Classes

St. Catherine's Preschool and Early Childhood Center is in session from August through May. Our hours are 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We are a state-licensed Child Care facility with Pre-Kindergarten. Our teacher-to-student ratio is very low. The chart below shows our student-to-teacher ratio compared to the Texas Health and Human Services state ratios for Child Care Centers.

All children in the 3-year-old and Pre-K classes must be fully potty-trained.

All children in the 2-year-old classes will be dismissed early during the first two weeks of school. The first-week 2-year-old classes will dismiss at 11:00 a.m., and the second week will dismiss at noon. This will give children time to adjust to their new schedule and classrooms. 

We teach a play-based emergent curriculum. This allows us to plan based on the children's interests and passions at a particular time. Teachers will take into account the class skills, needs, and interests. Children thrive and learn best when their interests are captured. 

Our program will cover the following school readiness skills:

• social & emotional
• language
• reading
• writing
• number concepts
• fine motor
• gross motor
• reasoning & cognitive
• STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) activities
• creativity

St. Catherine's Preschool and Early Childhood will follow the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines for School Readiness. Our program will prepare your child for kindergarten while learning in a play-based environment.

All 3-year-old and Pre-K classes will visit the Atrium weekly for The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. We will also have a music and movement class benefiting educational, cognitive, and social skills. 

Students will spend time outside each day playing on one of our two fantastic playgrounds. In inclement weather, classes will have "indoor recess" with active movement with large gross motor skills. In addition, classes may go outside for nature walks, picnics, and other child-centered activities.

View inspection history via the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

 

Have you been wondering why your child always seems to be playing instead of working in our classroom?

It's because play IS the work of a child!

Research has shown that play is the most effective way to teach preschoolers. Here are some of the things we are learning:

Social skills like sharing and self-control.

Fine motor skills to prepare us for holding writing tools.

Gross motor skills like coordination and balance.

Creative expression and taking pride in our work.

Literacy skills like book care and recognizing familiar words.

Math skills like counting, sorting, and comparing.

Science skills like constructing, experimenting, and observing.

Please feel free to ask any questions you might have about our curriculum. Your child is learning AND having fun!

                                                                                    ❤  St. Catherine's Preschool Teachers

 

What is purposeful play?
Play is serious business. Purposeful play experiences are constructed to create deeper learning experiences that a child will remember and internalize. In children’s brains, when they’re playing, they’re doing the deepest learning.

Why learn through play?
Learning through play creates a brain that has increased flexibility and improved potential for learning later in life. Play-based learning is widely seen as an essential tool for early teaching and learning as it greatly benefits children in developing essential life skills. Play is healthy learning, which can also reduce stress and anxiety.

What do different types of play-based learning look like?

• Child Initiated Play: 
  • Freely chosen by the child
  • Little direct adult involvement or interaction
  • Spontaneous
• Guided Play:
  • Initiated by the child or adult
  • Adults may join in to extend learning through questioning and demonstrating
• Teacher-Led Play:
  • Organized and directed by an adult and may include instructions but remains open ended
  • Intentions are clear, and specific and promote high-level thinking skills

What is structured play vs. free play?
Structured play, or goal-oriented play, generally involves using logic to solve problems.  Unstructured play or free play is creative and open-ended. Both types of play are important for instilling in children a sense of curiosity and purposeful learning. When a child is involved in a structured-play activity, they learn how to recognize patterns and meet a set goal most efficiently or effectively. In contrast, free play is about learning how to create from scratch and explore possibilities.

• Examples of Structured Play:
  • Organized sports such as soccer or tag
  • Following directions to put together a LEGO set or model toy
  • Puzzles, card games, or board games that involve rules
  • Activities that children are enrolled in such as gymnastics or dance
• Examples of Free Play:
  • Playing on playground equipment, climbing, swinging, running around
  • Playing make-believe and dress-up
  • Drawing, coloring, painting, cutting, and gluing with art supplies
  • Reading books they enjoy, not as an assignment

Is my child really learning in a play-based preschool?
Play is a child's work. It's the tool they use to learn. Play is the way children work. In children’s brains, when they’re playing, they’re doing the deepest learning.

Will placing my child in a play-based preschool hinder their ability to transfer into a public school?
No, research shows that children learn best in a play-based environment. Play and the development of social-emotional skills helps prepare children for success in their educational journey.

Does my child need to be potty-trained?
Yes, unless they are two years old. In our two-year-old classrooms, we will work with you and your child to help implement the potty training you are doing at home. Children in the three-year-old and Pre-K classes must be fully potty trained, due to the lack of diaper-changing facilities in those classrooms.

Do I need to pack a snack and lunch?
Children must bring a water bottle and lunch every day. We serve an optional snack in the mornings. We also offer an optional Pizza Day with fruit and a small dessert once a month.

Can I set up recurring payments?
Yes! You may make one-time payments or set up recurring payments. We use the Brightwheel app for all of our preschool tuition payments. Registered families will receive login instructions.