Pre-Kindergarten Information
PHILOSOPHY
The Basilica School of Saint Mary recognizes that each child is a gift made in God’s image. Our pre-kindergarten program offers young children a wonderful opportunity to grow, explore, and learn. Through the intercession of our patroness Mary, Seat of Wisdom, our school strives to lead all its students into a joyful relationship with God. We are committed to the spiritual, academic, social, and emotional formation of each child in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Church.
CURRICULUM
Our pre-kindergarten curriculum is child-centered and developmentally appropriate. Using early childhood instructional strategies, our students learn and develop according to their individual abilities. We use Letter-of-the-Week to introduce each letter of the alphabet and its sound. Varied and engaging activities help our students gain pre-literacy and pre-writing skills. These skills are infused daily into each lesson, whether it be through art, music, manipulatives, class discussions, mobile technology, or journal writing. Children benefit from having a full-time instructional assistant working alongside their teacher.
Our current 1:8 ratio affords our preschool students individualized instruction. Their personal creations are displayed prominently. Spanish is twice a week. Our children also have the opportunity to explore science, math, reading, and dramatic play through center-based activities.