Early Childhood  and Transitional Kindergarten Program

St. Monica Catholic School Early Childhood program follows the regular school calendar and operates from 7:50 a.m. to 2:45 p.m, with the option of half days ending at 11 a.m.

Our commitment to the success of each child begins in the Early Childhood program. Our priority is to provide an excellent program with a solid foundation: a curriculum of the highest quality and a strong emphasis on Catholic identity.

Our early childhood program provides a developmentally appropriate curriculum where young children can learn and explore. Early childhood children benefit from a curriculum that provides activities and skills from each developmental area that makes up the "whole child". These areas include spiritual, cognitive, language, physical and Social Emotional Learning. The fifth area, SEL (Social Emotional Learning or EQ), is taught whenever the opportunity arises, and also specifically and deliberately in all other curriculum areas.

In addition, our early childhood children participate in The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd; a Montessori based " hands-on " rich faith formation experience that gives children the opportunity to grow in love and knowledge of God.

Licensed by the State of Michigan, St. Monica Catholic School offers both half day and extended day programs. One to five-day options are offered as space allows. Multi-aged classes will accommodate 3, 4, and 5-year-old children. St. Monica's Early Childhood is directed by a state-certified teacher.

At St. Monica School, we consider our Transitional Kindergarten program a "gift of time" for children who demonstrate a developmental need for an extra year to grow before starting kindergarten.

Our Transitional Kindergarten program gives children who are eligible for kindergarten, but not developmentally ready, time to mature and experience all the benefits of an environment that has been purposefully prepared. These children are part of our multi-aged early childhood classroom where they have the opportunity to model academic and/or social skills so that they are more confident and, therefore, more ready to enter kindergarten.

The program is designed to strengthen and build confidence in the whole child. Learning in all developmental areas spiritual, cognitive, language, physical, social and emotional are met by differentiating activities based on the levels of abilities and learning styles that are expected and accepted.

*The below schedules are based on evidence for the ages of children and how they experience the most success at school:
 
St. Monica Early Childhood Program Available Schedules:

• 3-year-olds: attend 2 half days  – Mon/Tues, 7:50 - 11 AM
• 4-year-olds: attend 3 half days  – Wed/Thurs/Fri, 7:50 - 11 AM
• 5-year-olds: (who turn 5 by Sept. 1^st of the enrollment year or older 4’s who are ready for the challenge) attend 5 half days – M-F, 7:50 - 11 AM

* Multiple Child Discount: The second preschool child receives a 20% discount.
 
Please Note:  All Early Childhood families must have met with Early Childhood Director, Sharon Garlick, for an interview prior to enrollment. To set up your interview, please contact her at [email protected]. Thank you!