Welcome to AEC Preschool
Spanish & French
Full Immersion Programs
(562) 832 -1911
Monday to Friday
7:30am - 5:00pm
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Who We Are
At Arc en Ciel, we believe every child deserves to see themselves and their family reflected, celebrated and loved.
Our name means "rainbow," and we live by it every day.
Diversity is at the heart of who we are. You'll see it on our walls and hear it in the languages we speak. You'll feel it among our students, our families and the community we've built together. Children here grow up knowing that differences in culture, background, ability and family structure are part of what makes our world beautiful.
We're a school with clear values, and we believe families should know them from the start. Our teachers care deeply about social justice, and we make room for it in our classrooms. We do it gently and in ways young children can understand, teaching fairness, kindness, empathy and the courage to stand up for one another.
LGBTQ+ families are not just welcome here. They're an integral and cherished part of our school community. Every family deserves to walk through our doors and feel at home.
When you choose Arc en Ciel, you're joining a community that leads with love and acts with intention. We believe the smallest among us can learn the biggest lessons in belonging.
- The AEC Team -
Meet Our Founder
Arc en Ciel began as a little story. On June 19, 2018, I opened a small home daycare
so I could care for my daughter, Rachel, while doing the work I loved.
As more families joined us, we moved a few times into bigger homes, eventually growing into a large family daycare, and that journey led to the preschool you see today.
The road here was not always smooth, but it was always worth it.
Since opening Arc en Ciel Preschool in January 2023, we have grown into something I'm truly proud of, and I owe that to our incredible team.
Our teachers are the heart of this school.
They pour themselves into their classrooms, care deeply about every child, and bring their own talents, cultures, and experiences into everything they do. I could not ask for a better group of people, and I am so proud of each of them.
Arc en Ciel is made of pieces of all of us. Every teacher, family, and child adds something of their own, and together we are united by what we believe in: diversity, respect, and a love of learning.
I'm always here to answer your questions. I'm at school every day, even if you don't always see me, so please stop by the office and say hello.
— Charlotte, Founder & Director
Our Mission
At Arc en Ciel, children learn through play, curiosity and connection, in a school that reflects
the full diversity of the world they're growing up in.
We follow the Creative Curriculum, a play-based approach built on the belief that children learn best by doing. Through art, music, movement, building and pretend play, they explore big ideas at their own pace. Our teachers watch and listen closely, then shape each day around what every child is curious about.
But what truly defines us is who we are together. Our classrooms are immersed in Spanish and French, and filled with the cultures, families and stories of our community. We celebrate differences in background, language, ability and family structure, and we teach fairness, empathy and respect from the very beginning.
Our hope is simple: that every child leaves us confident in who they are, open to others and full of wonder for the world.
Our Location
Thank you for your interest in Arc en Ciel Preschool! For the past four years we've been proud to call the wonderful city of Lakewood home.
Our school sits in a quiet residential neighborhood, set back from the main road. A beautiful tree-lined median separates us from busy South Street and gives the preschool its own peaceful side street. That extra distance from traffic adds a welcome layer of safety for our children. For families' convenience, we also have a large private parking lot on site, with plenty of room for drop-off and pick-up.
Our building is attached to a church, but Arc en Ciel is a fully independent preschool. We have no religious affiliation, and our program includes no religious instruction, prayer or church activities. All families are warmly welcome, whatever their background or beliefs.