newly transformed campus will officially reopen on October 1, 2024. This is not just a fresh coat of paint; it’s a complete evolution of what Stepping Stone School represents—bringing together cutting-edge learning environments, modern amenities, and the Future Strong™ approach. What to Expect from Our Transformation The renovation of our Cedar Park campus includes upgrading classrooms with new paint, walls, flooring, and bathrooms. We’ve designed ...

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Ways to Raise Eco Conscious Children

Living a more sustainable lifestyle is a goal that many of us have for the overall health of our planet and the future of our families. The best way to take care of the environment and to uphold a sustainable lifestyle is to raise the next generation to prioritize mother nature. Like many aspects of parenting, creating healthy habits involves repetition and teaching our children the values and reasons behind why we do things. We can explain why composting keeps material out of landfills and the importance of recycling. We also have the power to build empathy within children by explaining th...

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🚀 Welcome to Destination Exploration: Your Summer Adventure Awaits! 🌟

Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable journey filled with excitement, discovery, and fun? Look no further than Destination Exploration at The Brainery™! Our summer camp program is designed to ignite the spirit of exploration within your child while fostering critical thinking, creativity, and a love for learning. Here's what you can expect from our action-packed program: 🔍 Exploration Themes: Each week, your child will dive into a new and fascinating theme inspired by legendary explorers. From delving into the depths of the ocean with Jacques Cousteau to soaring through the...

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Fostering a Healthy Relationship with Food for Your Child

Raising happy, healthy and thriving children is a primary goal for parents. Helping your child develop a healthy relationship with food at an early age will provide the foundation for healthy nutrition later in life. Food is not only a vital element for our survival, it is also at the very heart of our lives and plays an important role in our social gatherings, whether at home, at a favorite restaurant, or the lunchroom. At Stepping Stone School we believe in cultivating healthy eating habits with every meal. Our meals are healthy and wholesome, and made from scratch. Our produce is locall...

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Stepping Stone School Continues to Elevate our High Standards and Progressive Program! 

At Stepping Stone School, our focus is, and always will be, to provide the highest quality care and education for our children and families. From digital literacy and safety to emotional intelligence and positive self-regulation skills, our program provides the latest research-based curriculum combined with the reputable educational standards we are nationally recognized for. We are also emphasizing a reconnection to nature and implementing environmental sustainability practices to help develop responsible citizens. Our Proud to be Polite™ program focuses on the development of manners and...

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Stepping Stone School's Historic Gift: Teaching Children the Power of Compassion

In a heartwarming display of compassion and commitment to making a difference, Stepping Stone School marked a historic moment with a remarkable donation of $16,728.00 to the Ronald McDonald House of Central Texas. The children raised half of the total donation and Stepping Stone School generously made a matching donation.  This significant contribution adds to Stepping Stone School's legacy of giving, surpassing the $104,000.00 milestone donated over the last several years. This achievement not only reflects Stepping Stone School’s dedication to philanthropy but also highlights the trans...

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Lifelong Friendships Start at Stepping Stone School

Friendship is a bond that transcends time and distance, connecting us in ways that often leave lasting impressions. It is a testament to the power of these enduring relationships that we find ourselves cherishing the memories created during our formative years. Recently, the Stepping Stone School community had the pleasure of witnessing a heartwarming demonstration of friendship that exemplified the beautiful spirit of friendship. Graduating seniors, Colton Smith and Jory Klinger, returned to their alma mater, Stepping Stone School Cat Hollow, to recreate a special photograph, marking a rem...

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Interview with Rhonda Paver, CEO, Owner and Founder of Stepping Stone School

Rhonda Paver's vision for better early care and education in Austin began over four decades ago. In 1979, Rhonda and her husband Bill arrived in Austin with their three children and struggled to find affordable and high-quality options. Determined to make a difference, Rhonda founded the first Stepping Stone School that year, focusing on the development of each child. While overseeing the school's growth, Rhonda also earned a master's degree in Child Development from UT Austin. For over four decades, Stepping Stone School has been dedicated to helping families and children thrive.  As a...

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City of Austin Proclaims March 23, 2023 as Rhonda Paver Day

March 23, 2023 – Austin, TX - The City of Austin, today acknowledged Rhonda Paver, owner and CEO of Stepping Stone School for her commitment to improving access to high quality early care and education for families in Austin. Rhonda Paver served as a valued member and leader of the City of Austin Early Childhood Council for 30 years and helped to create the framework for an early childhood care system in Austin. Moving forward, March 23 rd is dedicated to Rhonda as ‘Rhonda Paver Day’ and recognizes her immense dedication to early childhood education and care. About St...

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Cultivating Kindness at Every Age!

“The basis of all good human behavior is kindness.” Eleanor Roosevelt Throughout the month of February, the children at Stepping Stone School will learn that kindness matters, as they read stories, identify acts of kindness, and participate in age-appropriate activities to help them understand this important attribute as part of our Kindness & Empathy™curriculum. To continue your child’s learning at home, try some of the following: 1. Exchange Pleasantries. Role-play how to greet someone. Even very young children can participate as you encourage them to smile or wave....

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Safety & Security at Stepping Stone School

At Stepping Stone School, the safety and security of our students and families are the foundation on which everything rests. Providing a learning environment that is safe and secure is our number-one priority! Our outstanding safety measures give parents comfort and confidence. Our safeguards include: While on campus and during events all staff wear official apparel with the Stepping Stone School logo. Video cameras in each classroom provide real-time video feed at a color monitor located in the welcome area or the principal’s office 24/7 security video surveillance at the fr...

Advanced Pre-K
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Thinkery Launches New Interactive Exhibit, Notion of Motion

Dedicated to growing impact in early learner and STEAM education for ALL Central Texas children, Thinkery celebrates major museum refresh with the Central Texas community   May 26, 2022 – Austin, TX – Thinkery, the philanthropic play-based STEAM learning hub of Central Texas, today announced its new exhibit, Notion of Motion, an interactive gallery inspired by the scientific wonders of Newton, Galileo and the brilliant minds of pioneers in STEAM.   Launched via a sneak preview event on May 26, Thinkery is thrilled to celebrate the major museum refresh – its first...

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Earth & Beyond - Summer Camp at Stepping Stone School 2022

This Summer at Stepping Stone School, the children will discover what makes our world so amazing! With weekly themes focusing on Animals, Plants, Conservation, Weather, Space and Geology they will gain an in-depth understanding of the Earth through hands-on creation and imagination. S.T.E.A.M. principles are integrated into all of our curricula. Our campers will participate in exciting activities, science-based experiments and investigations weekly. They will develop problem-solving skills through critical-thinking projects specific to each featured subject, including, coding, cooking, play...

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6 Ways to Beat Boredom on a Family Road Trip!

The holiday season is here! And that means hitting the road and traveling for many families. Although road trips can be a great time to bond with your children, traveling together for long hours can be quite boring, especially if there aren’t a variety of activities to keep your children distracted. Here are some activities to keep your children engaged while on the road: 1.) Travel Journals. Have your children be on the lookout for fun roadside treasures that they can sketch in their journals. Your child can also write about their experiences while on the road trip. 2.) Play a R...

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2021 Stepping Stone School Turkey Call

This year's annual Turkey Call at Stepping Stone School Shoal Creek was a fantastic opportunity for the children to learn all about turkeys, sing a festive song and try to get "Tom" the turkey to gobble! This is also the kick off event to the upcoming Stepping Stone School KidsK and The 31st Annual Thundercloud Turkey Trot benefitting Caritas of Austin! Special thanks to Rhonda Paver and @steppingstoneschool, the amazing team at Stepping Stone School Shoal Creek, @thundercloudsubs #austinzoo @caritasofaustin for such a fun event!   Watch the children sing their turkey song! ...

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Peace of Mind for Parents - Nature Play With Your Children!

Spending time in nature is a great way for you to encourage your child’s development, relieve stress, and, perhaps most importantly, have fun together! Use these ideas to spark indoor and outdoor nature play experiences you and your child can enjoy together. Read books about nature together! This is a wonderful way to build and enjoy an emotional connection to nature with your child. Start with simple stories featuring natural objects or environments familiar to your child. Books like Wave, by Suzy Lee, or A Walk in the Forest, by Maria Dev, allow your child to think about nature ...

Pre-Kindergarten
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Raising Responsible Digital Citizens

The Internet is a wonderful place for learning and entertainment, but like the world around us, it can pose dangers if precautions are not taken.  Allowing free access puts your child, your computer and your personal data at risk. Remain positively engaged: Pay attention to and know the online environments your children use. Surf the Internet with them. Appreciate your children’s participation in their online communities and show interest in their friends. Try to react constructively when they encounter inappropriate material. Make it a teachable moment. Support their good c...

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 Halloween Safety in the Age of COVID-19

Halloween is right around the corner and all of our traditional ways of celebrating the holiday now need to be reconsidered based on the presence of COVID-19 in our communities. While traditional Halloween activities are fun, some can increase the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. Below are some ideas you can utilize to have a happy and safe Halloween this year. Wear a Mask. Make your cloth mask part of your costume. Costume masks are not a substitute for cloth masks. Also, do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask, it can make breathing difficult. Wash Your Hands. Br...

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Progressive Learning Plans and Learning Pods at Stepping Stone School

As ISD's and private schools are approaching the gradual opening of school, we would like to confirm the continuation of our verified and progressive learning plans and LEARNING PODS for all children in our educational care.  With the official beginning of school, we are continuing school age online learning in order to meet the needs of our students and families. Learning pods have been in full effect in our classrooms since the beginning of the pandemic.  Children have been separated throughout this time while we continue to enhance education through social-emotional learning with ou...

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Exciting News From Stepping Stone School!

With the recent announcements regarding how various local school districts will or will not be holding in-person classes, we want to update you on what Stepping Stone School is doing to provide education and care for school-age children who will not have the option of attending their elementary schools or who opt to not attend school. We are happy to announce the retrofitting of our school-age classrooms to accommodate full-time At Home elementary school (public or private) fall curricula and learning! We will provide At Home learning spaces for those children who will need to be on-line...

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Ten Tips for Working at Home with Your Children 

Many parents and their children are immersed in a new reality, working at home together because of the Coronavirus. While veteran teleworkers may have the perfect setup, they never planned on including family members in their work, much less children.  Families can learn how to work and play together all day, every day.  Below are some tips to create a new work at home plan that works best for you and your children. Understand from the start, things may not go as smoothly as you had hoped, but we’re all providing for the common good by staying safe and healthy.  Try to replicate ...

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Helpful Tips for Practicing Patience with Children

Every parent loses their patience, it’s a fact of life. We all get angry and frustrated and lose it from time to time, but patience is vital because it is a part of creating a deep and meaningful connection with our children. There are real benefits to becoming a more patient parent. A study from 2014 out of the Washington University School of Medicine found that children with more supportive, nurturing and patient parents experienced more brain growth. These children were also less likely to be depressed and better able to cope with stress and adversity. They were better learners and ...

