News

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! ...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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 ...

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!...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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!...

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’...

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!...

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...

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...

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 ...

"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 ...

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...

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...

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 ...

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!...

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....

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...

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!...

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!...

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!...

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....

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."...

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....

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? ...

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...

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". ...

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....

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. ...

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!]...

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. ...

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....

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....

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...

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 » ...

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 »...

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

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

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!...

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