The Pre-School at Stuart
The Pre-School at Stuart consists of coeducational Pre-School and Junior Kindergarten classes for 2 ½ - 5 year olds. The Pre-School follows Stuart’s academic calendar year. The schedule of the day for the Pre-School classes is from 8:30 until 2:00, with a stay and play option from 2:00 until 3:00. The Junior Kindergarten class begins at 8:00 and runs until 3:00. All Stuart Pre-School children may join the After-School program as necessary until 6:00. Additionally, a variety of enrichment classes are offered on a trimester basis for the Pre-School children from 2:00 – 3:00 and for the Junior Kindergarteners from 3:00 – 4:00.
The Pre-School Program
The Pre-School at Stuart provides an excellent foundation for the early learning years. The main objective of the program is to provide an environment in which the children are involved in a broad range of social, intellectual, artistic, and physical experiences. These experiences enable the child to interact with peers and adults during play as well as teacher directed educational activities; provide reading readiness; cultivate a basis for understanding mathematics; foster good physical and personal habits; awaken an appreciation of music, nature, art, and poetry; and nurture the joy of learning. We foster a child's excitement about learning and help each one investigate the environment, expand logical thinking skills, and develop oral and written language.
Stuart seeks to develop the whole child with the Sacred Heart social and academic goals in mind, and encourages all students to develop their potential. At Stuart we believe that play and exploration hold the keys to learning and growth. Through play and exploration young children learn about themselves and the world around them. Play teaches children academic and social skills and helps to provide the foundation from which they are launched into successful and rewarding lives.
The curriculum is organized around a yearly theme and instruction and activities reflect that particular focus throughout the year. The daily and weekly schedules in each class include story times, art, music, religion, physical education, science, reading and math readiness, free play, social studies, cooking, drama, library, and other developmentally appropriate activities such as field trips and special in class visitors.
The Junior Kindergarten
The co-ed Junior Kindergarten builds upon the strengths of our Pre-School program and includes many enhanced enrichment opportunities. Students continue to develop their social and emotional intelligence as well as their problem solving skills through daily play and interaction with peers and adults. Activities in imaginative play, language arts, mathematics and visual arts are scheduled daily. The weekly schedule includes music, drama, physical education, social studies and religion, as well as instruction by specialists in computer technology, science, and Spanish. Field trips are scheduled throughout the year to compliment the children’s topic of study. The Junior Kindergarten curriculum helps to set the foundation for learning in Kindergarten and beyond.
Junior Kindergarten Curriculum
The Pre-School Program Overview
Reading Readiness/Language Arts: Our program is created by our team of teachers, encouraging vocabulary development, letter recognition, listening comprehension, and auditory discrimination. Students learn developmentally appropriate skills in listening, speaking, writing and reading.
Mathematics: Age appropriate mathematical concepts, processes and problem solving are taught through a variety of means, particularly focusing on the use of manipulatives. Play with blocks and other materials provide students with early experiences with concepts of geometry and problem solving.
Science: The child’s innate curiosity provides a basis for discovering the surrounding world. The school environment provides a natural science laboratory, and units of science can include such topics as pets, colors, magnets, food, air, wind, water, and plants.
The Arts: Stuart values young children’s creative impulses, and special instruction is provided in the areas of art, music and drama. Art materials are freely available, and the children are urged to explore and express their creativity. Dramatic play gives each child a chance to perform, to watch, and to create and to grow in self-confidence. Watching the lower school productions allows for modeling. Music instruction is both formal and informal. During classes, the students sing regularly and learn the rudiments of rhythm and pitch. Children learn to see music and movement as a natural part of life.
Physical Education: We want the children to feel comfortable with their bodies and become physically adept. Gross motor skills are developed through a program taught by our Lower School physical education teacher that incorporates movement, rhythm and basic skills including following directions. Fine motor development is enhanced through a variety of developmentally appropriate activities such as cutting, lacing, sewing, tying, painting and writing.
Social and Emotional Development: Throughout the Pre-School, students are encouraged to develop their own potential in independent and self-disciplined ways; they are taught to cooperate and to enjoy group experiences, and they are gently guided to expand the areas in which they interact with others, solve problems, and build overall skills. The confidence young children gain through positive social relations encourages them to be more curious, more active, and more creative and flexible learners.
Values: As a Sacred Heart school, Stuart places importance on moral and spiritual development. We strive to help each child develop basic religious values and a strong and lively faith in God. Children participate in religion classes as well as services and learn the importance of prayer and thankfulness.
Why Stuart?
Stuart seeks to develop the whole child with the Sacred Heart social and academic goals in mind, and encourages all students to develop their potential. Through individual and group activities, our young learners acquire the skills and self-esteem that will ensure future academic success.
Our youngest students share the full range of opportunities offered by our campus with the hundreds of other students who come to Stuart from almost 50 communities. All are seeking the excellent values-oriented education and singular atmosphere of love and trust which are Stuart's hallmarks.
Admission to The Pre-School at Stuart
Application deadline: January 11, 2007
Requirements for admission to The Pre-School at Stuart include the following:
- Application: A completed application form accompanied by a $50 application fee.
- Interview: An informal meeting with the Admissions staff for the candidate and his/her parents to be scheduled during the school visit or at another, more convenient time. Please call the Admissions Office for an appointment at 609-921-2330 x274.
- Visit: The child will spend time in the classroom with the Coordinator of The Pre-School at Stuart.
- Recommendation: If currently enrolled in another preschool program, a recommendation from the child’s current teacher is required. It should be mailed directly to Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart.
Tuition Information
Tuitions for academic year 2006-2007 range from $13,800 to $18,600. Tuition varies based on the specific program and the number of days for which the child is enrolled in the program.
Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart admits students of any race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin to all the rights or privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national, or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarships, or loan programs or athletic or other school-administered programs.