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How Gardening Benefits Children

While many families are at home together this Spring, this is the perfect time to start a garden or revamp one you may already have. Children are curious, like to learn by doing and love to play in the dirt. Working in a garden, a child can experience the satisfaction that comes from caring for something over time, while observing the cycle of life first hand. Gardening gives children a chance to learn an important life skill, one that is often overlooked in standard school curriculums. Gardening is also a great way to teach environmental awareness by exploring the workings of nature. ...

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Welcome Back Kyle Families!

Dear Valued Stepping Stone School Families: We are pleased to report the Mayor of Kyle has lifted the ban on providing early care and education services as of this coming Monday, April 20th. In order to ensure a smooth transition for our children, many of our tenured and beloved teachers will be returning. We are looking forward to seeing you and your wonderful children united with our teachers and their friends. In order for you to re-enroll your child, you will need to do so by going through the Governor’s Frontline Child Care Portal https://frontlinechildcare.texas.gov/. Th...

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Read, Create, Connect - Stepping Stone School Celebrates WOYC 2020!

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has dedicated April 11-17, 2020 as a week to celebrate young children! In conjunction with NAEYC and TXAEYC (Texas chapter of NAEYC), Stepping Stone School is celebrating the young children who bring us so much joy! This year, we are centering our celebration around Connection using books by children’s author Ezra Jack Keats.  Musical Monday: Read: Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats read aloud for you here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umbWnSOi0iQ Create: Make musical instruments from recycled mate...

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Supporting Families and Learning At Home

  Stepping Stone School Supporting Families & Learning at Home At Stepping Stone School, our mission is to offer not only exceptional nurturing and education for our students, but also extraordinary support and care for all parents and families! Many families are finding new and creative ways to engage and educate their children while at home! We compiled a list of fun and educational activities and resources for you to use with your family!   Writing and Literacy Readiness Blueberries for Sal Read Aloud Blueberries for Sal – ...

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Take a trip around the world without leaving your house!

With many of us staying home, you might be looking for fun educational activities you can do with your children! Why not take a trip around the globe right from your own home! World Map. Before you started off on your trip around the world, you can do is print/view a map of the world refer to it and talk about the different places you can visit! You might also want to print a map for your children, so they can color in the places they visit on their trip! (Use the list below to choose a virtual destination!)  You can start your trip by looking at the world map, have our children ...

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Six Ways to Support Your Child’s Happiness

Recent studies by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that Danish parents raise the happiest children in the world. In fact, they found that the Danish people are the “happiest people on earth” for almost 40 years. We can all agree that our most fervent hopes for our children is that they are healthy and happy. What is it that the Danish know about raising happy children that we can learn from? Danish culture continues to raise children who are resilient and emotionally mature. Danish parents actively teach their children empathy and to value others. They ...

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Seven Practical Tips for Helping Your Children Feel Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic

As public conversation and news reports around COVID-19 increase, your children may worry about themselves, their friends and their family. Parents and family members can play an important role in easing your children’s anxiety and fears. As a parent, you have likely been wondering about how your children may be feeling about the virus. Between the news, social media and other children at school, it is likely your child already has heard about the virus and may feel unsafe or scared. Prepare Yourself Keep in mind that children follow their parent’s lead during a crisis. Chi...

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Santa visits Stepping Stone School!

Every year Santa Claus makes a special visit to  Stepping Stone School! We are always thrilled to welcome Santa to many of our Stepping Stone School campuses! Watch the video below for a behind the scene look at how Santa Rick prepares each year! ...

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2019 Turkey Trot

AUSTIN, Texas — It's an Austin tradition that has been going on for 29 years. Every Thanksgiving, thousands of people meet at the Long Center for the Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot. The event has raised almost $3.8 million for Caritas of Austin, a nonprofit that works to prevent and end homelessness in the city. “Some of the things we will do with some money that is raised today at the Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot is, overall, we will build well-being and help people build a future for themselves," said Jo Kathryn Quinn with Caritas of Austin. "We will connect people to permane...

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2019 Stepping Stone School Turkey Call

Stepping Stone School is proud to continue its long term sponsorship of the Kid’s K at the annual Turkey Trot supporting Caritas and we thoroughly enjoy our visit from a turkey and the contest to see who can get the turkey to gobble. To learn more about Stepping Stone School's commitment to children, community and philanthropy!  ...

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Ensuring a Positive Transition Back to School

You have marked the calendar, purchased school supplies, but the day is not coming soon enough for children excited to return to school! Entering a new school year is an opportunity to approach learning with fresh excitement and vigor.  Children want to use their talents, follow their interests and share their learning with you.  Use these final days of summer to create memories which will last a lifetime. Read, Learn, and Create! Whether your child is entering school for the first time or returning for another year, here are five things you can do to help your child mentally prep...

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Summer Activities that Promote Learning

Summer is here and it is the time of year when parents take on the challenge of keeping their children actively and mentally engaged. With Summer Brain Drain being a very real occurrence, it is important to choose activities that not only encourage learning but also utilize skills that your child already has. Here are some ideas to keep your child’s mind stimulated throughout the Summer months. Embrace his/her interests: If your child is enthusiastic about a certain activity, hobby or subject, make sure that you give them the opportunity to explore their passions. These interests cou...

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Teaching Your Child Health and Wellness Habits

As a parent, you instinctively want your children to grow up leading happy and healthy lives, while developing good habits. Not only are good eating habits important for a child to learn, but, establishing health and wellness habits that nurture the mind, body and spirit as a whole are significant as well. Teaching your child a healthy routine when he is young can prove to be beneficial for his mental development and encourage a positive relationship with his health. Here are some of our favorite healthy habits: Eliminating junk food. Feeding your child a balanced and nutritious diet h...

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2018 Stepping Stone School Turkey Call

Stepping Stone School is proud to continue its long term sponsorship of the Kid’s K at the annual Turkey Trot supporting Caritas and we thoroughly enjoy our visit from a turkey and the contest to see who can get the turkey to gobble. Watch it now on FOX 7 Austin ...

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Nurturing Harmonious Sibling Relationships

The sibling relationship is one of the longest lasting relationships of a person’s life. Promoting a positive and secure relationship among siblings can become a baseline for future relationships and connections throughout their adult lives. The question then is “How do we promote harmonious relationships between siblings?” Research suggests several key ideas:   1.) Provide Individual Feedback. Focus specifically on each child’s personal best behaviors and accomplishments without commenting on how his or her sibling is achieving or has achieved in the past. Providing...

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Stepping Stone School Children Award Donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas

Austin, Texas – August 16, 2018: On August 15, 2018, the school age children of Stepping Stone School proudly presented at check for $14,361.22 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas. The funds for this generous donation were raised by the school age children of Stepping Stone School who participated in the annual Young Entrepreneurs and Philanthropists™ summer camp at Stepping Stone Schools’ The Brainery™, and was generously matched by a grant from the Paver Family and Stepping Stone School which also provided all of the in-kind materials.   Stepping Stone ...

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Preparing for Beginning Early Care & Education

We’re excited you’ve chosen to enroll your child sat Stepping Stone School.  We understand how changing routines, new encounters, and meeting new people can be challenging for both parent and child, and we want to make the experience as comfortable as possible for you and your family. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of suggestions to help you and your family feel prepared for this important and exciting transition. What can I do to help my child get excited about his/her new school? Talk positively with children about going to preschool. Discuss what it means, what ...

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Best Childcare in Austin

EDIT: Update July 2024- Stepping Stone School has now won Austin's Best in Childcare for a 26th year! What does it take to be voted “The Best Childcare in Austin” for 26 years?  It takes a dedicated, loving, family owned business, that truly cares about the families and children it serves. It takes over 40 years of experience and research into the best early childhood practices, and it takes compassion, nurturance, and commitment to the community we serve! Stepping Stone School has been voted Best in Childcare by Austin Family Magazine once again this year, making it 24 years we h...

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10 Safety Tips for Independence Day

My memories of Independence Day celebrations are filled with cookouts, visits from friends and family members, and staying up late to watch the fireworks displays.  My siblings and I would spend most of the day chasing each other around in the backyard and then join with our neighbors in the front yard to share in a cookout.  It was always an exciting time Now with my own children in tow, the celebrations and fireworks take on a slightly different kind of excitement: keeping my children safe throughout the crowded parade routes, cookouts, and firework spectaculars. I have compiled s...

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Thank you, Mister Rogers

For over 30 years, Fred Rogers entered the family rooms of preschool children across the nation to say, “It’s you I like.”  Using songs, puppets, and stories, Rogers taught children how to work through what he called, “the inner drama of childhood.” Words to songs like, What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel? provided alternative positive behavior choices for the daily challenges children face. He spent years studying child development, adapting his speech to speak more slowly and calmly for the benefit of the children in his viewing audience.  Quietly battling social issu...

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Explore Your Creative Genius this Summer!

Summer at Stepping Stone School During Stepping Stone School’s Summer Break Camp at The Brainery™, students will investigate their own unique Creative Genius while exploring the various art forms that inspire us. Each two-week session learning plan will focus on a different type of artistic expression, along with a leader in that art form. Campers will discover the potential opportunities open to them to become the creative geniuses of the future. Our camp offers six specialty camps in one place. All of our bi-weekly lesson plans are based on our unique Platinum Learning for Life™ cu...

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Earth Day Activities for Children

Earth Day is April 22th and Stepping Stone School is celebrating the roots of Earth day as well as sharing an appreciation for learning through hands on exploration and investigation! The idea for a national day to focus on the environment was Gaylord Nelson’s idea.  On April 22,1970, 20 million Americans came together for a healthy, sustainable environment. In 1990 Earth Day went worldwide, uniting 200 million people in 141 countries bringing the importance of protecting the Earth and our environment to a global audience. After Earth Day 1990, a huge increase in recycling efforts ...

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5 Ways to Teach and Encourage Respect

In preparation for this month’s Kindness and Empathy™ focus, I asked my four-year-old about Respect.  He pondered for several moments and then provided an exasperated reply, “I don’t know; what is it?” I found myself challenged to come up with the words to describe this character trait and fell back on examples of when we have seen respect displayed through the actions of others. Respect is one character trait you may easily recognize when you see it and just as easily identify when it is absent. Partnering with you to encourage this valuable character trait, our Steppi...

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Developmentally Appropriate Chores for Children

Spring is in the air! Which also means spring cleaning is just around the corner. This year, consider including your children in this annual home ritual. Through age-appropriate tasks, children acquire important social skills as they continue to learn what it means to be a part of a family. Children learn responsibility, how to care for materials and pets at home, and how to work cooperatively with family members to get things accomplished. The 2015 Texas prekindergarten guidelines suggest that right around the time a child turns four, he or she begins to recognize personal role...

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The Benefits of Quality After School Care

Many parents rely on afterschool programs to care for their child(ren) after they get out of school until they can pick them up after work.  Often though, it is difficult to know which program to put them in when the benefits of one program are unclear as compared to those of another.  Many research studies over the years have shown that there are indeed benefits to enrolling your child in an afterschool program, but only after certain conditions are met.   A study done at New York University that was recently published in Science Daily entitled Afterschool Programs Environment...

