This upcoming school year of 2023/2024 we will return to what has always made St. Philip's Nursery School so special, our multi-age peer to peer relationships. We will combine our 2s and 3s on Mondays and Fridays. We also will have shared indoor and outdoor play time with our 3s and 4s while leaving time alone within their age-appropriate learning groups.
Duck Schedule Our four-year-olds begin the morning at 9:05 am with handwashing and greetings and work together in our small classroom for "table top time", time spent with manipulatives, pattern blocks, bead stringing, magna-tiles, and more - activities designed for their fine motor development and math skills. At 9:15 am, we we have meeting time where we sing our brief hymn, say a prayer, and then review the calendar and weather as well as name and letter recognition. We will follow our local school districts way of exploring letters and their sounds through the Fundations curriculum. Our bear, Cuddles, will use words to introduce the day's lesson or focus. A related story will usually be followed by an art project, music activity, science project, or dance activity. Every day, barring unsafe weather, we go outside to the playground for an hour. While out-of-doors during this time, we work on science activities including our two garden beds, our "funnel wall," and categorizing the many insects, leaves, bark, and plants to be found in and around the playground. We might also go for a nature walk at this time. We then go inside, wash hands, and have snack. We say grace before snack. The morning always ends with a story or puzzle play and parents arrive at 12 noon.
Rabbit Schedule Our two- and three-year-old group arrives at 9:05 am and after handwashing and greetings begin their day with free play. The children can choose from a range of activities including stories, block building, dramatic play, and puzzles and manipulatives. These are rotated on a daily basis to help develop small motor skills and math skills. An indoor structured learning activity or art project might take place after a brief, developmentally appropriate meeting time. Snack is served outside after handwashing and saying grace. The children then have an hour of outdoor time to play on the playground, do an outdoor art project, or go on a nature walk. *For both groups: On Tuesdays, Ms. Micki gives a dance and movement class to the children and Thursdays Miss Johanna leads them in music class and introduction to instruments. On Wednesdays. the children go to chapel with Reverend Amanda Eiman in the Church.