Program Options
St. Columba’s Traditional School Day
Times: 8:30 am-2:30 pm
Days: Monday-Friday
Ages: Open to all students (2-5 years)
St. Columba’s Traditional School Day is scheduled so that children have uninterrupted time for their work and play. Our schedule includes Circle Time, Choice Time, a Read Aloud, and ample time spent outside playing each day. Teachers implement the Creative Curriculum with children, which is play-based and grounded in “studies” that allow for deep learning on various subjects such as Clothing, Trees, Buildings, Water, Balls, and Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. Children also participate in weekly Science and Music & Movement enrichment. First and foremost, St. C’s children learn how to make and be a friend. Social-emotional learning is embedded in all that we do.
The Nursery School serves a healthy snack mid-morning and our families send children to school with a nut-free lunch and water bottle from home. Depending on their age, children have quiet play or nap time after lunch to recharge.
Bear Cub Program for 2 Year-Olds
Times: 8:30 am-12:30 pm or 8:30 am-2:30 pm
Days: Monday-Friday
Ages: Bear Cubs are 24 – 30 months at the start of the school year
Bear Cubs participate in the St. Columba’s Traditional School Day (8:30 am to 2:30 pm) or the Half-Day Program (8:30 am to 12:30 pm). The Bear Cub classrooms thoughtfully introduce our youngest children to preschool. Bear Cubs participate in choice time each day, which includes rich, hands-on learning opportunities and sensory play, a short circle time typically filled with music and community building, an age appropriate read aloud, and like all children at St. Columba’s, they spend ample time playing outside. They begin to learn the expectations of school in a loosely structured environment. Bear Cub teachers promote prosocial interactions between peers through play.
The school serves a healthy snack mid-morning and children bring a lunch from home. Children participating in our program ending at 2:30 pm or beyond nap after lunch time. The Half-Day Bear Cubs dismiss after lunch time.
Auxiliary Programming:
Early Arrival, 3:30 Club, and Stay & Play
Early Arrival: 8:00 am – 8:30 am
3:30 Club: 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Stay & Play: 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Days: 3-day, 4-day, or 5-day
Ages: Open to All Students
Early Arrival allows families an earlier drop-off beginning at 8:00 am. Children participating in Early Arrival spend the first part of their day playing in an assigned Early Arrival classroom before joining their homeroom teachers and classmates at 8:30 am.
The 3:30 Club adds an extra hour to children’s day from 2:30 – 3:30 pm. Children typically spend additional time playing outside, engaging in a read aloud, and enjoying an afternoon snack before dismissing at 3:30 pm.
Stay & Play extends the school day until 5:30 pm for children whose parents need a full day of coverage in a safe and nurturing setting. Children participating in Stay & Play have an additional outdoor play block, indoor play, a read aloud, and an afternoon snack before dismissing. Children can be picked up at any point until 5:30 pm.