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Traveling with Children 101

Destination – picked; Plans – made; Luggage – packed… But what about the journey there?!?! You plan a great vacation, but then remember you must travel for SEVERAL hours with young children before arriving at your destination.  You may be thinking to yourself, “Whoever said ‘the fun is in the journey’ did not have to travel with toddlers.” Developmentally, young children have very short attention spans and require interaction and physical movement – all of which can be difficult to accommodate in the confined spaces of a car or an airplane. Helpful Tips for Your ...

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Screen Time Guidelines

At Stepping Stone School, we continue to explore the latest research on behalf of our families to remain current with the most up-to-date educational practices regarding early childhood development.  In doing so, we have closely monitored the developing body of research surrounding the use of technology in early childhood education.  Our desire is to support families as they determine how best to balance healthy technology usage in their home while enabling their child to learn about the benefits technology offers. In recent months, much research has surfaced regarding the effects of e...

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Santa Claus Is Coming To Town!

Monday, Dec. 4th–9:00 a.m. Cat Hollow (hosts) visiting: 10:00 a.m. Pflugerville / 11:00 a.m. Parmer Tuesday, Dec. 5th–9:00 a.m. Crestview (hosts) visiting: 10:00 a.m. Hyde Park 10:45 a.m. Northcross / 11:15 a.m. Shoal Creek Wednesday, Dec. 6th—9:00 a.m. McNeil (hosts) visiting: 10:30 a.m. Anderson Mill 11:00 a.m. Lakeline Thursday, Dec. 7th—9:00 a.m. Teravista (hosts) visiting: 10:00 a.m. Leander / 11:00 a.m. Round Rock Friday, Dec. 8th—9:00 a.m. Brodie (hosts) visiting: 10:00 a.m. Kyle / 10:45 a.m. Plum Creek 11:15 a.m. Southpark Meadow...

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3 Ways to Teach Compassionate Living

As this year’s calendar flips to its final month, I reflect on moments over the past eleven, noting certain instances which stand out in my mind.  These times are often the result of either being on the giving or receiving end of compassion.  Whether by tangible gifts of charity or simply the exchange of encouraging words, compassion takes many forms. In children, compassion may involve one child offering a comfort item like a teddy bear or blanket to a crying child.  Helping a friend pick up her toys or asking someone to come play.  Recent research supports theories stating childr...

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The Benefit of After School Programs

Parents often enroll their child in Early Childcare at Stepping Stone School because they recognize the benefits of preparing him or her for Kindergarten through hands-on learning and academic preparation. But, what happens when that same child goes on to elementary school? Do the benefits of outside programs cease? After school care is as important as early childcare to continue to build and support a child’s development. Research and study spanning over ten years by a team of specialists from the Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) confirm that “children and youth who participate ...

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 Stepping Stone School Children Safely Observe the Eclipse of the Sun

EDIT: Update July 2024- Stepping Stone School has now won Austin's Best in Childcare for a 26th year!  Stepping Stone School Children Safely Observe the Eclipse of the Sun Austin, Texas – August 18, 2017: On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be experience an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights–a total solar eclipse. In Texas, we will experience a partial eclipse of the sun.   During the eclipse, our children will stay indoors and all safety precautions will be in place. This is a wonder...

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Stepping Stone School Children Award Donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central Texas

EDIT: Update July 2024- Stepping Stone School has now won Austin's Best in Childcare for a 26th year! Stepping Stone School Children Award Donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central Texas   Austin, Texas – August 17, 2017: Today, the school age children of Stepping Stone School and Rhonda Paver, M.A. owner and executive director proudly presented at check for $12,860.14 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central Texas.   The funds for this generous donation were raised by the school age children of Stepping Stone School who participated in t...

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Annual Fall Teachers' Conference

Stepping Stone School teachers, principals, staff, and administrators will gather Saturday, Sept. 9, for our annual educational conference. Each year, Stepping Stone School sponsors this event to provide our teachers with a deeper understanding of age-specific needs, instruction techniques and variations, S.T.E.A.M. integration ideas and more. Our teachers look forward to the fall conference each year, not only for the invaluable learning benefit but because the event is fun and has a real feeling of fellowship! This year's workshop highlights included: Math is Everywhere!...

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5 Things to Do with Your Children Before School Starts

My soon-to-be kindergartener asks regularly, “Do I get to go to Kindergarten today?” We’ve marked the calendar, purchased school supplies, met with other up-and-coming Kindergarteners, but, the day is not coming soon enough for my excited five-year-old. Whether your child is entering elementary school for the first time or returning for another year, here are five things you can do to help your child prepare mentally for the challenging rigors of the upcoming school year: Get Reading. Beginning in infancy, reading together builds language acquisition and literacy skills. A ...

Advanced Pre-K
Pre-Kindergarten
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Stepping Stone School voted BEST IN CHILDCARE for the 19th Year

EDIT: Update July 2024- Stepping Stone School has now won Austin's Best in Childcare for a 26th year! Austin, Texas – July 4, 2017: Stepping Stone School has been voted the BEST IN CHILDCARE for the 19th year according to Austin Family Magazine Readers Poll. Since 1998, Stepping Stone School has earned this prestigious honor with community support and a continuous commitment to nurture the whole child through cognitive, physical and social-emotional development.   Stepping Stone School would like to thank our families, friends, and partners for voting our program the Best in ...

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Stepping Stone School Voted ”Best in Childcare” for the 19th Year!

EDIT: Update July 2024- Stepping Stone School has now won Austin's Best in Childcare for a 26th year! We are excited to announce that we’ve been selected “Best in Childcare” by Austin Family magazine’s readers! Stepping Stone School would not be the best without the support of our wonderful teachers and amazing families! We’d like to say a HUGE thank you to all our families and friends who voted for us. We’re honored to have won this prestigious title for 19 years! ...

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Now Enrolling for Fall

Get an early start on your fall planning! Stepping Stone School is now enrolling all ages for fall (6 weeks-11 years). Be sure to ask about our proven Kindergarten Readiness Academy and our After-School Enrichment Program! Please contact or visit a school near you for more information....

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 Stepping Stone School Brings High-Quality Early Care and Education to Kyle’s Plum Creek

EDIT: Update - Stepping Stone School has now won Austin's Best in Childcare for a 26th year!  Stepping Stone School Brings High-Quality Early Care and Education to Kyle’s Plum Creek Award-Winning Child Development Center Opens 20th Campus   AUSTIN, Texas, June 8, 2017 - With the population boom in Hays County continuing, Stepping Stone School is pleased to announce the opening of a new state-of-the-art early care and education campus located in the Plum Creek master planned community of Kyle, TX. Stepping Stone School is renowned for its commitment to education, the communit...

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Gardening with Children

“Gardens offer children perfect laboratories where scientific concepts literally come to life.”  -Pam Mohrmann, author and educator My three-year-old can tell you the parts of a plant, a plant’s life cycle, and which parts of the plant are good to eat. He can identify several insects that help our plants along with several of the harmful ones.  He enjoys pulling weeds, inspecting fruit and vegetables, and eating them fresh from our garden.  This knowledge is the result of numerous experiences “playing” in the garden. Shortly after his second birthday, I gave him his fi...

Advanced Pre-K
Preschool
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Journaling with Children

Most of us think of writing in a journal as a “diary” kept locked away or something we wrote in when we were teenagers. However, journaling is an essential literacy experience. Journal is defined as… Journal 1 a: an account of day-to-day events b: a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use. Given this definition, a journal can be a rich resource for all. For young children, journaling can be an opportunity to write the experiences and reflections of their lives. How can a preschool child journal if they cannot write? Literacy activi...

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Pre-Kindergarten
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Austin Family Magazine 2017 Readers' Poll is Open!

The polls are open for Austin Family magazine’s 2017 Readers’ Poll Favorites! Help make us the “BEST in CHILD CARE” for our 19th year! Don’t forget to ask your friends and family to vote, too! Thank you for your support and votes as we continue to provide the very BEST early care and education possible! Click here to go vote now!...

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Three Stars and a Wish

The world we live in is hyper connected and technology driven, but in this fast-paced society we may have forgotten how to be present and connect with those around us. There are many times I catch myself checking e-mail or mindlessly scrolling through the Internet when my two beautiful children are playing happily in front of me. I am missing the most important moments with my children, and I begin to think, “Do I even know my children as well as I think I do?”   Taking time to connect and re-connect with those we care about and love is fundamental to our happiness, but how c...

Advanced Pre-K
Preschool
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What to Do on a Rainy Day in Austin?

Although this time of year can bring a wide variety of weather, we can keep our children active and challenge them physically and mentally year round! “Rainy day” activities can be especially helpful to keep handy for any time outdoor play isn’t an option. Physical activity is a vital aspect of development and for leading a healthy life. Benefits of Physical Activity include: Muscle Development Strong bones, muscles, and heart Building stability Locomotor Skills Developing Self Esteem Small and gross motor skills Cardiovascular endurance It is very import...

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Stepping Stone School featured in cover story of ChildCare Exchange Magazine

Stepping Stone School featured in cover story of ChildCare Exchange Magazine   AUSTIN, TX, February 21, 2017 – Stepping Stone School is featured in the cover story in the January/February 2017 issue of ChildCare Exchange Magazine, the leading national publication on early care and education. The three-page story outlines founder Rhonda Paver’s vision and Stepping Stone School’s programs, philosophy and mission. “We are deeply honored and grateful to be recognized by ChildCare Exchange and we would like to extend our thanks to all the families who, through their support, ...

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ChildCare Exchange Magazine Cover Story feature in Jan-Feb 2017 Issue

Rhonda Paver intended to work as a teacher when she and her family moved to Austin, Texas, in 1979. Right off, she needed to find child care for her three children. Unsatisfied with the many large and small operations she looked into, Rhonda visited one final small house. The child care provider, looking exhausted, said she simply couldn’t go on in her business. Right then and there, drawing on her Alaskan family history of pioneering entrepreneurship, Rhonda decided she was going to build what she could not find. She and her family moved into that very building. The family lived on one s...

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Teaching gratitude and giving to young children

*As of August 2019 Stepping Stone School has donated over $80,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas Generosity and gratitude are fundamental cornerstones of character development behind Stepping Stone School’s comprehensive Platinum Learning for Life™ curriculum. As our faculty model, our efforts begin in the classroom, practicing and teaching the value of sharing and caring for others. We promote these attitudes through charitable giving events throughout the year and teach monthly character building with focused learning activities. Research demonstrates that ...

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Embracing Nature!

In the spirit of fall, I took my children to a nearby farm for some outdoor fun.  Squatting in a small field, I attempted to capture some cute pumpkin patch photos while the children sat on the itchy hay squinting in the sunlight: “It too bright, Mommy!” my three-year old says. My older daughter whines, “I’m hot!” And then the baby falls back, hits her head on a pumpkin and begins to wail. Outdoor time over… All too often outdoor time is grouped in the “Maybe later…” category of our lives or we shorten it to fifteen minute chunks of time and call it reces...

