Fortress Preschool began as a twice-weekly mother’s day out program for the moms who had grown up in Fortress Church. Building Blocks, as it was called, quickly evolved to meet the demand and needs of the neighborhood, and transformed from a daycare to a functional preschool focused on school readiness and social learning. In 2016, Fortress opened a licensed, full-time preschool and now can enroll 70 children ages 6 weeks to 4 years.

Preschool students begin their day with breakfast and circle time, where teachers use Conscious Discipline practices such as greetings and “wish you wells”. Circle time includes songs, read-aloud stories, and routines that reinforce positive social habits, such as sitting criss-cross apple sauce, raising your hand, and listening to your teacher.

Students then participate in centers, which include math & problem solving, science, library, construction, creative play, writing, and pretend play. Centers are child-directed and allow for interaction and exploration within the boundaries of teacher-developed activities. During centers, children also work one-on-one and in small groups with teachers on the early literacy and fine-motor skills needed for Kindergarten.

Outdoor play is an essential part of our preschool environment. Fortress’s students enjoy a large courtyard and natural playground designed by GreenSpace Learning, complete with sound boards, sand box, pull-up bars, tricycles, toys, and more — plus, plenty of grass to run and play safely! After outdoor play time, they enjoy a healthy lunch prepared on-site to meet their nutritional needs. After lunch, students take a well-earned nap. Half-day preschool students leave at 2:00pm, while full-day students wake up from nap and participate in a second round of circle time, centers, and play (plus snack and dinner) until 6:30pm.

In order to optimize our students’ school readiness, preschool teachers align their lessons with the Texas Infant, Toddler and Three-Year-Old Early Learning Guidelines and Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines. The weekly themes and learning objectives are adapted from CLI Engage’s CIRCLE PreK Curriculum, and incorporate developmentally appropriate practices to promote gross and fine motor skills, language and communication, and emergent reading and writing.

All Fortress preschool classrooms have an experienced Lead Teacher who has earned either a CDA (Child Development Associate) or a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Assistant Teachers provide classroom support and are mentored by their lead teachers. Assistant Teachers who discover talent and passion for the field have the opportunity to pursue their CDA. Fortress is proud to provide this professional development opportunity free-of-charge to our staff, some of whom are current or former Fortress parents and have discovered a career they love through Fortress.

Fortress Preschool is offered free-of-charge to families who receive CCMS. As with all Fortress programs, parents and guardians complete a minimum of 12 hours of parent engagement and participate in two annual conferences to remain eligible for re-enrollment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enroll at fortress preschool?

Fortress Preschool is open to children who receive CCMS and who can commit to attending at least 75% of the time. Fortress provides scholarships for the balance of what CCMS doesn’t cover, so tuition is never an obstacle for parents who are working to achieve stability for their families. Priority enrollment is given to children who reside in 76104, but children from all over Tarrant County are welcome to apply.

By offering tuition-free childcare, we hope to enable parents of young children to achieve long-term stability by pursuing full-time employment.

When does the Preschool program run?

Fortress Preschool operates Monday-Thursday year-round! During the school year, we follow the Fort Worth ISD calendar, including all major school holidays and bad weather days. We may offer partial day programming when FWISD has scheduled teacher in-service or “flex” days. A precise calendar is available in each annual parent policy handbook.

Fortress Preschool is open from 8:00 am until 6:00pm. Early drop-off (7:30 am) is available on a limited basis for parents who can prove need by providing verification from an employer or a school schedule.

Can I volunteer in Preschool?

Yes! Volunteers can serve in a one-time or ongoing capacity. Specific volunteer opportunities can be found here, or you can contact us for more information.