Holy Trinity Early Childhood Program Voted Favorite in Mountainside

The Mountainside vote was stark proof that every vote counts as received one vote more than for favorite preschool in Mountainside last week. 

The school, which also has a campus in neighboring Westfield, has only had one director, Mrs. Leslie Lewis, and as expected, she was happy the school won .

“It is nice to have the confidence of the public which we serve and their feedback is obviously very important to us,” said Lewis, who has lived in Westfield for 23 years.

"We are very pleased that the parents in our educational community have voted for us as their favorite preschool. We consider parents our partners in education and are delighted that they have acknowledged our excellence publicly,” added Lewis, who previously taught Pre-K through third grade, worked as a Home Instructor for Westfield Public Schools, grades K through eighth, as well as the Assistant to the Director of Westfield Presbyterian Nursery School.  

Lewis is a member of National Association of Educators of Young Children and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

The Holy Trinity's Mountainside Campus provides the youngest members of the community with an age-appropriate Catholic program supporting the spiritual, academic, emotional and physical needs of each student, Lewis said. The educational needs of the students are met through a curriculum devised to develop the individual strengths of each student, while simultaneously developing the skills necessary for a successful school career.

The Pre-K curriculum emphasizes language development, reading and math readiness skills, and social development through a center based play environment, she said. Experiential learning continues into the kindergarten; where a balanced approach of center-based learning, direct instruction and child-centered activities provide an environment that allows each child to develop to their highest potential.

In addition to their fine academic record and religious commitment, Lewis said all teachers are N.J. State Certified and specialists in Early Childhood.  

The school also offers Art, music, creative movement, library and foreign languages, and features IPads, computers and Smart Boards in Classrooms as well as teacher aides in Pre-K classes and Valet drop-off and pick-up.

Sister Maureen Fichner S.S.J, the school's principal, is a native of New Jersey and graduated from St. Joseph the Carpenter School in Roselle, Holy Family Academy in Bayonne, Chestnut Hill College and University of Scranton.

She has been a member of the religious order of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia for many years. After serving the community by teaching in four different grade schools in Philadelphia, Sister assumed the position of Principal in St. Philip Neri School in Lafayette Hill, PA for 14 years.