Why We Love Hillside Preschool in Succasunna, NJ

Choosing a preschool can feel totally overwhelming. It’s the first big step in your child’s education, and with so many options out there, it’s hard to know where to start. We learned about Hillside Preschool when we began looking for the right spot for our oldest son, back in 2020. For me, it was really important to find a place that felt like home—somewhere warm, welcoming, and that shared the same values we were teaching him at home.

My mother-in-law mentioned we should check out Hillside Preschool in Succasunna, NJ and after chatting with the staff and the director at the time, I just knew it was the right fit. Fast forward a few years, and two of our three kids have gone through the program, with our youngest starting this September!

I already know why our family loves Hillside Preschool, but I recently had the chance to talk with Tara Koval, the Director of Hillside, about what she thinks makes this school so special. Here’s what she had to say.

A Little About Hillside Preschool

Miss. Tara's connection to Hillside Preschool runs deep. She attended as a child in the 1980s, and still treasures the memory books, photos, and home videos from those early years—complete with familiar faces like Miss Joyce, who still plays piano for the students today. Her husband and both of their children are also Hillside alumni, and her mother taught at the school for 24 years. Tara later taught in Hillside’s Three's and Four's programs before working in public school special education and then teaching third grade at American Christian School across the street. In 2021, she returned “home” as director. Tara is proud of Hillside’s rich legacy, its faith-based roots, and the dedication of its staff. She’s especially passionate about partnering with Preschool Advantage to help make early education accessible to more families. “Hillside is my happy place,” she says. “I’m so grateful to love what I do and who I work with.”

The community is warm and welcoming.

"I think our preschool community is so special because of the love that is here. Everyone on our staff is here because they love the Lord, feel called to teach and love the kids and their families. Some of our teachers are moms who brought their children to Hillside and felt so connected to the school that they chose to stay—bringing with them degrees in education, or even returning to school to earn one, just to be part of this community. Hillside Church has also been wonderfully supportive of our school.

A dedicated Preschool Committee, made up of supportive church members, plays an active role in uplifting our school. Women from the church lovingly create handmade baby blankets to welcome new additions to our preschool families, while another group generously volunteers each month to prepare craft materials for our classrooms. Throughout the year, our preschool families are also warmly invited to take part in a variety of joyful, church-hosted events that help strengthen the bond between school, church, and community."

A sense of belonging and values are instilled in the children everyday.

"We believe that every child deserves to attend preschool in a loving and caring environment that nurtures and helps them grow spiritually, emotionally, physically and intellectually. While we know that academics are important, we really look at the whole child and truly get to know them to help them grow and develop into who God created them to be! Preschool is such a pivotal point in time to set them on the right path to growing into good humans. We provide a lot of support and modeling during social learning times so that the children start to recognize that everyone is an important person in our school and learn to respect each other, as well. We also live by our school's motto "Sowing Seeds of Faith" and strive to instill Christ-centered values during our class time. We learn about how much God loves us through Bible stories, songs, activities and prayer and thank Him for all that he has blessed us with!"

Structured learning is balanced with lots of play based exploration.

"We understand and embrace that kids are not instinctually built to sit still. We're very proactive about scheduling time for both structured learning and play based exploration into the days of all of our preschoolers. Teachers refresh items in their centers and table tops to go along with whatever theme they are learning about or to reinforce whichever skill they are working on. Children build connections through individual and group play, which they start off with each day. They build confidence in their abilities by doing it themselves- so if you're looking for crafts and projects coming home that are perfect, you won't find them in your child's tote bag! What you will find is something that your child did themselves and that they are super proud of!

However, we also believe that children need to be taught how to sit still and learn in a way that is age appropriate. For this, we incorporate circle time as a way for teachers to introduce new letters and topics, read stories, share in conversations and as a way for students to learn how to have a calm body, respect others personal space, and work towards group learning. Every child has differing abilities to do this, so circle time for some may look like they are sitting criss-cross-applesauce with their hands in their lap, while others may be holding a stuffy in their lap, or sitting at the table with a crayon and paper, but still able to chime in on conversations that are happening. The goal is to meet everyone where they're at and encourage them to be successful to join in when they are ready. There is no drama in preschool!"

There are tons of creative and hands on experiences for the kids.

"Each teacher has their own style and it really shines through the activities in their classrooms! Some of our classes go on a bear hunt and then end at a teddy bear picnic to snack time with their stuffies that they brought from home. Some classes get turned into the arctic and their sensory tables have floating icebergs that they have to balance plastic animals on. Some classes create their own volcanoes out of playdough and they use pipettes to experiment with baking soda and vinegar to observe chemical reactions. Other classrooms follow recipes and make special treats. Color mixing with paints, creating trains with vegetables, painting with balloons, dance parties, yoga...you name it, we have probably done it!

We also offer an extra curricular program called "Little Learners" for students to add on to their day where they explore various S.T.E.A.M. themed topics. We have had Gardening, Cooking, Engineering, Pint-sized Paleontology, Music & Art classes- just to name a few! Our staff is so creative and has just as much fun as the kids when it comes to learning!"

The staff is experienced and dedicated.

"The majority of our staff at Hillside has been here for between 5-10 years, with some longer than that! A few members of our staff recently retired after working here at the school for 20+ years. We are grateful for the dedication and faithfulness of our staff. It truly benefits the program to have a low rate of teacher/staff turnover but we totally understand that life happens and sometimes change is necessary!"

Lastly...

What do you hope every child takes with them when they leave your school?

"We hope when kiddos graduate and move onto their "big kid schools" that they know they are loved as they are and they are capable of doing hard things. We want them to know what it means to be a good friend and the importance of helping others- but most importantly we want them to know that Jesus loves them and that He will be with them wherever they go in life."

What are parents most surprised or impressed by when they join your program?

"Right away, parents seem to be really impressed by our facilities- we take pride in creating warm and inviting classrooms that are not cluttered or visually overwhelming. We recently upgraded our outdoor space and had a new climber installed on our playground. If we can't get outside due to inclement weather- we have a full sized basketball gymnasium for the children to engage in their daily gross motor play. We have been very blessed to have a beautiful building and plenty of space to learn and grow in!

As families graduate, I think they are surprised at how much they are going to miss coming to Hillside! Some of our recent graduates were the youngest children of the family, so parents have been coming here for 9+ years! There are lots of tears and hugs as we sent them off for the summer!"

Hillside Preschool

Hillside Preschool is more than just a place to learn—it’s a nurturing community where children are loved, valued, and guided to grow in every way. With a dedicated staff and strong connections to families and the local community, Hillside creates a welcoming environment that feels like a second home. Whether it’s fostering confidence, encouraging curiosity, or supporting social and emotional development, Hillside Preschool lays the foundation for lifelong growth and learning. If you’re looking for a preschool that truly cares about the whole child, Hillside Preschool is a wonderful place to start that journey.

Hillside Preschool

113 South Hillside Ave

Succasunna, NJ

07876