Pre-Kindergarten
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We offer three pre-kindergarten classes for children aged three through five years old. St. Thomas provides a joyful place to learn, play and make friends under the guidance of caring and experienced teachers. Balancing best practices from play-based and kindergarten readiness programs, St. Thomas’ Pre-K helps children develop the social skills necessary for group play, problem solving and classroom navigation. Hands-on exploration, free and creative play and a theme-based curriculum encourage a long-term desire to learn.
Recognizing that preschool years have a broad developmental range, we strive to meet the needs of each individual child through thoughtful placement within our three programs. For more information on our programs, please download and review our Pre-K brochure.
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A School Within A School
Being part of a larger K through 8th grade community offers Pre-K students unique benefits. Our youngest learners enjoy access to enriching spaces like the gym, library and large outdoor play areas. On a weekly basis, they are guided by experienced, specialized teachers in art, music and physical education, in addition to special modules in world languages, science and religion. The children along with their families also participate in school-wide events, assemblies and community building activities, such as the Christmas concert, the school picnic, Masses and assemblies, nurturing a sense of belonging from the start. They also can participate in our extensive after-school care and enrichment programs, including our ever-popular Ski Club. Perhaps most special of all is the care and attention they receive from older students through both structured programs and unstructured camaraderie that builds community, confidence and connection across the grades - even including interactions and shared experiences with siblings!
Reading Readiness
Our Pre-K reading readiness programs are rooted in a long-standing tradition of early literacy excellence. With a strong emphasis on phonics, letter recognition and language development, we build the foundational skills children need for confident reading. Through balanced learning using play and structure, weekly library class, storytelling and hands-on activities, our approach nurtures a love for books while preparing young learners for future academic success.
Purposeful Play
We believe young children learn best through exploration, imagination and joyful interaction, with built-in skills development designed by our thoughtful teachers. Our Pre-K students enjoy recess multiple times a day in our outdoor play spaces or large indoor gym. They also attend a weekly gym class along with art and music. Our classrooms are large and bright with many centers for building, exploring, creating and collaborating.