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SJA Preschool and PreK
Frequently Asked Questions About The Early Childhood Programs:
Q: Does SJA offer a part-time program for my three, four, or five year-old?
A: Yes. St. Joan of Arc Preschool is designed as a Half-Day Program meeting the
needs of children ages three, four and five. The curriculum is designed to develop the child at an age appropriate pace academically, while meeting social skills for a pre-kindergartener. St. Joan of Arc offers the following programs:
BUTTERFLIES (Child must be age 4 by August 1)
4 year-old Preschool Program
3 days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 8:00A.M. to 12:30 P.M.
5 days: Monday through Friday, 8:00am-12:30pm.
CATERPILLARS (Child must be age 3 by August 1)
3 year old Preschool Program
2 days: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00A.M. to 12:30 P.M.
3 days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 8:00am-12:30pm.
Extended Day Option:
Mondays—Fridays: $10.00 per day (12:30pm-3:00pm)
Class sizes are limited and registration will be taken on a first come/first serve basis.
Additional Preschool information is available by contacting Peggy Kline pkline@sjoa.org or completing a blue application found outside the school office.
Q: Does SJA offer a full-time PreK program?
A: Yes, St. Joan of Arc offers a PreKindergarten program (age 4 by August 1) offered from 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. (Monday—Friday)
Registration for this program is provided by the School Office 283-1518.
An after school care program is available through N.Y.O. (Neighborhood Youth Outreach) for an additional fee.
You must pre-register for this program through NYO Director, Carolyn Holder 283-6710.
Additional Information
about SJA PreSchool
Programs
(our Approach):
PRESCHOOL
EXPECTATIONS/EXPLORATIONS
Listed below are expectations and explorations
for the three to five year old. Many of these are
introductions to true expectations of a kindergartner.
By beginning these activities in an early childhood
program the success of the kindergartner is enhanced.
Big Muscle/Free Play
-development of large and small muscles
Pre-Reading
-learning to listen
sitting quietly
taking his/her turn talking
following and remembering rules
-enjoying literature
-telling of own experiences
-distinguishing between likes/dislikes and similarities/differences
-recognizing letters of the alphabet
-introduction to beginning letter sounds
-rhyming words
-classifying objects
-sequencing actions
Health and Safety/Manners
-encouraging good health habits/promoting good safety habits
-promoting good manners/respecting others
Social Studies
-exploring the family, school, community and world
Math
-estimating
-sequencing
-patterning
-graphing
-counting forwards and backwards
-recognizing and naming numerals
-recognizing colors and shapes
Science
-exploring plants, animals, and the world around us
-combining math and science through cooking
Art
-use of fine motor skills
-expressing self through paint, paper, chalk, clay, etc.
Music
-enjoying tapes, songs, and rhymes
-reinforcing language skills
PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM
Throughout the preschool year the class will follow a curriculum covering various topics. They will study these topics through free exploration, art, music, stories, and centers. The following is a general list of topics to be covered with the children. These topics may change at the teacher’s discretion if the class as a whole may want to explore areas not listed.
Alphabet and Numbers
Colors and Shapes
My Family and Home
Real Bears and Teddy Bears
Native Americans and Pilgrims
Our Community and Its Helpers
Our Senses
Nursery Rhymes
The Seasons
Holidays
Johnny Appleseed, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, St. Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Earth Day, Multicultural Life and Celebrations
Science
Our Body, Plants, Air, Magnets, Weather, Habitats, Environment, Ecology, Dinosaurs, Farm Animals, Zoo Animals
Music
Rhythm, Expression, Listening
Motor Skills
Daily use of large and small motor equipment (parachute, bean bags, rhythm sticks, etc.) and encourage the children to develop active movement
Christian Education
A Christian education develops personal worth while helping children work and play happily with others. This also encourages loving others, and increases self-discipline. We begin each day with prayer, pray before snack and meals, and end the day with prayer.
Emotional Development
This is the most important aspect of the program. By example through day-to-day activities we stress the importance of fundamental Christian values. Listening, cooperating, sharing, and following directions and simple rules are vital in the development and growth of the children. We want each child to feel secure with adults and his/her peers, to feel self-confidence and begin a path toward self- independence.
DAILY ACTIVITIES IN PRESCHOOL
Circle time
Circle time is a group gathering during which we share our ideas, plans and observations. Circle activities are designed to stimulate thinking, enrich social skills, and expand attention spans.
Gross-motor activities
These activities give the children the opportunity to use their muscles - as well as their imaginations - as they engage in fun, healthy exercises, such as running, jumping, and climbing.
Fine-motor activities
Small motor activities help improve small-muscle development and hand-eye coordination. Some common items found in the fine-motor/manipulative area include puzzles, beads and laces, pegboards, crayons, and scissors.
Art activities
Art promotes children to creatively express their thoughts and feelings. They help reinforce fine-motor skills and concept development in areas such as colors, shapes, and size relationships.
Dramatic-play activities
Dramatic play helps children express themselves, practice life skills, improve social skills, increase self-esteem, build vocabulary, solve problems. And, dramatic play is just plain fun!
Music activities
Music promotes children’s listening skills, creative expression, and social skills. In music, children can explore sound, volume, tempo, and rhythm.
Science activities
Science offers children many hands-on opportunities for observation, exploration, investigation, making predictions, and experimentation.
Sand and water activities
Manipulation of sand and water allows children to experiment with textures and the properties of different substances. These activities also promote the development of other skills, such as math, science, and language.
Block play
These activities give children experience with many different concepts, such as shape and size discrimination, spatial relationships, number skills, balance, organization, cause and effect, and classification. Cooperative play skills, problem solving, and creativity are also promoted in block play.
Storytime
Storytime is designed to help children develop an appreciation and enjoyment of literature. Reading activities enhance children’s vocabulary and comprehension skills, and also expand their knowledge base.
Please visit SJA’s PreSchool eClassroom: http://sja-eclassroom-pres.blogspot.com/
Please email the PreSchool Director, Mrs. Peggy Kline: pkline@sjoa.org
Preschool and PreK Faculty:
Mrs. Peggy Kline, Pre-School
Mrs. Jeannie Conner, Pre-School
Peggy Johnson, Pre-School
