Early Childhood

St. George's Early Childhood division guides children from infancy (8 weeks of age) through Pre-K4, offering a nurturing, safe and play-based environment in which students' curiosity, imagination and intellect are honored and developed through hands-on learning experiences.

We believe that children are active participants in learning, sparking a lifelong love of knowledge in all forms.

Our Foundation: Reggio Emilia & The Project Approach

Through classroom-wide projects, small-group instruction and individual exploration, St. George's Early Childhood faculty encourage curiosity and discovery and make learning engaging and accessible. Nationally recognized as leaders in Early Childhood education, St. George's students regularly find success in their Kindergarten placements from the strong foundation of pre-academic skills, social-emotional learning and developmental stages nurtured in our program.

The StG Early Childhood Program is inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach. We treat education at every age with care and consideration. Our informed approach emphasizes the environment as the third lead teacher in every classroom; partnership with parents and families; and prioritization of lifelong learning.

The program melds this educational practice with our other unique style of learning: the Project Approach. All Age 1-Pre-K4 Early Childhood classrooms choose one or more investigative projects based on student interests and "wonderings" during the year. Students' investigations often last multiple months and involve documentation, expert visits, exploration with artifacts, the building of communication skills and integration of early math, science and reading skills along the way. Examples of Early Childhood projects include in-depth investigations of airports, ice cream, dirt, building, teeth and firefighters, among many other fun and fascinating explorations.

Every day, children participate in daily discovery-based, hands-on learning experiences that expose them to the foundational concepts of literacy, math, writing, science and social studies.

Year by Year: Ages and Stages

Our early childhood classrooms are carefully designed to ensure student ease and success. Each classroom has a calm-down space for overwhelmed students. Classroom walls feature student art and other documentation of their art and learning projects. Unlike many daycare programs, students remain in their classrooms for the duration of the school year. This practice allows for more meaningful relationships with teachers and peers and a sense of safety and comfort.

Nursery

Our nursery, the Poppy Room, is home to our youngest learners with a 3:1 teacher to student ratio. Infants 8 weeks of age or older are eligible for the nursery, which will be newly renovated for the 2026-2027 school year. The new nursery space will operate on a school-year calendar from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. OR 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. daily. Faculty and staff, currently enrolled families and alumni receive priority in the admissions process.

Infant caretakers provide a safe and comforting environment where early learners' individual development goals and routines are honored. Children experience outdoor play and buggy rides, sensory exploration and connection with peers.

One-Year-Olds

Because we know so much happens between 12 and 24 months of age, St. George's one-year-old program groups students by developmental stage and enrolls them in 1 of 3 classrooms: the Sunflower Room (youngest 1s), Camellia Room (middle 1s) and Azalea Room (oldest 1s). This allows our faculty, with a 5:1 ratio (or less) to meet the individual needs and of every student as they learn and grow during this crucial developmental period.

Priorities during the one-year-old year includes providing a gentle and nurturing introduction to school, facilitating emerging independence and developing social skills and early stages of language. Our schedule for this age group is carefully curated to include arts, multiple daily outside play experiences and small-group sensory work. As children become comfortable with instructors and peers, we incorporate increasingly complex learning experiences and opportunities to develop oral and receptive language skills.

Faculty carefully monitor students to ensure important developmental milestones are met, and can begin to watch for and recommend any early intervention needs.

Morning and afternoon snack, as well as whole milk, are provided in the 1s classrooms.

Two-Year-Olds

Our two-year-old classrooms emphasize learning through discovery by providing open-ended activities and art experiences to foster creativity and imagination. Students are enrolled in one of three classrooms, the Jasmine, Rose and Tulip Rooms, with two co-lead teachers and an assistant teacher who works with students through lunchtime.

At this age level, instructors target positive communication methods, motor skills and growing independence—especially through toilet training. It's also an exciting year for project work as students' interests lead them to discover and engage with emerging wonderings. Over the year, students begin to develop problem-solving skills and a cooperative communication style, aided by their teachers.

Morning and afternoon snack are provided for students in the 2s, and lunch must be sent in by families. Students in the 2s are expected to be able to feed themselves.

Pre-K3

Our Pre-K3 classrooms balance students' developmental need for play and exploration with pre-academic skills that create a foundation for future learning experiences in older age and grade levels. Students are enrolled in one of three classrooms, the Dandelion, Lily and Magnolia Rooms, with two co-lead teachers and a small group instructor who pulls students for additional social-emotional learning support via small-group experiences.

At this age level, instructors provide outlets for students' emerging confidence, independence and creativity, targeting critical thinking skills via the Project Approach and students' interest-based investigations. In Pre-K3, students form strong social connections with their peers. Teachers build caring relationships that cultivate respect and empathy, understanding that each child brings their own unique and important perspective, and that students' connections, as well as their differences, bring out the best in our StG community.

Morning and afternoon snack are provided for students in Pre-K3, and lunch can optionally be ordered from our provider, Boucherie. StG policy requires that students are potty trained by October of their Pre-K3 year.

