Early Childhood Experience

Our preschool programs offer academic opportunities for all children in a Christ-Centered environment with a variety of flexible schedules depending on the school location. Our schools present developmentally appropriate curriculums that support the varied levels of readiness of emergent learners. 

Preschool programs in the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Newark afford students both academic opportunities and positive self-esteem through integrated learning experiences in the areas below.

RELIGION

• Develop an appreciation of and a reverence for God as Creator;
• Know that they are children of God;
• Engage in daily prayer;
• Practice behaviors that reflect positive Catholic values;
• Listen to and reflect on appropriate stories from the Bible.

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Develop a sense of trust, security and confidence;
• Establish an understanding of the teacher’s role as facilitator;
• Exhibit positive connections to other children and adults;
• Demonstrate the ability to listen, focus and communicate;
• Follow age-appropriate directions, independently;
• Successfully participate in a variety of classroom routines and activities.

EMERGENT LANGUAGE

• Engage in basic communication skills (speaking, listening, writing);
• Develop phonemic awareness within and throughout the environment;
• Listen attentively to conversation and stories and respond with comprehension;
• Demonstrate the ability to recognize the letters and sounds of the alphabet;
• Exhibit the ability to print letters of the alphabet.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Recognize basic geometric shapes;
• Develop an awareness of numbers as quantity;
• Perform simple mathematical operations;
• Identify patterns, relationships, and classifications;
• Develop an understanding of various measurement methods.

SCIENTIFIC SKILLS

• Observe and identify the numerous properties of objects;
• Explore and investigate living vs. non-living things in nature;
• Organize and categorize in a scientific manner;
• Use prediction, execution, outcome and reflection.

SOCIAL STUDIES

• Identify the unique characteristics of oneself and others as children of God;
• Explore the roles, traditions and customs of families;
• Develop an understanding of neighborhoods and communities.

ART, MUSIC, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND TECHNOLOGY

• Participate in a variety of daily age-appropriate activities to explore art, music, physical play and technology.