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Stepping Stone School Sponsoring Kid's K Race

Join us at the Stepping Stone School Kids’ K at the 26th Annual ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning at The Long Center. The Kids’ K starts at 8:15am (before the 5-mile run). We group the children according to age and send them off in waves so that the smaller children won’t get run over by the older ones. Every Kids’ K participant receives a finisher’s bracelet! Stop by our Activity Center for projects and games before or after the run. All proceeds benefit Caritas of Austin, a non-profit organization committed to assisting low-income families. We hope to s...

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Stepping Stone School raises $10,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas

*As of August 2019 Stepping Stone School has donated over $80,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas From selling refreshing lemonade, warm cookies and creative crafts, the students of Stepping Stone School in Austin, TX put their business minds and giving hearts to work at the schools’ Young Entrepreneurs & Philanthropists™ summer camp program – all to support Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas (RMHC CTX). The students raised over $6,000 through the sale of their goods, effectively doubling the amount raised last year including additional monetary ...

Advanced Pre-K
Kindergarten
Pre-Kindergarten
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Stepping Stone School Raises $10,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities

*As of August 2019 Stepping Stone School has donated over $80,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas STEPPING STONE SCHOOL RAISES $10,000 FOR RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES AUSTIN, TX (September 2, 2016) – From selling refreshing lemonade, warm cookies and creative crafts, the students of Stepping Stone School in Austin, TX put their business minds and giving hearts to work at the schools’ Young Entrepreneurs & Philanthropists™ summer camp program – all to support Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas (RMHC CTX). The students raised over $6,000 t...

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Why is it Fair…?

“Why is it fair that I have so much when other kids don’t?” kindergartener, Rachel Harris, pointedly asked. With her mother’s support and guidance, Rachel founded Let’s Help Kids, a nonprofit company which works alongside teachers and case workers to provide toys and experiences for the children of families who would otherwise not be able to afford life’s little luxuries. Over six years later, Rachel has helped over 2,000 children by providing presents for birthdays and holidays, Halloween costumes, summer camp tuition, swim lessons, and even movie tickets. It all began w...

Infant
Pre-Kindergarten
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Welcome, Dr. Chris Lemons to our Advisory Board

Dear Valued Stepping Stone School Families, Twenty years ago, I hired a bright young man as a school age teacher at our Northcross campus. At the time, he was a Psychology undergraduate student at the University of Texas. His love for our students was evident from the start, even when I had to remind him to curb his enthusiasm when pushing the children on the swings. This young man was Chris Lemons and he is now the newest addition to the Stepping Stone School Advisory Board. Chris is currently the leading researcher in the nation on Down Syndrome and an Assistant Professor in the Depar...

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Responsibility. What’s that? 5 Actionable Tips to Teach Your Child How to be Responsible.

I recently spoke to an aquatics director at a large facility. The majority of her faculty is made up of young adults ages 18-24. Each year this director is surprised by the number of new applicants whose parents call to try to get them a job working in her facility. She refuses to hire those applicants. Why? Because if those individuals have not shown that they are responsible enough to find their own job, then she does not want to give them the responsibility to guard someone’s life while they are in the water. Responsibility is necessary for future success. How do parents teach th...

Advanced Pre-K
Infant
Kindergarten
Pre-Kindergarten
School-Age
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Stepping Stone Announces: “The Atelier”

Stepping Stone School’s latest innovation brings students an all-new learning environment in the fields of Art & Design, debuting at our Lakeline location. The Atelier at Stepping Stone School Lakeline is a unique and innovative concept designed specifically by Stepping Stone School to expand educational opportunities in the fields of art and design. Created for ages four and up, The Atelier is raising the bar for Early Care and Education experiences. It focuses on the creative genius intrinsic to all children and provides them with character and creative role models allowing them to...

Advanced Pre-K
Infant
Kindergarten
Pre-Kindergarten
School-Age
Toddler
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Effective vs. Ineffective Praise

“Ineffective Praise?” How can praise be ineffective? Aren’t parents supposed to praise a child’s efforts? Yes and no… America, as a culture, thrives on praise. The idea of not praising a child seems outrageous to many parents. However, in recent years research has demonstrated that there is a difference between effective praise and ineffective praise (wrong praise). Ineffective Praise Praising Traits In one study, two groups of four-year olds were given puzzles to complete independently. One group was encouraged with the phrase, “You’re so smart!” The other group ...

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Play Time is Essential

Today’s early childhood education research continues to bring evidence to light that play time is essential for social-emotional and academic development in young children. In The Importance of Being Little, child development expert Erika Christakis emphasizes that freedom to participate in unstructured play is crucial for children to inspire key learning connections. She says, "We have very crammed [preschool] schedules with rapid transitions. We have tons of clutter on classroom walls. We have kids moving quickly from one activity to another. We ask them to sit in long and often boring ...

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$100 Summer Camp Referral Credit!

Summer is just around the corner, and Stepping Stone School’s Summer Camp is filling up fast! Stepping Stone School is extending a special offer of a $100 tuition credit for families who have a school age child currently enrolled in our school age summer camp for a minimum of 5 weeks, who refer another school age child not currently enrolled in our school age program and who enrolls in summer camp for a minimum of 5 weeks. As a bonus, the newly enrolled family will also get a $100 tuition credit. This offer is good through May 31, 2016 - for more information, please call (512) 459-0258 ...

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Stepping Stone School Named 25th Largest Childcare Organization in the Nation

In a recent national survey, Stepping Stone School was named 25th largest early care and education organization in the nation, based on size and capacity. This is a remarkable and impressive designation for a center that began in 1979 with 5 enrolled children!  Stepping Stone School has achieved national recognition for program quality and leads the region with accolades for curriculum, programming and community service. Rhonda Paver, M.A. Executive Director was quoted and noted as a partner with the Seton Health Network on behalf of child care services for the employees of the Seton sys...

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Stepping Stone School Featured on Texas Homes For Sale!

" One of the most fraught decisions that a parent has to make is the decision of where and when to place your child in child care. Will this place keep my child safe? Will this place support my child's learning, emotional, social, and intellectual growth? Can we afford it? These are just the first questions that anxious parents ask before they send their young children off to a school. The Stepping Stone Schools in Austin, Texas, have found ways to provide children with caring, developmentally attuned programs based on the latest research in early childhood education. " We are thrilled th...

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Stepping Stone School Rolls Out Its Newest Curriculum, Platinum Learning for Life™

Over the last three decades, Stepping Stone School has developed its own proprietary and comprehensive early education curriculum. The curriculum is based on 40 years of direct teaching experience and interacting with children, but also on the finest and most up to date research and best practices regarding how children learn, grow and develop. It also takes into consideration the needs of every type of learner and fosters friendships and relationship-building in children at an early age. Stepping Stone School is consistently upgrading and changing our curriculum to ensure we are always ...

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SPRING Into SUMMER!

The Spring Break in mid-March is not far off and before you know it, the school year will be ending! Now is the time to plan ahead and reserve a place for your school age child's care and education during the Spring and Summer breaks! Our exciting Spring Break theme will be In the Museum where we will be studying the vast variety of museums throughout the world and the treasures that lie within them! This summer, our campers will explore the continents of the world along with the countries that populate each continent in The World Awaits! Our campers and their friends will develop a mean...

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Winter Special: Waived Enrollment Fees!

Looking to enroll your child in a premier early education program this winter? We invite you to take a tour of any of our campuses to explore our Platinum Learning for Life curriculum and learn more about our innovative Early Achievers Program, which features S.T.E.A.M. and literacy. For the months of December and January, we will be waiving our enrollment fee for all families new to Stepping Stone School – start by January 31, 2016, and we'll credit the enrollment fee to your first month's tuition* ($100 value). As you visit, see how our campuses are designed to facilitate chil...

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Winter Break Camp 2015

Winter Break will be here before you know it, and Stepping Stone School is gearing up to launch our winter program to keep our students’ minds engaged while school is closed for the holidays. At The Brainery, we will be immersing ourselves in the bygone times of “The Middle Ages.” We will investigate the era of knights and castles through science experiments, critical thinking exercises, engineering activities and a number of other S.T.E.A.M. related exercises. Students will have the chance to design and test a catapult, create a coat of arms, and write and perform a ballad of th...

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Severe Weather Monitoring and Safety 10/30

Stepping Stone School follows the highest order of safety practices for severe weather. We are monitoring all weather conditions and applying safety precautions continuously. Faculty members are thoroughly trained for all severe weather safety procedures to keep your child protected and secure....

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The Emergent Writing Philosophy of Stepping Stone School

At Stepping Stone School we are laying the foundation for success in literacy by providing children with early writing opportunities. Children begin demonstrating pre-writing skills as toddlers and these abilities continue to develop through the prekindergarten years. The Progression of Writing The first stage of writing development emerges between 15 and 30 months of age when children begin scribbling. Between 2 . and 3 . years, children incorporate circles and repeating lines into their artwork. These letter-like symbols may appear in a line or randomly on the page. At this age, most c...

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Reading Readiness at Stepping Stone School

Research demonstrates that the single activity that has the greatest impact on reading readiness is being read to on a regular basis. Each day, the children at Stepping Stone School listen to read-alouds, observe environmental print, delve into the classroom library, interact with our classic children’s literature collection, and explore other books and printed material. These activities benefit children of all ages and support numerous pre-reading skills. Daily Reading As Stepping Stone teachers read to the children in their classrooms, they employ a number of strategies and activities...

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Bob Books For Reading Readiness and Early Literacy!

In keeping with our pledge to prepare children for kindergarten, Stepping Stone School has recently adopted a Learn-to-Read Curriculum for our Advanced Pre-Kindergarten Classes. The Bob Books were chosen based on their reputation for supporting reading readiness in young children and their adaptability for use in whole group and small group settings. Through daily practice, children will build pre-reading and reading skills that are foundational to a lifetime of reading. Our wonderful teachers have undergone training on the use of these books and have learned various reading strategies to a...

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Bus and Van Safety is our Top Priority!

When leaving their child in the care of someone else, most parents say the safety of their child is their number one concern. At Stepping Stone School, we could not agree more, especially when it comes to safety in and around the vans and buses. Since 1979, Stepping Stone School has always been at the forefront of safety protocols, often implementing procedures many years before they become law. Here are some of our tried-and-true policies, many of which have become state regulations: Our vehicles have an alarm that goes off anytime children are unloading to alert anyone in the area ...

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Stepping Stone Students Donate $6500 to Ronald McDonald House Charities

From selling refreshing lemonade, warm cookies and creative crafts, the students of Stepping Stone Schools in Austin, TX put their business minds and giving hearts to work at the schools’ Young Entrepreneurs & Philanthropists summer camp program – all to support Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas. The students raised over $3,000 through the sale of their goods and Stepping Stone School matched and exceeded all funds. Together, they donated $6,500 to support the families with hospitalized children that rely on Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas. Steppin...

