Early Childhood

Early Childhood Program

Prekindergarten 2, 3, 4 year olds and Kindergarten

Our Early Childhood Program at St. Angela Merici offers a stimulating learning environment that focuses on developmentally appropriate practices while integrating our Catholic faith. The prekindergarten program is designed to meet the needs of all students with hands-on learning centers, outdoor play, art, music and movement. Children are encouraged to explore the world around them through developmentally appropriate practices and differentiated learning activities. The early childhood curriculum encompasses all of the domains of early childhood development in the areas of phonemic awareness, prewriting/writing, reading, math, science, social studies and religion.

Our kindergarten program builds on the learning and development gained in prekindergarten. Children are engaged and challenged with daily learning centers and differentiated instruction to ensure optimal academic and developmental growth. Language and literacy development includes phonological awareness, oral language, journal writing, reading and spelling. In math, students use manipulatives to master a strong number sense, the relationships between numbers, quantities, patterns, basic mathematical operations, as well as understanding the attributes and relative properties of objects and shapes. Science and social studies are taught in a meaningful, active and integrative manner. Science focuses primarily on inquiry in life, physical and earth sciences. The social studies curriculum allows students to learn more about their families, communities, cultures, and the importance of citizenship and responsibilities.

Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Religion

All students in the Early Childhood Program will have the opportunity to participate in The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program on a regular basis. This program was designed to give students the opportunity to learn about the Catholic Mass with a hands-on approach. Students have the privilege to learn about the liturgy as well as their Catholic faith while manipulating works in the Montessori based Atrium as they grow closer to Jesus.

In addition, the Sadlier text “We Believe” will be used along with the Bible for religious formation.