Donald Stewart Early Childhood Center is a dual-language preschool located in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The school is comprised of 22 classrooms in which students are grouped by age group and includes two special education classrooms. Donald Stewart has high academic expectations for all 308 of it's students. In order to help each learner meet these high standards, the staff must first ensure that students are equipped with the ability to self-motivate and regulate their own behavior, so they lead successful lives. This is not an easy task given the age group of the students that ranges from 3 to 5 years old. In this article, the authors will provide examples of how, despite the challenges, the school has successfully put in place essential practices and initiatives that develop intrinsic motivation and reinforces its commitment to ethical character.