preschool

ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC PRE-SCHOOL

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We, at St. Peter's Catholic Preschool, believe that each child is a unique creation of God. We respect all children's natural curiosity about the world and desire to be independent. Materials will challenge a child's spirit of discovery and wonder in an environment prepared by early childhood professionals who appreciate the miracle of a child's development.

A balanced program of child-centered and teacher- directed activities will provide our students an opportunity to enjoy the freedom and responsibility of choice. Through their play, they will explore a nurturing, loving, and Christ-centered environment and be given the gift of time to experiment, discover and think. Because our children learn in an atmosphere of acceptance and respect, we believe that they will grow to trust in their own talents and abilities, and ultimately in themselves.

Our preschool is an extension of the Catholic education effort of St. Peter's Catholic School. Our program provides a solid foundation for our children's cognitive, social, emotional, physical, creative, and spiritual growth.

Through the program at St. Peter's, children will become a part of the Catholic educational family that includes students, parents and staff. Because of our appreciation of our community's ethnic diversities and cultural richness, we encourage mutual respect for individual interests and talents, and encourage the sharing of God's gifts.

The school is open to children ages 3 through 5 years old.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Our program is designed to meet the individual interests and needs of our children. The following I learning centers are carefully planned and prepared to I provide opportunities for your child to explore, communicate, and discover through play.

PRAYER CENTER: A special place in each class is prepared to remind children of God's presence in their classroom and their daily lives.

DRAMATIC PLAY CENTER: Child sized furniture, real props, and opportunities to role-play, result in the practice of social and language skills.

BLOCK AREA: Blocks and accessories stimulate a child's imagination and encourage planning, problem solving, and cooperation.

MANIPULATIVE CENTER: By classifying, sorting, manipulating, and matching prepared materials, a
child develops hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills.

ART / CREATIVE CENTER: Easels, paints, paper writing and drawing equipment of all kinds are available to foster creativity and self-expression.
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LIBRARY CENTER: This is an inviting, comfortable I place to read and be read to. A love for books and reading begins with children's exposure to literature.

GROSS MOTOR SKILLS: Our outdoor environment ~ provides opportunities for large muscle development
and individual and group activities.

OUR STAFF IS DEDICATED

To create an atmosphere of unconditional acceptance for each of God's children.

To emphasize the presence of God in our children's lives by incorporating art, song, and movement into daily celebrations.

To offer opportunities for children to learn through their meaningful play.
To recognize sensitive developmental stages and present appropriate materials that provide a maximum potential for growth.
To teach, through example, concepts of fairness, respect and love for one another.
To provide a safe, nurturing environment that is designed to facilitate independent, positive behavior.
To provide materials and learning experiences that will allow the whole child to develop.
To help children develop language and social skills through extensive play opportunities, consistently reinforcing their use of words to express their feelings and needs.
To develop a program that stimulates and encourages the child, building on each child's strengths and interests.