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 Young Students at Stepping Stone School Raise Over $3,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities

 Young Students at Stepping Stone School Raise Over $3,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities AUSTIN, TX (August 20, 2015) – From selling refreshing lemonade, warm cookies and creative crafts, the students of Stepping Stone Schools in Austin, TX put their business minds and giving hearts to work at the schools’ Young Entrepreneurs & Philanthropists summer camp program – all to support Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas. The students raised over $3,000 through the sale of their goods and Stepping Stone School matched and exceeded all funds. Together, they dona...

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A Fresh Look at Our Latest Campus - Southpark Meadows

Here is a virtual tour of our newest campus at Southpark Meadows, which opened in March 2015! This campus has a nature conservation theme woven into every facet of the school, from the heritage oak tree giving shade to the playscape to the hands-on learning gardens that house flowers, fruits, and vegetables. The Southpark Meadows campus features state-of-the-art technology and classrooms designed using top research on learning environments, creating a setting that engages hearts, bodies, and minds of our students. Read more about the philosophy of our campus design >>   ...

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Summer Camp Enrollments Filling up Quickly

It’s not too late to give your child the gift of “Summer’s Smartest Destination,” a whole-child adventure that will nourish his or her mind, body and heart! This summer, we are exploring the far reaches of the Earth as we investigate the environments of the world we live on. Our Summer Camp offers the unique benefit of preventing summer brain drain with six specialty camps, all in one place. Each of our biweekly subjects is presented to your child through our specialized literacy, character-building and S.T.E.A.M. curriculum, which uses science, technology, engineering, arts ...

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Stepping Stone School at Northcross Accreditation Renewed

  Stepping Stone School is pleased to announce that its Northcross campus has again been awarded accreditation by the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs! NAC Accreditation signifies that Stepping Stone School at Northcross was found by the commission to adhere to the highest standards for early care and education, including things like environments, staff development, teaching interactions and parent communications. The Association for Early Learning Leaders is the body that defines, evaluates and oversees this accreditation. All Stepping ...

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2015 Spring Break Camp

There's still time to sign up for Stepping Stone School's 2015 Spring Break Camp featuring the Hidden World of Spies! This spring break, we will use S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) principles and activities to delve into the world of spies and secret agents. Stepping Stone School offers a safe, fun place for children to learn and explore during their break from school. Each of our classrooms is an exciting environment in which children can strengthen their knowledge through chess and math & literacy time, as well as meet and socialize with frie...

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Southpark Meadows Campus to Open March 2

EDIT: Update July 2024- Stepping Stone School has now won Austin's Best in Childcare for a 26th year! Stepping Stone School Bringing High-Quality Preschool, Childcare to Austin’s Southpark Meadows Award-Winning Child Development Center Opening 19th Campus AUSTIN, Texas, February 11, 2015 – In an area renowned for its commitment to education, the families of South Austin are about to have a real choice in high quality, educational child care. Stepping Stone School is set to open its new state-of-the-art campus in Austin’s Southpark Meadows located at 9325 Alice Mae Lane on March 2....

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Stepping Stone School Southpark Meadows

Stepping Stone School Bringing High-Quality Preschool, Childcare to Austin’s Southpark Meadows March 2, 2015 Award-Winning Child Development Center Opening 19th Campus  AUSTIN, Texas, February 11, 2015 – In an area renowned for its commitment to education, the families of South Austin are about to have a real choice in high quality, educational child care. Stepping Stone School is set to open its new state-of-the-art campus in Austin’s Southpark Meadows located at 9325 Alice Mae Lane on March 2.   “Southpark Meadows is the perfect location for us to serve the pr...

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Be the First to See Our Newest Campus

We are currently accepting enrollment applications for our newest state-of-the-art campus being constructed in Austin's Southpark Meadows. Get an early look at our new school, which will feature a nature conservation theme. Like all of our original campuses, this location will include design elements throughout that spark curiosity and encourage interactive play – such as hallways that hold a 3-D fossil timeline or a network of giant, working mechanical cogs along the walls. Join us for a Construction Tour on one of these dates: Nov. 15, 2014 – from 10:00 a.m-1:00 p.m. De...

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Hatch Technology Wins Fourth National Educational Technology Award

TeachSmart® 3.0 by Hatch has been recognized as the Best Software for Early Learning by the ComputED Gazette in the 19th Annual Education Software Review Awards Stepping Stone School is proud to use Hatch interactive technology. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Oct 07, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- For the fourth consecutive year, Hatch®, the leading provider of technology for early childhood classrooms, received a national award for its newest software for kids. TeachSmart 3.0 by Hatch school readiness software for interactive whiteboards and multi-touch displays was selected by the Compu...

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Southpark Meadows Campus Update

We're making great progress on our next premier early care and education campus, being built in Southpark Meadows. The school will have a nature/conservation theme and will meet the nurturing and educational needs of infant, preschool and school-age children. The campus, designed by Stepping Stone School's own business development and architectural staff, continues the legacy of our outstanding schools. Each Stepping Stone School campus is a unique learning environment for children and features elements that naturally encourage curiosity and opportunities for teachable moments. ...

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Acing the Transition to Kindergarten

At Stepping Stone School, we’ve designed our kindergarten-readiness programs to give your child the skills and confidence to make the transition to elementary school an exciting but comfortable one. But as your child’s first teacher, you are your child’s most powerful influence. Parents contribute enormously to school and life success. Young children are learning all the time, but the lessons they need most are not learned through workbooks or flashcards. With this transition approaching quickly for some, below are some things you can do to help your child feel prepared for kinder...

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Stepping Stone School Awards CDA Scholarships to Teachers

Twenty educators throughout our campuses are on their way to expanding their knowledge and skill in early childhood education, thanks to CDA scholarships from Stepping Stone School! The group of 20 Stepping Stone School teachers will begin their paid classes this month to earn their Child Development Associate credentials. The CDA program will reinforce the teachers’ knowledge and understanding of the intellectual, social, emotional and biological development of children and the planning and design of related curricula. “We’re pleased to contribute to the advanced education of ...

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Visit Saturday to Learn More about our Future Southpark Meadows Campus

Join us this Saturday, June 7, from 10:00 a.m. to noon to learn more about our Southpark Meadows campus. Stop by our Kyle campus to get an idea of what your family can expect when our latest state-of-the-art campus opens in January 2015 in Southpark Meadows. We'll be conducting tours of our most current Austin-area Stepping Stone School campus, which has many similarities to those planned for our next South Austin school. The address for the open house is 4624 Ratcliffe, Kyle, TX 78640. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday!...

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Stepping Stone School’s Marilee Blackwelder Receives Education Award

The AAEYC honors Stepping Stone School educator Stepping Stone School, the largest privately owned childcare provider in Central Texas and a pioneer in early childhood education, has announced that its director of training, Marilee Blackwelder, has received the prestigious Austin Association Education of Young Children (AAEYC) Administrator of the Year Award. Each year, the AAEYC recognizes early education professionals in the areas of teaching, leadership, advocacy and training, those who have “honorably enriched the lives of children through their service to children and families....

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Stepping Stone School Debuts Groundbreaking New Summer Camp Concept

Stepping Stone School, the largest privately owned childcare provider in Central Texas and a pioneer in early childhood education standards, has recently unveiled its newest program – a comprehensive school-age camp that includes an innovative core curriculum, along with upgraded environments and equipment to support the experience. This newest program, The Brainery™ at Stepping Stone School, is the latest enhancement of the Future Leaders and Innovators summer program for school-age children. It features all new lesson plans, activities, field journeys and educational themes – all...

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Sign up for Onsite Swimming Lessons

Eleven of our Austin-area schools will offer water safety and swim instruction to children this summer. Swimming lessons are a great way to beat the heat and learn how to swim or sharpen swimming techniques. Our swim instructors are certified lifeguards and have been through our extensive training program here at Stepping Stone School. Our instructors will teach the children basic swimming skills and other lessons to keep them safe around water. Lessons are available for a fee to children ages 3 and over and will be offered at: Crestview Northcross McNeil Anderson Mill Lakeline C...

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Using Work Strategies at Home

We may joke that working with our coworkers is like working with children. But did you know that you can apply some of the same strategies to get things done at work and at home? Foster teamwork – Let your children contribute ideas just as you encourage input at work meetings. Children tend to try harder to reach goals they’ve helped establish. Communicate to be heard and understood – Keep requests and instructions short and specific. Talking slowly, calmly and softly means others must listen closely to hear. And of course, what would communication be if we forgot to liste...

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Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead Spring Break Camp

We're excited to announce Stepping Stone School’s “Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead” 2014 Spring Break Camp! Over the course of the spring and summer breaks, we will be investigating the S.T.E.A.M. domains of science, technology, engineering, arts and math. We are kicking off this study during spring break with the subject of “Chemistry.” During this unit we will examine the building blocks of life and witness what happens when we mix certain chemicals together! Stepping Stone School offers a safe, fun place for children to learn and explore during their break from school. Each...

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Electronic Reporting Coming to All Campuses

We are pleased to announce that Tadpoles, our electronic communications system for photos, daily reports, other notifications, will be in all of our schools in the next couple of months. Tadpoles makes it easy for you to follow your child's day, giving you: Photos, videos and notes by email Details about your child's learning, eating, sleeping, exercise and toileting activities (as appropriate) Your children’s history via the mobile Tadpoles application The ability to mark your child out sick or on vacation using the mobile application Emergency alerts by text message ...

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STREAM Curriculum Coming Soon!

This January, we are launching an exciting curriculum emphasis that incorporates the principles of STREAM (Science, Technology, Relationships, Engineering, Arts and Math) education! "This is the culmination of months of research," said Rhonda Paver, MA, Stepping Stone School founder and executive director. "As always, we are keeping pace with the most updated curriculum and thinking in the nation." The addition of STREAM into our lesson plans will give our students an advantage in school readiness as more schools are adopting this modern learning. Children’s earliest developments a...

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Students Kick off 2013 Turkey Trot

[caption id="attachment_5996" align="alignright" width="150"] Stepping Stone School Turkey Trot[/caption] The students of Stepping Stone School at Shoal Creek competed in yesterday's cool morning to determine which of them was the Turkey Calling Champion. The Turkey Call is a contest among some of our 4- and 5-year-old children to see who can elicit a response from a turkey. The students each have their own unique turkey impressions, making this a highly entertaining event. This year's contest featured a new jake turkey who seemed to enjoy the children's attention, rewarding their eff...

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Stepping Stone School Sponsoring Kids' K Race

Join us at the Stepping Stone School Kids’ K at the 23rd Annual ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning at The Long Center. The Kids' K starts at 8:45am (before the 5-Mile Run). We group the children according to age and send them off in waves so that the smaller children won't get run over by the older ones. Every Kids' K participant receives a finisher's bracelet! Stop by our Activity Center for projects and games before or after the run. All proceeds benefit Caritas of Austin, a non-profit organization committed to assisting low-income families. We hope to see yo...

