Curriculum

Accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs

Curriculum Overview

St. Peter’s Nursery School offers a developmental program geared to each child’s growing curiosity and awareness of self and environment. The curriculum is well planned, but also allows for spontaneous experiences based on the child’s needs, knowledge and skills.

Learning in enhanced by hands-on cognitive activities. Play is used as an important tool for healthy emotional growth and development. By educating the whole child, a healthy self-concept develops, which enables the child to related well in the community and society.

Play is used as an important tool for healthy emotional growth and development.

List of Services

BE IN TOUCH

Our program includes the following:

Art: painting, collage, clay, shaving cream, water and sand play
Language: story, drama, poetry, writing
Math: classification, patterning, quantitative concepts, number recognition, counting
Science: plant growth, weather, animals, experiments, nature
Music: rhythm instruments, singing, movement
Dramatics: puppetry, role-playing
Cooking: measuring, counting, ready, socialization
Sensory & Motor: puzzles, manipulatives, small muscle coordination
Blocks: math, socialization, measurement
Outdoor Activity: large muscle development

A typical day’s schedule may contain the following:

Individual Time: During the first 30 minutes manipulatives, puzzles, implements for writing and drawing are at the tables. The easels and the loft are open. On the rug are larger manipulatives, building materials, etc. During this time the teachers are circulating and working with individuals and small groups of children.
Clean Up/Transition Time
Group Time: The entire class gathers on the rug for 15-25 minutes. There are opportunities for sharing of language and songs. The teachers teach a lesson about the day’s activities in a fun, hands-on manner.
Work Time: During these 50 minutes the children have the opportunity to become involved in dramatic play, large block play, a sensory activity (play dough, clay, shaving cream, water) or an art activity. The easels and blocks are open.
Clean Up/Transition Time
Book & Story Time: For the next 10-15 minutes the children will hear a story and have a chance to look at books.
Snack Time: Everyone joins together to eat and share conversation for about 10 minutes
Outside Time: Large muscle activities take place on the playground or gym for 25 minutes.

OUR CLASSROOMS

Curriculum Goals

To build a positive self-concept
To encourage the child to learn by performing activities himself
To develop language skills by encouraging children to ask questions and participate in singing songs and telling stories
To encourage visual and auditory discrimination by the use of books, tapes and other relevant materials
To develop concepts of thinking and recalling information. This would include predicting and sequencing
To develop coordination through large and small motor activities
To foster self-control, respect and a spirit of cooperation within the class environment
To encourage and respect individuals’ pace and style of learning
To encourage creativity in all phases of development

PRESCHOOL

Long-lasting benefits

Research shows that providing your children with a positive preschool program has beneficial long-term effects on their long-term education. Experts have found that children who attend high quality preschool programs have better vocabularies and more advanced literacy and math skills than children who don’t.

In addition, children in preschool programs have advanced social skills and are more adaptable to changes and new situations.

SUMMER CAMP

Seasonal fun for your kids

St. Peter’s offers a Summer Camp program run by the teachers, yearly. Camp runs from the last week of June and the first 3 weeks of of July, Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Days and availability depend on the child’s age. Each week offers a different theme and all crafts, books and activities center on that theme. Enrollment is limited.