Pre-K4

Our Pre-K4 classrooms feature increased responsibility for students, who are the "big kid" leaders of the Early Childhood division. Students are enrolled in one of three classrooms, the Chive, Mint and Rosemary Rooms, with two co-lead teachers and a small group instructor who pulls students to support early literacy and math skills via small-group experiences. Teachers embed social-emotional practices, incorporating empathy, compassion and collaboration, into everyday classroom life.

At this age level, instructors know that students learn best through exploring their interests and engaging in hands-on learning; this is one reason why Project Approach work in the Pre-K4 is especially exciting. Our Pre-K4 program is designed to provide a seamless transition for students into Kindergarten and the Lower School division, balancing the age-appropriate need for play with a research-based introduction to structured learning via programs like Learning Without Tears (literacy), Bridges in Mathematics, Letterland and more.

Morning and afternoon snack are provided for students in Pre-K4, and lunch can optionally be ordered through our school lunch partners, Boucherie. Pre-K4 also marks the students' first experience with our school uniforms, ordered from Lands' End.

Meet the Director of Early Childhood, Danielle Lobell

Danielle Lobell has spent more than a decade serving the St. George's community in different capacities—teacher, age level leader, teacher mentor, professional development coordinator and now director—including an estimated 14,000 hours caring for 2-5 year olds. She and her daughter, now an Early Childhood student herself, love the sense of community support that St. George's offers.

Parent-Teacher Communication in Early Childhood

St. George's values and prioritizes clear, consistent communication between teachers and families.

The Brightwheel App: Early Childhood teachers use the Brightwheel App as a primary communication tool for messaging, updates and reminders and documentation (e.g. photos, a description of the day's activities, toileting, meals, etc.)

Blogs: Lead teachers design and send bi-monthly blogs for their classrooms, providing schedules, Project Approach updates, photos and helpful information for parents and guardians about their children's age and stage.

Division Newsletters: These monthly newsletters from Danielle Lobell feature insights, updates and pertinent information for the Early Childhood age levels.

Experience Early Childhood at St. George's

Each StG Early Childhood classroom, whether filled with young toddlers or confident four-year-olds, offers opportunities to play outside in our mud kitchens, learn about music, art and French, create community through Morning Meeting and so much more. Our small class sizes ensure plenty of one-on-one attention with teachers and specialists.

Free Play & Morning Meeting

During free play, students have the opportunity to flexibly explore the classroom and engage with friends. Mid-morning, each classroom conducts Morning Meeting, an element of our Responsive Classroom approach, greeting others and discussing the day's schedule.

Specials Classes

Weekly specials for Age 1-Pre-K4 include art, French, Kindness Class and music. With the exception of Age 2-Pre-K4 art, held in our EC Art Studio, specialists visit in age-appropriate blocks of time. In Pre-K4, science, library and PE are added to the specials rotation.

Outside Play

Students head outside at least twice each day—sliding, climbing, biking, jumping and more. Read more about outside learning at StG in our special highlight, below.

Snack Time & Lunch

St. George's provides a rotation of fruit and crunchy snack pairings for all Early Childhood students in the morning and afternoons. Lunch is not included in tuition, though Boucherie lunch is optionally available for Pre-K3 and Pre-K4.

Project Time

Our emphasis on student-led investigations includes built-in Project Approach time in Early Childhood schedules. Did you know? St. George's has not 1, but 2 Project Approach coaches, including a Lead Project Coach who works extensively with Early Childhood faculty and students.

Early Childhood Highlight: Navigating Big Emotions

We know that Early Childhood students experience rapid growth, new environments and navigate new feelings, often while experiencing their first prolonged period of time away from the house. Children have a fundamental need to connect, to feel supported and, above all, to feel seen and heard.

When students are feeling big emotions, we allow them the space and time they need to process their feelings. Each classroom has a dedicated space for students, referred to as their Calm Corner; calm corners often include soft pillows and blankets, comforting items and books and tools . When students are ready to talk, we use language that encourages communication and boundary-setting.

Early Childhood Highlight: Outdoor Learning

Children are natural explorers, constantly testing their limits and discovering new capabilities. At St. George's, we recognize the importance of hands-on, experiential learning—especially through play. Our Early Childhood division knows that outdoor play has very real benefits for early learners. Children spending time outside are scientifically proven to be healthier and happier, with higher vitamin D levels, improved motor development, less stress and improved impulse control; they're more engaged in learning, too, with improved outcomes driven by student curiosity, creativity and critical thinking.

We are big believers in risky play and messy play, too, and encourage families to supply changes of clothing, as well as rain boots and gear for our mud kitchen and puddle-splashing days! Activities such as climbing and balancing help children develop gross motor skills, coordination and strength. They also refine fine motor skills as children grasp, pull and navigate obstacles. When children assess risks—like deciding how high to climb—they develop critical thinking and decision-making abilities. They also learn cause and effect by experiencing the natural consequences of their choices.

Early Childhood students enjoy outside time in a number of ways and locations:

The Michael R. Boh Early Childhood Center playground (Pre-K3 and Pre-K4)
The Milan Street play spaces (Age 1-Pre-K3)
The Butterfly Garden (Age 1-Pre-K3)
Direct outdoor access via the Poppy Cottage backyard (Nursery), Rose Room patio (Age 2) and Lily Room porch (Pre-K3)
Buggy rides around campus and the neighborhood (Nursery-Age 2)

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