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Join Us for Our 2013 Winter Break

December 23, 2013-January 3, 2014 We are looking forward to our 2013 Winter Break Camp, “European Adventure!” Plan to have your school-age children join this fun & educational school break camp. European Adventure Our Winter Break camp activities and discussions will revolve around exploring the facets of Europe. We will investigating the culture and cuisine of different European countries and regions. Each day, the children will be cooking a dish from each country/region. Queen Elizabeth II is the Person of Interest the children will study. Field Journeys We will be going on sever...

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Tadpoles Instant Reports Are Here!

We're excited to add Tadpoles electronic daily reports to our offerings. These private and secure communications give our parents greater insight into their children's school day. Parents can: Receive photos, videos, notes and daily charts by email Receive emergency alerts by text message View their children's history using the mobile Tadpoles application Mark their child out sick or on vacation using the mobile application Our parents now can read about their child's activities, meals and daily highlights, making the car-ride conversation much more meaningful! Tadpoles is currentl...

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Stepping Stone School to Open New South Austin Campus

Newest School Expected to Provide Early Care, Education by January 2015 Stepping Stone School today announced its plans to bring a new state-of-the-art early care and education campus to Austin’s Southpark Meadows. This will be the privately owned Austin preschool’s nineteenth location in Central Texas. “We have proudly served the Austin and College Station areas for 34 years,” said Rhonda Paver, Stepping Stone School founder and executive director. “We are thrilled to have this new opportunity to further serve the families of south Austin.” The child development center w...

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CDA Scholarship Winners Announced

Stepping Stone School has once again awarded CDA scholarships to many of its employees. The group of 20 Stepping Stone School teachers will begin classes next week to earn their Child Development Associate credentials. The CDA program will reinforce the teachers’ knowledge and understanding of the intellectual, social, emotional and biological development of children and the planning and design of related curricula. "We're pleased to contribute the education of these bright and talented teachers," said Rhonda Paver, founder and executive director. "Congratulations to these smart (and lu...

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Fall Enrollment Specials Extended

Specials Extended! Stepping Stone School already is the best early care and education value. But now we're giving you even more reason to see for yourself all we have to offer your family. Free Enrollment! Enroll by October 31, 2013, and we'll credit your enrollment fee toward your first month's tuition. This is a $100 value! Sibling Discount Enroll two or more children before October 31, 2013, and receive 10% off your monthly tuition! Our sibling discount is regularly 5%, but enroll now, and we'll double it for as long as you have two or more siblings attending any Stepping Stone School w...

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School Age Children Raise $3,000 for Charity

*As of August 2019 Stepping Stone School has donated over $80,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas We're so proud of our Austin Young Entrepreneurs and Philanthropists! These school-age children, who attended our summer camp program, raised $3,032 planning and running mini businesses, such as a lemonade stand. The children are always so excited to know that the money they raise will go to families in need. The Austin school-age children recently presented their check to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin....

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Stepping Stone School Adds Gymnastics Enrichment Classes

Beginning next week, Stepping Stone School will offer a gymnastics class for 2-6 year old girls and boys. Flippers, taught by Gym Station instructors, will be a weekly onsite extracurricular activity available to our students. This pre-school gymnastics program uses a variety of equipment such as bars, beams and vaults. Each week brings a new and exciting curriculum to encourage your child's physical ability. This non-competitive program will challenge, excite and reward your child. We are pleased to add this healthy program to our lineup of enrichments that promote healthy living and exe...

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Elementary School Pickups and Dropoffs

It’s hard to believe that the summer is winding down and school will be starting in a few weeks!  We’ve had a great time with our Future Leaders & Innovators during Summer Camp and are looking forward to a busy and productive school year! Austin area First day of classes: Austin ISD: August 26 Hays Consolidated ISD: August 26 Hutto ISD: August 26 Leander ISD: August 26 Pflugerville ISD: August 27 Round Rock ISD: August 26 Elementary School Transportation (subject to change): Morning drop-off is offered for Anderson Mill, Blockhouse, Boone, Brushy Creek, ...

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Stepping Stone School Founder Featured in Local Magazine

We are pleased and honored to be featured in Austin Family magazine's August issue. This Q&A interview with Austin Family's Melanie Dunham covers topics ranging from the history of our 34-year-old company and its curriculum to our care for families and community to our plans for the future. Click here to read about Rhonda Paver, Stepping Stone School founder and executive director, and her words on our history, philosophy and future....

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KEYE Meteorologist Visits Stepping Stone School

KEYE meteorologist Allison Miller visited with our school-aged children this week to talk about meteorology and careers in broadcasting. These visits are a part of our Children's Conference Center series, during which community members visit to discuss a topic related to the educational unit our children are studying. Click the links below to watch! July 9 at our Brodie campus July 8 at our Teravista campus ...

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Stepping Stone School Wins 'Best in Childcare' Honors for 15th Year!

EDIT: Update July 2024- Stepping Stone School has now won Austin's Best in Childcare for a 26th year! Our amazing families have once again chosen us as Austin’s Best Childcare in Austin Family magazine’s annual Readers’ Poll. Our sincerest thanks go out to everyone who voted for us. We are so honored!...

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Limited Time Enrollment Specials

These specials have been extended until August 31, 2013!! Stepping Stone School already is the best early care and education value. But now we’re giving you even more reason to see for yourself all we have to offer your family. Free Enrollment! Enroll by August 31, 2013, and we’ll credit your enrollment fee toward your first month’s tuition. This is a $100 value! Sibling Discount Enroll two or more children before August 1, 2013, and receive 10% off your monthly tuition! Our sibling discount is regularly 5%, but enroll now, and we’ll double it for as long as you have...

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Openings Still Available for Summer Camp

It's not too late to give your child the gift of “Summer’s Smartest Destination,” a whole-child adventure that will nourish his or her mind, body and spirit! CURRICULUM (Mind) – Our educational themes are the basis for fun, interesting activities and field journeys. Your children will also take part in an organized math and literacy time each day to help them focus and hone the skills they learned during the school year.  We are dedicated to preventing summer “brain drain.” Check out the smart and engaging subjects we'll be studying this summer: June 3-14: Gro...

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Stepping Stone School at Lakeline Receives NAC Accreditation Notice

Stepping Stone School at Lakeline today received a letter notifying the school of its renewal of accreditation from the Association for Early Learning Leaders (formerly known as the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs, or NAC). NAC accreditation documents Stepping Stone School’s quality performance using research-based criteria. “All of our schools follow our strict quality guidelines and curriculum, but it is always nice to be recognized for our excellence,” said Rhonda Paver, Stepping Stone founder and CEO. "We're proud of the staff and acknowle...

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Positive Parenting Meetings: Kindergarten Readiness Academy

We invite families to attend one of our Positive Parenting Meetings during the months of March and April.  Learn how our Kindergarten Readiness Academy provides the ideal components to ensure your child’s successful transition to elementary school! Meeting schedule: March 5, Crestview March 6, Northcross March 7, Round Rock March 19, Leander March 20, Teravista March 27, Shoal Creek April 2, McNeil April 3, Pflugerville April 5, Hyde Park April 9, Brodie April 10, O’Connor April 16, Anderson Mill April 17, Parmer April 18, Capitol April 23, Kyle Apr...

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Advanced Pre-Kindergarten Week, March 4-8

We invite you to learn more about our Kindergarten Readiness Academy during our ADVANCED PRE-KINDERGARTEN WEEK March 4-8! Stop by and view the impressive Advanced Pre-K displays presented this week! Each day, different kindergarten-readiness skills are identified and illustrated with photos and work samples. See learning and mastery in action. Know that Stepping Stone School children enter Kindergarten confident, prepared and eager to continue learning! Our research-based curriculum has focused programming criteria for all children we serve. Stepping Stone School’s skilled teachers ...

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We're Celebrating Dr. Seuss's Birthday

We will be celebrating this much-loved children’s author with daily events throughout the week of March 4-8! Stop by to see all the festivities as the children learn about this writer, poet and illustrator known formally as Theodor Seuss Geisel (March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991). On the schedule are: Monday, March 4 Hat Day  Create hats to wear just like the cat in the hat Tuesday, March 5 Silly Socks & Rhymes  Children can wear silly socks to school and create their own classroom rhyme Wednesday, March 6 One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish  Children can wear red and b...

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Stepping Stone School is 'Summer's Smartest Destination!'

Start planning now for summer! “Summer’s Smartest Destination” is a whole-child approach that will nourish your child’s mind, body and spirit! CURRICULUM (Mind) – Our educational themes are the basis for fun, interesting activities and field journeys. Your child will also take part in an organized math and literacy time each day to help them focus and hone the skills they learned during the school year.  We are dedicated to preventing summer “brain drain.” FIT FOR LIFE (Body) – We are pleased to offer our innovative “Fit For Life” program — health and physical act...

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Ornithological Observation Subject of Smart Spring Break Program

This year's spring break theme, Ornithological Observation, and activities will keep your child learning while having fun. Reading, reflective thinking, writing and fine arts provide educational opportunities to build skills in leadership, cooperation, communication, self-discipline and compassion. Chess Club, science experiments, math puzzles and our unique “Fit for Life” health and fitness enhancement are just some of the activities that will fill your child’s day. Come explore the world of our fine feathered friends by: building original bird houses discovering owls as you dis...

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Exciting Winter Break Camp Planned

We are looking forward to our 2012 Winter Break Camp, “A Day at the Museum!” Plan to have your school-age children join our fun & educational school break camp. A Day at the Museum Our Winter Break camp activities and discussions will revolve around exciting museum experiences. We will explore the different types of museums: history, art, natural history, cultural, etc. The children will create a variety of museum exhibits through art, science, math and literacy and critical thinking activities then display them in their own classroom galleries. Come see exhibits including apple mu...

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Beloved Pre-K Teacher Nominated for Mother Ginger Honor

We have the best families! Maryam Gharbi, one of our parents, has nominated our very own Colleen Paulk for the honor of performing in Ballet Austin's The Nutcracker production on Dec. 23. Please help us and her families by voting for her on the Ballet Austin website. You can vote once every 24 hours between now and Dec. 7. We have long treasured Colleen. Her students LOVE her and graduate from her advanced kindergarten-readiness class more than prepared for school. But don't take our word for it. This is what Maryam had to say: Vote for Ms. Colleen Paulk! In appreciation of our...

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Stepping Stone School Turkey Callers Featured on TV

Stepping Stone School was the site of the annual Turkey Call, promoting the 22nd annual ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot and Stepping Stone School Kids' K race. The sounds of “Gobble! Gobble!” filled the autumn air Tuesday when the students of Stepping Stone School Shoal Creek competed to determine which of them was the Turkey Calling Champion. Stepping Stone School and ThunderCloud Subs kicked off the 22st annual Turkey Trot and Kids’ K with a live Turkey Call. The contestant who elicited the best response from the turkey was to be declared this year’s champion with full rights to ...

