Pre-Kindergarten and TK
Why Pre-Kindergarten at SENS
At St. Edmund’s Nursery School, we want our families to feel comfortable choosing to have their child stay for a transitional year before kindergarten. Making this decision can be hard and based on many different factors and individual family needs. We would like to highlight some of the advantages of selecting SENS, which we believe can significantly enhance your child’s early educational experience.
Personalized Attention: In our smaller setting with a maximum teacher-to-child ratio of 1:8, teachers can offer individualized attention, ensuring that each child’s unique needs and learning styles are met. This personalized approach fosters a sense of security and belonging at school, which sets our children up for success as they move on to kindergarten at a bigger school.
Experienced Educators: Our seasoned teachers are highly skilled and educated. All teachers have completed their early childhood education, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to their classroom. They attend multiple educational workshops annually and regularly collaborate with other teachers to create the most current and engaging learning environments. Our teachers have a keen understanding of the developmental milestones of young children and can create a nurturing environment that promotes social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Their expertise allows them to identify and address any challenges your child may face, ensuring a smooth transition.
Age-Appropriate Curriculum: A well-rounded, age-appropriate curriculum is vital for young learners. It not only engages children but also encourages exploration and discovery at a pace that suits their developmental stage. Our curriculum properly prepares children for kindergarten and includes hands-on activities, including science and cooking, which can spark curiosity and foster a love of learning. We also offer a music program that all children at SENS attend, run by our highly tenured music director. Music is essential for early childhood development, helping the mind and body work together whether children are singing, dancing or learning to play an instrument. Music helps with literacy, creativity, emotional regulation, coordination and more! We also offer a variety of special days, such as Farm Day, Snow Day, Reptile Day, and the Aquarium of the Pacific on wheels. This engages our children in hands-on learning experiences that spark their curiosity and excitement. Each themed day provides opportunities for exploration, creativity, and memorable interactions that enhance their understanding of the world around them.
Safe and Spacious Play Areas: With our large outdoor play area, children can engage in physical activities that are essential for their development. We offer class gardens, sand play, water play, trikes, balance bikes, and wagons along with many more activities and spaces for the children to explore. Outdoor play is crucial for developing gross motor skills, social interactions, and imaginative play. We love and encourage our kids to learn and explore through play.
After Care Program (Picnic): As our program is half-day, we also offer our convenient extended care “picnic” program four days a week, M/W/Th/F until 2:50pm. Our picnic program is supervised by our regular teachers, which provides an extra sense of security to children navigating the adjustment process of a longer school day. Monthly signups are available as well as day of drop-in opportunities. Children eat lunch with classmates and enjoy independent play on the playground along with games, and arts and craft opportunities. Our picnic after care program provides extra support for busy families, working parents, and is additionally beneficial to help children prepare for the transition to the longer days of kindergarten.
Community Feel: Smaller preschools like SENS foster a tight-knit community where families can connect and support one another. This sense of community can enhance your child’s social skills and provide a network of support for parents as well! These elements all work together to create a positive transitional year, setting the foundation for your child’s lifelong love of learning.
Parent Testimonials
SENS has been such a positive introduction to education for our family. My husband and I are both Alumni, we have two kids (so far) who have completed their full term at SENS, and they still look forward to going to school every day —we do not take that for granted.
The Pre-K program, specifically, is unparalleled - there is so much work that goes on during that short, but important year. We saw such incredible growth in our kids, and they entered Kindergarten more than prepared and so confident, with test scores to prove it.
Most importantly, that final year gave our kids their first opportunity to be a “big kid ” on campus, it was a rite of passage like completing their senior year before heading off to college. The early years are so fleeting, it was amazing to see them step into their own in a safe space where they are supported, encouraged and still protected.
The SENS teachers have really been our village, their expertise goes beyond the classroom — as Moms and Mimi’s and Sisters and Aunties...
My husband and I had an opportunity to send our twins to a TK program or stay for Shining Stars ( 5 days), we chose to stay at SENS. It truly was one of the best decisions we made for them. The loving, creative and educational environment for our kids helped them prepare for the full day of kindergarten. They are only this little once and we felt it so important they get the confidence and maturity before going off to full day school.