Preschool is a program for children ages three through five. A variety of enrollment options are available so parents can choose the one best suited to meet their child's needs. Our program incorporates central principles of the High/Scope Preschool curriculum which is based on the research and philosophies of Jean Piaget and John Dewey.

Five basic principles guide our program - active learning, positive adult-child interactions, a child-friendly learning environment, a consistent daily routine, and team-based daily child assessment. We strive to education children "in action."

In Preschool, we believe that active learning is necessary for the optimal development of the child. Children are provided the opportunity to have direct and immediate experiences with their environment and to derive meaning from these experiences through reflection, thereby constructing knowledge that helps them make sense of their world. Personal initiative empowers the active learner.

As they follow their intentions, children engage in experiences which are central to their development. These key experiences include creative representation, language and literacy, movement, music, classification, seriation, number, space, times, and initiate and social relations. Participation in field trips, exposure to special classroom guests, and participation in school functions further enhance their development.

Within a rich and nurturing environment, supported and guided by caring teachers, Preschool students can express and understand their feelings, build relationships with others, create and experience collaborative play, recognize and solve problems, and develop strategies for dealing with conflict. In keeping with our school's philosophy, the children begin to recognize their potential as individuals and to understand their role as members of a community. Working in partnership with parents, we strive to truly and completely meet the social, emotional, physical, and academic needs of our students.

Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, Half Day, 8:30am-11:30am (3 yr/olds)

Monday - Friday, Full Day, 8:30am-3:13pm (4 yr/olds)
Monday - Friday, Half Day, 8:30am-11:30am (4 yr/olds)

The EDS Kindergarten is a five-day, full-day experience for children ages five and six (Must be five by October 1st). Our class reflects a child-centered, developmentally-based program. Kindergarten incorporates the core principles of the High/Scope Kindergarten curriculum. The central component of this developmental approach is "active learning." All of the key experiences support this central idea. This approach to learning is derived from the works of Jean Piaget, John Dewey, and others.

The Kindergarten daily schedule, which provides a consistent structure, offers a balanced range of formats. Included are a "plan, do, review" time, small group workshops in content areas such as reading, writing, math, and science, as well as whole group activities. In addition to this consistent daily schedule are positive, supportive adult-child interactions, daily assessment and planning, and an inviting learning environment.

Creative representation, movement, music, and language are supported by special weekly exposure to the visual arts, performing arts, library, and daily physical education. Field trips, classroom guests, and participation in school functions are also pivotal in the young child's development.

A positive social environment where the teacher supports and facilitates children's active learning help children develop their ideas and encourage them to evaluate their own work. Children are also led to develop relationships with others and to use a problem-solving approach to behavior problems and to deal with social conflict.

This approach believes that each child has an "intrinsic motivation" to learn and to begin to develop a sense of community, beliefs that are supported by Erie Day School's philosophy. With parental support, cooperation, and participation, we seek to meet the needs and maximize the potential of each child at this time of his/her maturation.

The EDS Lower School curriculum is a challenging continuum of our Preschool and Kindergarten programs. Our small class size and personal teaching allow the EDS faculty to individualize instruction relating to our academic core, while paying careful attention to the child's emotional and social growth. Specific academic programs include the following.

The literature program advances students to the exciting level of independent reading by providing solid basic skills. The curriculum involves reading for meaning, phonetically decoding words, expanding vocabulary, developing listening skills, and learning to read with oral expression.

The math program develops the understanding of mathematical concepts, computational skills, and problem-solving abilities. Math facts are strengthened and abstract mathematical concepts are presented in concrete form.

Writing permeates all aspects of Lower School. Students learn to communicate through the written word. They are given the opportunity to express themselves in journals, creative story writing, poetry, and the making of their own books. Students learn basic sentence composition, capitalization, punctuation, proper letter formation, and legibility in penmanship. To complement the writing program, students begin formalized spelling during this school year.

In social studies, students begin with an exploration of home and family, then continue with the discovery of the school, neighborhood, and community. Good citizenship, sensitivity to others, and personal responsibility are all emphasized. Individual interest and backgrounds are drawn upon to benefit the group learning experiences. Customs, holidays, and traditions are shared.

Students also participate in weekly French lessons, performing arts, science, visual arts, and daily physical education classes.