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Stepping Stone School Adds New Layer of Quality Assurance

Several times a year, our Quality Assurance specialists assess every classroom, nutrition center and administrator in every school to ensure the highest standards of safety, nurturance, environment and curriculum for each child in our care. Our new QA coordinators are teachers and administrators at each school who consistently excel in their classrooms' quality assurance assessments and who have an exceptional understanding of how to maximize safety, nurturance, and learning environments of young children. "Providing the best implementation of our award-winning accelerated curriculum in t...

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Stepping Stone School-Age Children Earn, Donate Money to Charity

Katy Scott, Director of Community Engagement Brazos Valley at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas (right) with Lindsay Trimble, Campus Principal of Stepping Stone School at Rock Prairie and Heather Richter, School Age Teacher along with participating students present a check for $405 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas. We're so proud to say that our Austin Future Leaders & Inventors school age children raised $2,134 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and Central Texas! Additionally, our newest Stepping Stone School in College Station ear...

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Stepping Stone School Families Donate to Vets' Pantry

Again this year, Stepping Stone School delivered hundreds of pounds of food donated by its families and employees to the Killeen-Heights Veterans Center food pantry in Harker Heights near Fort Hood. In early June, the children at Stepping Stone School learned that returning disabled veterans often have to wait more than a year to get their first disability payments. Finding that many of the veterans and their families have a hard time making ends meet or even go hungry while waiting for assistance, the children of Stepping Stone School and their families wanted to help and organized the ...

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CPR Positive Parenting Meeting July 21

Stepping Stone School is offering an infant/child/adult CPR/first aid training class for the convenience of our families. Call today and make reservations for yourself, a friend or teen babysitter to attend. WHO: Anyone who wants to learn CPR. WHEN: Saturday, July 21, 9:00-11:30 a.m. WHERE: Stepping Stone School III, 6616 McNeil Road. TRAINERS: CPR Resources (off duty firefighters and EMTs). COST: $25 per person at the door. RESERVATIONS: Please call 512-459-0258 to reserve your place so we can be sure to have enough trainers available. Reservations may also be made through your cen...

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Stepping Stone School Summer Reading Challenge Begins

Stepping Stone School school-age students have taken on a 13-week summer reading challenge. This contest encourages our young readers to spend more time reading and helping others with their reading skills, and is just one of many ways Stepping Stone School helps prevent "summer brain drain." The three classrooms that log the most reading minutes will receive a pizza party and be featured in the Stepping Stone School Book of World Records. The Stepping Stone School Book of World Records also will highlight: The child that logs the most individual reading minutes; The child that logs t...

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Stepping Stone School Observing Sun Safety Week

This week, the children at Stepping Stone School are learning about UV rays, SPF, heat and other things related to summer sun! Here are some of the tips they will be studying to help keep them and their families safe during our Texas summers. Block the Sun, Not the Fun! Monday: Insect repellants reduce sunscreen’s SPF by up to 1/3. When using a combination, use a sunscreen with a higher SPF! Tuesday: Overexposure to the sun’s harmful rays can result in sunburns which increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Therefore, check your local UV index which gives important information ...

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Stepping Stone School 20 Now Open!

Stepping Stone School is pleased and excited to announce the opening today of its newest early care and education facility in College Station, Texas! The school, located at 205 Rock Prairie Rd., serves children ages 6 weeks through 11 years old and opened at near full capacity. Like all Stepping Stone Schools, the Rock Prairie school was designed to provide children with a multi-sensory experience that inspires their intellectual, physical and social/emotional development. See more about our innovative campuses here. Please join us in welcoming this new school, its amazing families...

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Learning Happens All Year Long at Stepping Stone!

The beginning of summer may mark the end of the official “school year,” but at Stepping Stone School, the learning never ends! Our year-round developmental learning curriculum continues to provide your children with intellect-stimulating activities incorporated into seasonal themes. Whether working with infants or school-agers, teachers help children build their academic skills while providing joyful summer learning opportunities.   Our summer curriculum is now the focus in our ongoing professional development program. With thoughtful planning and intentional teaching, our educato...

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Enrolling Now for Our Premier Summer Program

We are now enrolling for our School Age Summer Adventure Camp! Highlights include: Exciting Field Journeys like bowling, rock climbing, ceramics, Inner Space Caverns, Lego Robotics and Stepping Stone School’s Private Movie Theater! Weekly themes with topics like airplanes, endangered animals, oceanography, anatomy/physiology and foreign cultures promote learning, character and values. MENSA-inspired activities, brain teasers, and math, literacy and science enhancements. Chess Club & Dual Language Immersion Labs – child and parent favorites! Sports & Fitness Camp...

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Stepping Stone School Donates Cribs to Charitable Organization

Cribs to benefit vulnerable families, survivors of domestic violence Stepping Stone School has donated approximately 230 gently used infant cribs and mattresses valued at about $50,000 to a family shelter in Monterrey, Mexico. Continuing Stepping Stone School’s dedication to the environment and to repurpose items it no longer uses, the cribs will be contributed to DIF Nuevo Leon. The organization assists homeless families and those who have escaped domestic violence in Mexico get back on their feet. Six months ago, Stepping Stone School began its search for an organization in Mexic...

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Leveled Readers Coming to Stepping Stone School Pre-K Classrooms

We are introducing Beginning Level Early Readers into our Advanced Prekindergarten class libraries this spring! Children in these classrooms will use these graduated readers to fine tune the literacy skills that enable them to decipher words and meaning. As your children become ready and interested, they each discover the excitement of reading. These skills come together at a unique time for every child. Our experienced teachers respectfully encourage each child to be a confident, exploring reader and learner!...

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Premier Private Kindergarten Now Enrolling for Fall!

Stepping Stone School is now enrolling for its Premier Private Kindergarten! Your child's kindergarten year is a very important foundational experience. We invite you to stop by and see how our curriculum and programs can best prepare your child for "big school" success. You want this important year to be the very best for your child, and you will find that at Stepping Stone School. Our kindergartners discover their potential, eagerly explore new concepts and are inspired to be adventurous learners. Advantages of Stepping Stone School’s private kindergarten: Stepping Stone School’...

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Stepping Stone School Offers Organic Gardening Spring Break Camp

Stepping Stone School is excited to announce its “Start Smart” 2012 Spring Break Camp, “Organic Gardening & Healthy Living.” Some of the highlights include field trips to such places as: Austin Nature & Science Center; Zilker Botanical Garden; or Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center The children will learn about growing and nurturing living things. Your child will explore the world of plants and botany by: Planting and growing real tomato plants; Creating original vases and flower pots; Charting and discovering the growth rates of various plants; ...

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Stepping Stone School Now Provides Hot Lunch to School-Age Children

NEW! Stepping Stone School is now serving nutritious and healthy hot lunches to our school-age children during school holidays and breaks. This service is always provided to our younger children at no additional cost, but has now been expanded to include our older children when they attend full days. We are pleased to provide this convenience for our families!...

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Stepping Stone School Named 21st Largest Preschool

In its January/February 2012 issue, Exchange magazine has listed Stepping Stone School as the 21st largest for-profit child care organization in North America. The list, which is based on the licensed capacities of all centers, included many publicly traded companies and large chains. Stepping Stone School was among the highest placed privately owned organizations. "We are very pleased to be part of this list," said founder and executive director Rhonda Paver. "Stepping Stone School remains a tight-knit, family-owned organization where we are small enough to be vigilant and responsive...

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Students Kick Off Turkey Trot with Turkey Call

Echoes of “Gobble! Gobble!” filled the autumn air Tuesday when the students of Stepping Stone School IX competed to determine which of them was the Turkey Calling Champion. Stepping Stone School and ThunderCloud Subs kicked off the 21st annual Turkey Trot and Kids’ K with a live Turkey Call at Stepping Stone School, 8121 Shoal Creek, on Nov. 15. The contestant who elicited the best response from the turkey was to be declared this year's champion with full rights to “crow” about it, however, because Tom Turkey was silent, all earned honors for their enthusiastic attempts! The...

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Dual Language Immersion Lab Newest Enrichment at Stepping Stone School

Stepping Stone School is pleased to announce the addition of its new foreign language enhancement! The Dual Language Immersion Labs will give students at each school a jump start at learning a second language. According to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, learning a second language at an early age... Has a positive effect on intellectual growth; Enriches and enhances a child's mental development; Leaves students with more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better ear for listening; Improves a child's understanding of ...

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Chess More Than a Game at Stepping Stone School

"That's what chess is all about. One day you give your opponent a lesson, the next day he gives you one."  -  Bobby Fischer, American chess grandmaster Chess – These classes and tournaments provide a multitude of benefits to our young strategists! Children who play chess have been shown to improve their math and reading skills, but the benefits go far beyond academic. Stepping Stone School is proud to introduce the traditional, yet revolutionary game of chess to its advanced pre-k and school-age masterminds! These students are learning about the history of the game as well as how the ...

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Stepping Stone School Leaders Expand Knowledge at NAEYC Conference

Stepping Stone School campus principals and curriculum leaders recently returned from the NAEYC 2011 Annual Conference & Expo in Orlando, FL, where they attended workshops and sessions by other experts in child development. "These workshops covered all the latest research about how children learn," said Marilee Blackwelder, Stepping Stone School director of training. "There were workshops that explored developmentally appropriate and effective teaching practices, the importance of relationships and attachments, and the different ways in which children learn to read, for example." Step...

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Stepping Stone School 17 Relocates to Beautiful, New Campus

Stepping Stone School opened the doors to its newest campus on Monday, Oct. 3, to the delight of its students and parents alike. Children were seen at Thursday's open house event excitedly exploring their new school, its play areas and classrooms. Many, even, were reluctant to leave. That excitement carried over to opening day. One parent, Karen Barry, said of her son, "It usually takes a while for him to get going in the morning, but not today. He popped right up and said, 'I'm going to my new school today!'" The school, previously located at Dell Children's Medical Center, is the new p...

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Stepping Stone School Families Donate Busload of Food to Disabled Veterans

Stepping Stone School delivered hundreds of pounds of food donated by its families and employees to the veterans' counseling center in Harker Heights near Fort Hood. In early June, the children at Stepping Stone School learned that returning disabled veterans often have to wait more than a year to get their first disability payments. Finding that many of the veterans and their families have a hard time making ends meet or even go hungry while waiting for assistance, the children of Stepping Stone School and their families wanted to help and organized the food drive. "We are so proud of ...

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Stepping Stone School Awards CDA Scholarships to Its Teachers

A group of 22 Stepping Stone School scholarship-winning teachers have just begun classes to earn their Child Development Associate degree.The CDA program will reinforce our teachers' knowledge and understanding of the intellectual, social, emotional and biological development of children and the planning and design of related curricula. Congratulations to these smart (and lucky) educators!...

