St. Paul's Episcopal Nursery School

PARENT/TODDLER | Older 2's | Young 3's | Older 3's/Young 4's | 4 Day Young 4's | Older 4's and 5's | KINDERGARTEN EXPLORATIONS | MUSIC and ART | EXTENDED OPTIONS

Our Classes

At St. Paul’s we offer a learning environment organized by classes for children according to age. Our child to adult ratios range from 1 to 3 for the youngest classes to 1 to 8 for the oldest classes. Our lead teachers all have at least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or child development, with some holding master's degrees. Our staff also includes two music teachers, an art teacher, at least one assistant teacher per class, an office manager and a full time director.

Our main core program runs from September through May. We offer both morning sessions (9:00 – 11:30 am) and afternoon sessions (12:30 – 3:00 pm) ranging from 1 to 4 days per week depending on the child’s age. In order to assure a smooth transition into school, St. Paul’s offers a home visit for all students in the late summer prior to the beginning of each school year. Parents may choose classes for the following ages:

• Parent/Toddler class (18 months through 2 1/2 years) – Accompanied by a parent or caregiver, children may attend this class on either Monday or Friday morning. Our toddler educators offer a program that encourages enjoyment and success in a school setting by inviting toddlers to explore the class room space, the toys, and other appropriate materials in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
• Older 2's may attend nursery school 2 days per week and are initially offered a gentle separation experience through shortened days and early parent participation when needed. The two’s day will be centered around social play experiences by offering appropriate materials designed to encourage the development of language and other cognitive skills that are rapidly developing during the toddler years.

• Young 3 year olds may choose either 2 or 3 days per week and are offered small group experiences that encourage social play through learning to problem solve, share, and cooperate within a group.

• Older 3’s/Young 4’s class meets 3 days per week. This class includes a variety of activities including socio-dramatic play, dress-ups, building materials, art, music, literacy and beginning writing activities.

• 4 Day Young 4 year olds attend school 4 consecutive days in a row. This class participates in socio-dramatic play through a variety of interesting props as well as beginning to work on topics of interest through projects chosen in collaboration with the class room teachers and class mates.

• Older 4’s and 5’s meet 4 days per week. Although, not a kindergarten class, the children gain needed skills, initiative, and independence in preparation for future academic expectations. Socio-dramatic play is still an important vehicle for learning. Project work includes writing as well as art, building, and the use of a variety of interesting and creative materials.

Kindergarten Explorations meets twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 - 3:00 pm. Kindergartners are invited to explore exciting themes of interest through hands on projects and activites designed to encourage children to make connections between people, places, things and events. The daily schedule will include opportunities for kindergarten students to play and learn about their world through worthwhile projects, enjoy a snack, and to participate in gross motor activities in our Big Room or outside through nature explorations in Bird Park and on our playground, weather permitting.

Music and Art Programs

All ages participate in our music program that is taught by our specially trained early childhood music teachers. All older 3’s, 4’s, and 5’s participate weekly in our art program which has been designed by our studio artist. All children participate in art daily with their regular class room teachers, but our studio artist works with the older children in order to enhance their learning and enjoyment of art through the use of an expanded variety of materials and artistic techniques.

EXTENDED DAILY OPTIONS

St. Paul’s offers a variety of extensions to the children’s day through a number of different programs. These programs are carefully designed to offer needed extended child care as well as relaxed extensions to your child’s day through an assortment of fun-filled social and creative learning activities.

Early Morning Drop Off – The early morning drop-off program is available from 8:30-9:00 am, Monday through Friday, depending on demand for the program.

Lunch Bunch – Children may extend their day either in morning or afternoon sessions by 1 hour. The children bring their own lunch and play in the Big Room or outside, weather permitting.

Lunch N More – The Lunch N More program is offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the older 3’s, 4’s, and 5's as a way for children in the traditional morning session to extend their day until 1:55 pm. The children eat their lunch in the classroom and then extend their day through engagement in dramatic play, art, literacy and writing activities, cooking, science, and large motor play in the Big Room or outside, weather permitting. We believe that it is important for the children to set their own pace in the afternoon after a busy, fast paced morning. It is also a time for the teacher to encourage activities based on the individual interests of the children in the group. Children may attend either 1, 2, or 3 times per week.