Early Childhood

The focus of the Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten programs is to provide children with a challenging and loving learning environment based upon respect of self and others. Teachers guide the children as they begin their school life - nurturing their enthusiasm, fostering self-confidence, and introducing the basic concepts of the Catholic faith.

Faith Formation in the preschool (ages 3-4) and pre-kindergarten (4-5) programs develop a child’s spiritual self with guidance from Stories of God’s Love (RCL Benziger) - a curriculum designed to engage children and their families by making connections between scripture and their daily life.

Special Subjects: Music, library, physical education, and Spanish (Pre-K 4 only) are offered as part of the early-childhood learning experience at Saint Juliana School.

3-Year-Old Preschool

3-Year-Old Preschool Curriculum

Our developmentally appropriate curriculum for preschool is centered around thematic units. Students explore thematic units and learn through a consistent routine of teacher-directed activities, as well as student-directed activities. Learning centers provide opportunities for students to explore literacy, art, math, religion, science, technology, sensory, and social skills.

A typical day in preschool includes the following:

Circle Time
Music and Large Motor/Movement
Religion/Character Education/Social Skills
Snack Time
Lunch (Full-day program only)
Recess
Story Time
Rest Time (Full-day program only)
Learning Centers: Literacy, Art, Math & Manipulatives, Religion, Science, Technology, Sensory, Blocks, Dramatic

Preschool Themes*

Shapes
Colors
Numbers 1-20
Alphabet
Holidays
Seasons
Nature
Animals and their Habitats
Community Helpers
Health & My Body
Construction/Transportation
Nursery Rhymes/Fables
Bugs/Insects
Five Senses

*Themes may vary

The following are our program offerings for 3-Year-Old Preschool:

Five Day Program

Full-Day (8:00am - 3:00pm)
Half-Day (8:00am - 11:00am)

Three Day Program (Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday)

Full-Day (8:00am - 3:00pm)
Half-Day (8:00am - 11:00am)

Pre-Kindergarten 4

Pre-K 4’s Big Day Curriculum

Our literacy-rich Pre-K 4 program is guided by the Big Day for PreK Curriculum (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company) . The school year is structured around eight learning themes, each lasting approximately four weeks.

Big Day for PreK Themes

Ready for School
My Family
My Community
Awesome Animals
Imagine, Make It
Growing Up Healthy
Nature All Around Us
Moving On

Each week there will be a new big idea (e.g. Big Day Theme – Ready for School – Week 3’s Big Idea: Learning Together) and each day there will be new big experiences. Also linked to each learning theme is a social-emotional focus:

Cooperation
Kindness
Responsibility
Attention
Initiative
Self-Awareness
Curiosity
Persistence

Throughout the year, learning centers provide opportunities for pre-Kindergartners to explore literacy, art, math, religion, science, technology, sensory, and social skills.

The following are our program offerings for Pre-Kindergarten 4:

Five Day Only

Full-Day (8:00am - 3:00pm)
Half-Day (8:00am - 11:00am)

Early Childhood Highlights

Field Trips
Multiple Holiday Fun
Community Helper Visits
Mystery Guest Visits (Preschool 3)
Star Students (Pre-K 4)
End of Year Picnic

Preschool children must be three years old by September 1 of the enrollment year and fully toilet-trained. Pre-Kindergarten children must reach age four by September 1 of the enrollment year. Working families with children enrolled in the full-day program may be interested in our morning and after-school extended care options.