Alpha School for Young Children, Inc. is licensed by the State of New Mexico for 118 children (per morning & afternoon) session. Alpha School has a license capacity of 49, Alpha Tots is 36, Alpha Babies is 33. We enroll children 3, 4, and 5 years old for our multi-age setting at Alpha School. Alpha Tots is designed to serve toddlers and twos. Alpha Babies is designed for infants and young toddlers. Preschool Class hours are 8:30-11:30 for morning sessions, and 12:30-3:30 for afternoon sessions. Children may enroll to attend both sessions. Our school is open the hours of 7:00-5:30. Alpha School, Alpha Tots & Alpha Babies serves morning & afternoon snacks and a nutritious lunch. Alpha Babies has been approved to serve breakfast to our infants as well. Children may attend 3, 4, or 5 days a week.

We encourage parents to visit the school to observe their child and to help with activities and as a general resource. Alpha School will use the Focus Portfolio Assessment Tool with all ages. Parents can ask for a conference at any time as we feel that good communication on behalf of the child is extremely important. The conference will be scheduled at the parent's convenience.

Our Mission

We seek to satisfy and develop the emotional, physical, intellectual, social, and creative need of each child through our love and supportive behavior... We believe that our environment allows each child the freedom to grow and expand fully.

Our Philosophy

Alpha School is a child-oriented school. We believe that children learn through play, first-hand experiences, and through the use of a variety of materials. The first-hand experiences will be in the areas of art, music, science, human relationships, etc. Each child is free to choose what he wants to do, but may not abuse another child in that pursuit. Each child has "freedom with responsibility," and with this freedom he or she can learn and be happy. They will learn by doing.

Alpha Tots & Alpha Babies is also a child-oriented program. During the past 30 years, careful observation of infants and toddlers around the world has yielded an ever-increasing awareness of the importance of early development. Everyday, it seems, we learn more about the capacities of newborns, the differences among very young children, the influences of family and community culture on early development and the ability of infants and toddlers to cope with developmental challenges. We are also learning that group care of infants and toddlers presents special challenges and opportunities for promoting healthy development and supporting families.

Our Goals

• To establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment for young children.
• To promote good health and nutrition habits for young children.
• To use space, relationships, materials and routines as resources for constructing an interesting, secure, and enjoyable environment that encourages play, exploration, and learning.
• To provide a variety of equipment, activities, and opportunities to promote the physical development of young children.
• To help children develop their communication skills by encouraging communication and providing ample opportunity for children to listen, interact, and express themselves freely with other children and adults.
• To support the development of children's creative abilities by respecting creative play and by providing a wide variety of activities and materials that encourages spontaneous expression and expands children's imagination.
• To provide physical and emotional security for each child and help each child to know, accept, and take pride in him or herself and to develop a sense of independence.
• To help children develop social skills that help them work and play cooperatively and productively with other children and adults. To respect the rights and feeling of others.
• To provide a supportive environment in which children can begin to learn and practice appropriate and acceptable behavior as individuals and as a group.
• To maintain open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with each child's family, encourages their involvement in our program, and support the child's relationship with his or her family.