Play is at the heart of all we do at St. Columba's. Play is the work of young children, how they learn best, and how they make sense of the world around them. Our dynamic and diverse playgrounds inspire children to explore through play. We prioritize time spent outdoors every day. We know that active play strengthens gross motor skills, stimulates the mind, engages the imagination, sparks socialization, and builds confidence among children.

At St. Columba’s Nursery School, all children are accepted and valued for their unique abilities and strengths. We thoughtfully and intentionally include and serve children with a range of disabilities and learning differences in our early childhood classrooms. We want our children to know that they are loved and that they belong. We do more than accommodate, we celebrate!

At St. Columba’s, we strive to embody joy in everything we do. From the activities we plan, to our interactions with children and families, the joy is palpable and the laughter abundant. We foster joy by being present and engaged with children, joining them in their interests, and creating a safe, welcoming environment that supports a sense of belonging and connection. Weekly Music and Science enrichment, and time spent outside each day further promote children's joy. When you love what you do, you are engaged, open to new experiences, and better equipped to handle challenges; critical skills in preschool and beyond.

Children's social-emotional skills are critical to their overall development and foundational for their future academic success. At St. Columba’s, we thoughtfully and intentionally weave social-emotional learning into everything we do. As children navigate the complexities of interacting with peers and managing the regulation of their emotions, teachers are right there to model, teach, and scaffold these important skills. Additionally, we carve out time for structured teaching where social-emotional skills are taught through the implementation of "Second Step", a social-emotional curriculum which uses puppets, texts, and songs to explore concepts such as how to invite a friend to play or how to resolve conflicts with a peer. Our older children are introduced to "We Thinkers", a social-thinking curriculum which dives into more complex social concepts such as how to work within a group.