Classes are held in the mornings from 9:30 until noon. Two-year-old children attend school on Tuesday and Thursday. Three-year-old children attend school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday . Our 4-year-olds attend five days a week. We will offer two 2-day classes, two 3-day classes, and one 4-year class. Depending on enrollment, we may choose to offer a mixed-age class Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for older 2's and younger 3's. Our school year runs from mid September through May.
Our class sizes are kept small to allow for ample space and attention for each child. The 2-day classes have 10 children, the 3-day classes have 12 children and the 5-day 4's has 14 children. There is one teacher and one assistant teacher in each class.
Philosophy
We believe that early childhood is a critical period in the intellectual, physical, social, emotional and spiritual growth of children. We strive to provide a rich environment that prepares each child of God to live a creative, humane, and compassionate life and to become a contributing member of society.
Our program goal is to create a warm, loving atmosphere in which a young child may experience the Christian ideals of their own uniqueness and worthiness as an individual. In a concerned and supportive community, children can discover the wonders of the world around them and become aware that they are under the care of a loving and generous God.
The development of self-confidence and positive self-image are major goals of our program. We also emphasize self-sufficiency and problem solving to aid in achieving these ends.
Encouraged by the example of our staff, children learn to respect the uniqueness of others. Teaching staff offer praise and assistance when needed and help children express their feelings in an honest and constructive manner.
Each child is unique. Therefore, each child's progress is measured against their own increments of learning during the year, rather than in comparison to the progress of other children in their class.
Young children need opportunities to learn by exploring their world. Our program provides ample firsthand encounters; we encourage children to handle, experiment with, and observe the wonders of nature and the inventions of society. We provide time and resources for our children to express these experiences in their own terms.
Although young children operate on a concrete level, we believe they are capable of becoming aware of God's love. Through our acceptance and love of the children, we strive to reflect God*s acceptance and love for all. During chapel time we celebrate this relationship through song, story, prayer, and the traditions associated with our Church.
Curriculum
Our program seeks to encourage the intellectual, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual growth of each young child by providing an enriching environment where the child feels safe and accepted, and where they can participate in a variety of stimulating learning experiences. We offer a wide variety of materials and learning experiences in the following areas:
arts & crafts chapel cooking dramatic play fine motor skills gross motor skills language/literacy mathematics music science self-help skills sensory
social skills social studies writing
The Creative Curriculum, by Diane Trister Dodge and Laura J. Colker, guides instruction at St. Peter's. This curriculum emphasizes learning through play and a variety of hands on experiences. Teachers are facilitators who create a classroom environment that fosters children's learning, creativity, self-expression, and security.