The Little Dolphin School
We're excited to share that two of Southern Maine's most notable nonprofits dedicated to the education and development of young children are joining forces: The Little Dolphin School and Waypoint Maine. This partnership strengthens our shared mission of providing comprehensive, high-quality care to children—combining LDS's more than half a century of distinguished service with Waypoint's expertise, scale, and deep experience supporting children with developmental disabilities. While our classroom organization will remain the same for students and families, this union brings exciting new opportunities and resources that allow us to continue recruiting and supporting the very best early childhood educators in Maine and beyond.
Infant Program
The infant program features 32 full-time slots across four age-specific classrooms, making it one of the largest and most sophisticated in New England. Because we group babies by age, newborns are never placed with older infants—and thanks to our unique “looping” approach, teachers stay with the same children for two years to ensure consistency and connection.
Toddlers Program
Our toddler program features two age-specific classrooms—Toddler I (2 years) and Toddler II (2.5 years)—each thoughtfully organized into learning centers for dramatic play, manipulatives, sensory activities, art, and blocks. Through special activities like yoga, Mini Maestros, storybook and puppetry, and movement education, our toddler year builds the early literacy and numeracy skills your child will carry into Preschool.
Preschool Program
Combining daily play with a structured academic environment, our preschool program for 3-year-olds truly sets our school apart. Children strengthen their language and fine motor skills as they learn to write, building letter recognition and phonetics through engaging themes about the world around them. Daily schedules blend free play, learning centers, art, cooking, and music.
Pre-K Program
With a structured day focused on morning academics, the Pre-K year prepares 4-year-olds for kindergarten, guided by state learning standards. Children build skills in numbers, writing, and letter recognition while exploring learning centers, theme-based art projects, and hands-on math and science through cooking. Library visits and special programming—like music and movement with Irene and Stages Performing Arts Academy classes—round out the year, capped off by an end-of-year play with the Kindergarten classes.
Full Day Private K Program
Our full-day kindergarten is limited to just 10 children per class and taught by a Maine-certified K–3 teacher using best-practice learning strategies in literacy and language skills. From student-made solar system dioramas to baking projects and guest teachers, every day is filled with hands-on learning in a warm, enriching classroom. The academic curriculum follows state learning standards, running from 9am to 3pm with before and after care available. Our graduates are consistently held in high regard by the public school system, all while enjoying a small, intimate, and loving final year.
