The St. Joan of Arc Pre-School program is designed to include experiences related to children's spiritual, cognitive, emotional, physical, language, and social development. Incorporated into the program are the standards set forth for Early Childhood for the State of Michigan. Weekly themes are introduced with activities and art projects to support them. The Sadlier PreKIndergarten Learning System Investigators Club is also incorporated as a supplement to the curriculum. Children investigate the world around them, learning about school, building things, the body, animals, water, plants and growing things, and weather.

The Pre-School Religion curriculum incorporates the Loyola Pre-School program as well as many seasonal religion themes. Children will develop an awareness of Jesus in people and places, as well as a belief that Jesus is all loving and caring. Children will begin to develop a relationship with Jesus that is very special and unique.

In Pre-School we work on and begin to introduce many skills that are needed for school success. All of the children are given the opportunity to develop the following skills:

Social and Emotional Growth

Interacts well with others
Participates in group activities
Shows self control
Takes care of one's own needs
Shows confidence
Shares with others
Takes turns

Small Motor Growth

Tracing lines and shapes
Cutting with scissors
Holding pencil/marker/crayon correctly
Printing name correctly
Playing with playdoh
Completing puzzles

Large Motor Growth

Running
Jumping
Hopping
Skipping
Music and movement activities which are a wonderful way for children to practice gross
motor skills, move their bodies, and follow directions.

Reading Readiness

Shows interest in books and stories
Answers questions about stories
Shows an interest in writing
Dictates sentences to be written
Recognizes own name in print
Sings songs and fingerplays
Identifies letters

Math Development

Shape recognition
Identifies numbers
Counts by rote
One-to-one correspondence
Matching
Sorting and classifying
Identifies simple patterns
Creates simple patterns

Social Studies Development

Awareness of families, friends, and community helpers
Awareness of safety and rules

Science Development

Fall
Apples
Pumpkins
Color Recognition
Weather awareness
Five senses
Nutrition and health
sun Moon and Stars
Snow and Ice
Winter Animals
Butterflies


Religion Development

Learn about Jesus
Understand that they are special and unique
Understand that Jesus loves them
Learn and use daily prayer
Introduce The Sign of the Cross
Introduce prayer before snack
Introduce The Hail Mary and The Our Father
Develop a loving relationship with Jesus