Early childhood is the most critical period in human growth and development, for it is the period when the foundations of academic achievement are laid. Play is the work of childhood. Through play, children seek to understand the world around them and their place within it. Through structured activities, children develop the neurological pathways necessary for mental, physical, and social growth. During these early years, learning experiences must be diverse, creative, carefully planned and based on sound principles of child development.

St. James Preschool offers an excellent, developmentally based education in a safe, happy, and nurturing environment. We believe that a child's natural curiosity and sense of wonder are very special assets entrusted to us, and through these, we seek to impart a love of learning in every child we serve.

At St. James, we believe that providing a rich and attentive educational environment is only the beginning. For "learning through play" to be truly meaningful, we focus on helping the child become a critical observer of his or her environment, and develop problem solving skills. Our goal is to help the child become an active agent in his or her own education. Our teachers foster this process in an individualized, language-rich environment through the questions they ask, the goals they set, the information they provide, and the behavior they model.

Specific Objectives:

Personal Confidence - building in each child a sense of inherent value and self-esteem

Social Skills - helping the children learn how to form relationships of caring, trust, and mutual respect

Language Development - these critical skills are gently and patiently encouraged through story telling, song singing and staff modeling

Toilet Training - we will work with families to provide consistency as the children master this skill