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Rhonda Paver Appointed to Governor's Council

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Stepping Stone School Founder Rhonda Paver to the Texas Early Learning Council. This council assesses early childhood education and care programs across the state and develops opportunities for collaboration among entities carrying out federally and state funded child development, child care and early education programs. Read the press release on the governor's website....

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Six Schools Awarded Texas School Ready! Certification

Six Stepping Stone School locations recently earned the Texas School Ready! certification for 2010. Among private preschools in Austin, Stepping Stone School now has the largest number of Texas School Ready! certified schools. The TSR! Certification is determined by the combined results of a 2 year process that includes assessment of the Pre-K classroom program followed by tracking of the same children through their kindergarten classrooms. This certification means that children who attend Stepping Stone School’s pre-k program are equipped with the foundation skills they need to be succes...

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Stepping Stone Childrens' Gobbles Kick Off 2010 Turkey Trot

Stepping Stone School kicked off the holiday season and this year’s Turkey Trot with the annual Turkey Call yesterday. The children in the advanced pre-K classes at Stepping Stone IX dressed up, sang, and demonstrated their best turkey calls in hopes that the live turkey would answer back. The judges deemed four-year-old Wylie the contest winner, as his turkey call elicited the best response from Turkey Tom. The Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot and Stepping Stone School Kids K will be held Thursday, Nov. 25 at the Long Center in Austin, TX. All proceeds from the event benefit Carita...

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Stepping Stone Voted Best Preschool by Nickelodeon Parents!

We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Austin parents for choosing us Best Preschool! We're so pleased to be Austin's 2010 Nickelodeon's Parents' Pick. Thank you for your support ... we couldn't have done it without you!...

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Kyle Stepping Stone School Opens

Our newest location opened on Monday, Aug. 23, and we're so excited to be part of the Kyle community! We look forward to providing Hays County with the same excellent early care and education that has earned us the "Best in Austin" designation from the readers of Austin Family Magazine for 12 years! The "School of Knowledge & Innovation" is offering Stepping Stone School's nationally recognized curriculum to the children of Hays County ... the same curriculum that has prepared Central Texas children for school success for 30 years!...

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Stepping Stone School Voted Austin's Best for 12th Year!

Updated July 2024 - Editors note: Stepping Stone School has won Austin Family Magazine's Best in Childcare Award for a 26th year! Stepping Stone School has been named "Best Preschool 2010" in the Austin Family Magazine Readers' Poll. This is the 12th year Stepping Stone School has received this honor. Thank you to all our families for your support!...

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Watch Us Grow!

Stepping Stone School is expanding to Kyle, Texas! Our Daycare center in Hays County is scheduled to be open and bustling with academic energy this Fall....

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Advanced Pre-K Week - March 8-12

During the week of March 8-12, we celebrated the education and remarkable achievement of our children with Advanced Pre-Kindergarten week. Each day of this fun learning week, educators highlighted a different Kindergarten Readiness skill that is practiced throughout our school. Day one showcased print concepts and alphabet awareness. Day two focused on the physical development of our children, including fine and gross motor development. Day three involved math concepts, such as sequencing, matching, and shape recognition. Day four encompassed self regulation and social/emotional readiness, ...

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Stepping Stone School 6 Receives NAC Accreditation

Stepping Stone School 6 received notice of accreditation from the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC). NAC Accreditation demonstrates and documents Stepping Stone School's quality performance using research-based criteria. "We're so proud of our staff at Stepping Stone School VI," said Rhonda Paver, Stepping Stone founder and CEO. "All of our schools follow our strict quality guidelines and curriculum, but it is always nice to be recognized for our hard work."...

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Stepping Stone School Appears at Breakfast with Santa at the Capitol

The Texas Capitol building was a-buzz with the laughter of children mixed with holiday sounds Saturday, Dec. 5 when Stepping Stone School, exclusively selected to provide arts and crafts activities, helped the children make ornaments and "jingle-bell" necklaces. Stepping Stone School donated its time and supplies to help make the annual Breakfast with Santa at the Capitol a merry holiday event for children....

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Stepping Stone School Kids K Helps Caritas

The thunder of footsteps is now just a memory, but the Stepping Stone School Kids K Race was a huge success! About 900 children participated in the one-kilometer race, benefiting Caritas of Austin. Children and parents alike enjoyed the Stepping Stone School Activity Tent before and after the race. Activities included face painting, making crafts and playing in the bounce house. The Kids K is part of ThunderCloud Subs' annual Turkey Trot, which raises money for Caritas. Stepping Stone School is proud of its ten-year partnership with these organizations in the fight to stamp out poverty!...

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Stepping Stone School Gobblers Open Season on Turkey Trot Registration

Echoes of "Gobble! Gobble!" filled the crisp autumn air Nov. 18 when the students of Stepping Stone School IX competed to determine which of them is the Turkey Calling King or Queen. This year's winner was 5-year-old Evan. Stepping Stone School families collected non-perishable items for Caritas and were pleased to present the non-profit group with an amazing 594 pounds of food! This annual event kicked off registration for the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot and Stepping Stone School Kids K, which took place Thanksgiving morning. All proceeds from the Turkey Trot benefit Caritas ...

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Stepping Stone School Summer Bash a 'Smashing Success'

Stepping Stone School topped off its Summer Adventure Camp in style with the Annual End of Summer Bash. There were clowns, slides, face-painting, food, fun and LOTS of foam! Although we're sad to see the summer end, we're thrilled that we still get to see so many of our school-agers in our After-School Care! Check out the video here. What better way to kick off the new school year? ...

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Summer Specialty Camp!

Stepping Stone School is now enrolling for our School Age Summer Adventure Camp! Exciting weekly and monthly camps including Science Experiments, Culinary Academy, and Theater Productions and exciting activities such as Lazer Tag, Rock Climbing, Water Golf, Zoo Shows and Stepping Stone School's Private Movie Theater! FREE, summer-long Academic Super Skills Camp featuring MENSA-inspired activities, brain teasers, and math, literacy and science enhancements. Use of Nintendo Wii rewarded for Academic Achievement! State licensed, regulated environments ensure your child’s safety, securi...

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Stepping Stone School Guides Parents in Preschool Search

In a recent issue of the Austin American-Statesman, Stepping Stone School offered guidance for working parents who are searching for quality early care and education. Marilee Blackwelder, Director of Training at Stepping Stone School provided her insights, including valuable information regarding what parents should look for and specific questions to ask. Click here to read the full article, "Safety, security top list of what pre-school should offer families". ...

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Health Advisory

Stepping Stone School will continue updating you on important health-related information as it becomes available. Please click here to read our letter to parents including helpful tips on preventing the spread of illness (PDF). For tips on discussing swine flu with children, please visit the CDC's website....

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NAC Accreditation

Stepping Stone School I on Richcreek and Steppping Stone School V on Wells Branch Parkway were recently accredited by the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC), recognizing the schools for exemplifying excellence in the education and care of young children. NAC Accreditation is one of the highest recognitions awarded to Early Childhood Development programs, signifying that a program meets NAC's high quality standards and is distinguished as superior child care. ...

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2009 Austin Family Readers' Poll

Polls are open! Help keep Stepping Stone School "Best in Child Care". Thank you for your support and votes as we continue providing the best early care and education! [*Update 5/15/2009 - Polls are now closed. Thank you for your support!]...

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National Recognition

Stepping Stone School has been recognized as the 21st largest privately owned child care organization in North America by Exchange magazine, the official publication of Child Care Information Exchange. ...

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Car Seat Calendar

Properly installing a car seat is one of the most important aspects of ensuring a child's safety. To ensure that all parents are familiar with how to effectively, safely use car seats, the Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas provides a comprehensive Calendar of Car Seat Safety Checks. Please visit their website to take advantage of this valuable resource....

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Stepping Stone School Kids' K at Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot

Join us at the Stepping Stone School Kids' K at the 18th Annual Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning at Waterloo Park. Children can run or walk the Kids' K and then head over to the Stepping Stone School Kids' Area featuring games, activities, snacks, and a moonwalk. All proceeds benefit Caritas of Austin, a non-profit organization committed to assisting low-income families. We hope to see you there! ...

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Stepping Stone School Turkey Call Kicks Off Thanksgiving Festivities

The children at Stepping Stone School IX on Shoal Creek participated in Stepping Stone School's annual Turkey Call to initiate the Thanksgiving festivities leading up to the Stepping Stone School Kids' K at the 18th Annual Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. View some of the Turkey Call excitement! Turkey Call Video ...

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Texas School Ready! Certification

Five Stepping Stone School locations—Richcreek, Woodland Village, Pflugerville, Blockhouse, and Red River—recently earned the Texas School Ready! certification for outstanding preschool education classrooms that effectively prepare students for kindergarten....

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Texas Rising Star Four-Star Certification

Stepping Stone School II on Bowling Green has been named a 4-Star Texas Rising Star vendor, the highest award offered by the program. The Texas Rising Star program is designed to provide families with the highest quality child care available by closely observing and examining child care programs through certification visits. Four-Star certification is awarded to child care programs that exceed quality standards in all areas and enhance the intellectual, physical, and social development of children in care. Additionally, six other Stepping Stone School locations—Richcreek, Woodland Village...

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Early Childhood Education Consortium

Stepping Stone School founders Rhonda and Bill Paver have been recognized for their contributions to Early Childhood Education by an invitation to join the Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC). The Consortium represents the largest national and regional early childhood care and education companies in the United States. The ECEC members represent over 8,000 programs serving more than 800,000 children in nearly every state in the country. More about ECEC » ...

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Rhonda Paver to present at World Child Care Forum

Stepping Stone School founder Rhonda Paver has once again been asked to present at the international Working Forum for Multi-Site Early Childhood Organizations to take place in October 2008. Mrs. Paver will be presenting on the topic: How Culture is Shaped and Communicated. This event is a project of the World Forum Foundation whose mission is to promote an on-going global exchange of ideas on the delivery of quality services for young children in diverse settings. The complete agenda can be found on the Multi-Site web site. In 2006, Mrs. Paver presented on the topic: Developing Struc...

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Stepping Stone School Supports Early Literacy in Central Texas

Stepping Stone School is proud to support early literacy efforts in the community by sponsoring the Leander Educational Excellence Foundation (LEEF), a public charity committed to helping improve academic outcomes in the Leander Independent School District Community. More about LEEF »...

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Stepping Stone School featured in Community Impact Newspaper

Stepping Stone School was featured in Community Impact Newspaper's June 2008 edition. Click here to view the entire article (PDF download). ...

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Stepping Stone School Voted Best Child Care - 2008 Austin Family Magazine Readers' Poll

Stepping Stone School is as the top of its class! Click here to view the full listing of poll results....

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Stepping Stone School XVIII – NOW OPEN!

The School of Life, located at Seton Medical Center Williamson in Round Rock, TX provides on-site care for Seton Healthcare Network employees and the general public. Please call 512.341.0909 for more information or to enroll your child. Hurry... spaces are filling fast!...

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The Kids ARE Alright

Slate Magazine reviews an in-depth study on what child care really means!...

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