The school is part of the nationally recognized Children’s Lighthouse franchise, but it brings a unique approach to community involvement and care.
A foundation for lifelong success
With experience as both a preschool and kindergarten teacher, franchise owner Nadene Habboush has seen firsthand the long-term benefits of early childhood education.
“As a kindergarten teacher, I could see which children came from preschool,” Habboush said. “They felt secure in themselves.”
The school uses the Lighthouse Pathways™ curriculum, which supports age-appropriate learning goals and skill development at every stage, from six weeks to 12 years. The curriculum balances structured learning with play and emphasizes both academic and social-emotional growth.
Each month, the school introduces a new character value, which is reinforced across all age groups, even the infants.
“Today, [our character value] was humor, so when a teacher saw a child doing something funny, she would pull [the lesson] directly back to our character value,” Habboush said.
Recently, the school began incorporating animal mascots and countries of origin into character lessons, giving children a foundation in geography and cultural appreciation.
A culture of safety and support
One of the most important features that sets Children’s Lighthouse of Princeton apart is its emphasis on safety.
“Everything we do within the school, as well as how we train our teachers, [revolves around] safety,” Habboush said.
Classrooms are equipped with individual door alarms and other child-safe design features to help teachers maintain supervision and prevent accidents.
The school also uses advanced sanitation tools, including a Zono sanitation machine and Halo disinfecting systems, commonly found in hospitals, to ensure a clean and healthy environment.
Even the school’s outdoor design reflects a commitment to privacy and safety.
“There's a privacy fence around our [school], so people [outside of the school] can’t see the children,” Habboush said.
In addition to adhering to all state and franchise requirements for teacher training, the school provides school-specific onboarding and classroom expectations, going above and beyond minimum standards. Each classroom also has access to float staff, or extra teachers who can step in when classrooms need additional support.
Connecting with the Princeton community
While the classrooms are still being finalized and the school is filling its enrollment, the team has already been actively building community ties.
“This is who we are,” Habboush said. “We want to help our community.”
The school also plans to launch a parent committee, similar to what’s in place at other locations, which will allow parents to get involved with school events and strengthen the sense of investment in their child’s early learning environment.
Additionally, Children’s Lighthouse of Princeton has been working closely with the city and chamber of commerce and provides regular updates at monthly city meetings.
Personalized care for every family
At the heart of the school’s approach is a commitment to understanding each family’s individual priorities. During tours, families fill out a form identifying what matters most to them, whether it’s safety, curriculum, class sizes or something else, so that staff can tailor the tour and discussion accordingly.
“Each tour is specifically tailored to what parents need,” Habboush said. “Also, when they bring their children, we interact with them, ... so we can tailor the tour based on what we see the child is enjoying.”
As Children’s Lighthouse of Princeton opens its doors, it brings more than just a place for children to learn; it offers a trusted foundation for growth, confidence and connection. With its personalized approach, strong safety standards and deep-rooted passion for early education, the school is poised to become a cornerstone for families in the Princeton community for years to come.
“My true calling is working with children,” Habboush said. “Watching their confidence grow [is incredible].”
Contact Children’s Lighthouse of Princeton to schedule a tour today, or visit their website to learn more.
The above story was produced by Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
