Signature Elements of our Program
- A Reggio Emilia-inspired, research-based framework that nurtures both wonder and intellectual curiosity.
- Small student‑teacher ratios to ensure that each child is known, valued, and supported.
- Daily rhythms and routines that support belonging, self-regulation, trust, and courage to try new things.
- Opportunities for children to engage with art, music, science, building, language, and play in ways that are joyful and challenging.
- Full-day and half-day schedules, five- or three-day attendance options, and extended care—tailored to support families and children’s developmental rhythms.
An Approach That Grows
Reggio Emilia Principles
Our Program for Young Children is rooted in the globally respected Reggio Emilia philosophy, which views children as strong, capable, curious, and full of ideas, and builds a foundation for lifelong learning through meaningful relationships, joyful discovery, and authentic experiences.
The Child as a Protagonist
Each child’s natural curiosity guides our day. Learners lead their own explorations—asking questions, constructing ideas, experimenting with materials, and expressing themselves. Children are authors of their discovery.
The Child as a Collaborator
Children engage in meaningful work with peers, teachers, and the world around them. They build, investigate, and wonder together—learning socially, listening to others, and growing in empathy and confidence.
The Environment as a Third Teacher
Classrooms, playgrounds, art corners, and nature—all designed with intention. Rich materials, open-ended provocations, light, texture, color—our environments invite exploration and act as active partners in learning.
The Teacher as a Researcher
Educators observe, document, reflect, and respond. They design provocations, scaffold learning, listen deeply to children’s ideas, and adapt the program to the evolving interests, strengths, and needs of each learner.
The Parent as a Partner
Families are essential collaborators. We share learning, ask for input, learn from children together, and cultivate trust so that home and school reinforce each child’s identity, growth, and love of learning.
Responsive Classroom in Action
We thoughtfully integrate principles of the Responsive Classroom approach, creating safe, joyful, and engaging classroom environments that promote belonging, emotional safety, and mutual respect. Through Morning Meeting routines, interactive modeling, and consistent expectations, we empower young learners to develop self-regulation, empathy, and problem-solving skills from the very beginning.
Responsive Classroom aligns naturally with a Reggio-inspired practice: both honor the whole child, recognize the power of community, and celebrate the emotional growth that accompanies cognitive development.
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Academic Rigor with Heart
At this early stage, we do more than prepare children for what comes next—we nurture lifelong learners who are inquisitive, self-aware, caring, and brimming with courage to learn. We believe that when academic challenge and emotional support go hand in hand, children are not only ready for school—they are ready for life. This is the same progressive, project-based, and whole-child centered vision that guides all we do at St. Anne’s School.
Emergent Curriculum
From the moment they enter our classrooms, students in Twos, Preschool, and Prekindergarten are seen as protagonists in their own learning journeys—active participants in a vibrant, collaborative community. Teachers serve as researchers and facilitators, carefully observing children’s interests and guiding inquiry through hands-on, project-based experiences to foster a dynamic emergent curriculum.
Join Us on the Journey
We invite your family to visit, explore our classrooms, and see how children lead, listen, and learn here. Together—with you, our teachers, and your child—we shape a learning story rich with creativity, discovery, and purpose.