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Academics
Early Childhood
Early Childhood
Preschool – Kindergarten
At St. Edmund’s Academy, our Early Childhood Division lays the foundation for a joyful and meaningful educational journey that extends through 8th Grade. Grounded in our commitment to the whole child, our program blends direct instruction with project-based, inquiry-driven learning to nurture each child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. We meet children where they are and help them grow in confidence, curiosity, and capability.
Our classrooms are warm, welcoming spaces where children are encouraged to explore, create, and connect. Teachers foster a sense of wonder and excitement for learning, integrating hands-on experiences that build knowledge of the social studies and science topics and support the development of emerging literacy and numeracy skills. These rich classroom experiences are further complemented by classes in music, library, visual art, and physical education, as well as ample time outdoors each day on our Playdeck or in nearby green spaces.
As a UN Global School, we weave the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into our curriculum in age-appropriate ways, helping our youngest learners begin to see themselves as part of a global community. Whether it's through a classroom recycling initiative or a project about our community garden, children are empowered to think critically, act compassionately, and understand that they can make a difference in the world around them.
Through all aspects of our program - from small group work and creative play to buddy partnerships with older students - children are supported in developing independence, empathy, resilience, and problem-solving skills. Every interaction and lesson is infused with our school’s Core Values, ensuring that students grow not just in what they know, but in who they are becoming.
By the end of Kindergarten, our students are well-prepared academically and socially for the transition to Lower School. They leave the Early Childhood Division as confident learners and kind friends, ready to take on new challenges with a strong sense of purpose, joy, and belonging.
Preschool
Preschool at St. Edmund’s Academy is a warm and nurturing environment where every child is recognized, respected, and celebrated for who they are and what they are capable of becoming. Designed for 3-year-olds and young 4-year-olds, our program reflects our belief that young children learn best through active, hands-on exploration, and that play is their most powerful and natural tool for discovery. In our child-centered classrooms, students are encouraged to engage with the world around them through rich, sensory experiences that promote social, emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development.
Our teachers create a responsive and joyful learning space where curiosity is nurtured, creativity is celebrated, and each child feels seen and valued. Through class investigations, open-ended projects, collaborative play, and meaningful routines, children develop confidence, independence, empathy, and problem-solving skills - essential foundations for their educational journey and for life beyond the classroom. We are deeply committed to fostering a strong sense of self and a respect for others, helping children build the social and emotional skills that enable them to thrive as caring members of our school community and the wider world.
Preschool Program Options
Preschool families can choose between three possible schedule options based on the needs of the family and child. Students can change schedule choices as desired and appropriate, during the school year. The three options are:
List of 3 items.
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3/2 Program
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, children arrive at 8:00 a.m. and finish their day at 3:25 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, student arrive at 8:00 a.m. and depart at 12:00 p.m. right before lunchtime. -
Full Day Program
Children arrive at 8:00 a.m. and leave at 3:25 p.m. -
Half Day Program
Children arrive at 8:00 a.m. and leave at 12:00 p.m., just before lunchtime.
PreKindergarten
PreKindergarten at St. Edmund’s Academy is a year of deepening curiosity, expanding capabilities, and joyful discovery. Our program honors the richness of this developmental stage, recognizing Pre-K as a meaningful and important time in a child’s educational journey. Rooted in developmentally appropriate practice, PreK offers a warm and responsive environment where children continue to grow socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically. Learning is fueled by play, creativity, and exploration, with children encouraged to engage in hands-on experiences that nurture both their independence and their sense of connection to others.
Through thoughtfully designed studies, children encounter early concepts in math, literacy, science, and social studies in ways that feel relevant, joyful, and accessible. They build language, develop problem-solving strategies, express themselves through the arts, and begin to see their role in their community and the wider world. Our teachers create space for children to explore open-ended questions, collaborate with peers, and follow their natural curiosities—helping them develop critical thinking, empathy, self-regulation, and a love for learning that will carry them forward. In PreK, process matters, and we celebrate each child's voice, growth, and sense of wonder as they continue becoming confident, capable learners.
PreKindergarten Program Options
PreKindergarten families can choose between three possible schedule options based on the needs of the family and child. Students can change schedule choices as desired and appropriate, during the school year. The three options are:
List of 3 items.
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3/2 Program
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, children arrive at 8:00 a.m. and finish their day at 3:25 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, student arrive at 8:00 a.m. and depart at 12:00 p.m. right before lunchtime. -
Full Day Program
Children arrive at 8:00 a.m. and leave at 3:25 p.m. -
Half Day Program
Children arrive at 8:00 a.m. and leave at 12:00 p.m., just before lunchtime.
Jr. Kindergarten
Jr. Kindergarten at St. Edmund’s Academy offers students the intentional gift of time - a purposeful and affirming stepping stone for children who are age-eligible for Kindergarten but would benefit from another year to further develop socially, emotionally, and academically. This program honors each child’s individual journey, recognizing that growth unfolds at different paces and in different ways. As an extension of our PreKindergarten program, Jr. Kindergarten is designed to provide a full-day, five-day experience that allows children to deepen their skills, confidence, and independence within a nurturing environment. While Jr. Kindergarten students spend much of their social time and attend Core Extension classes (such as art, global goals, music, physical education, and library) alongside PreK peers, their learning experiences are tailored to support their growing capabilities and readiness for Kindergarten. The program blends play-based exploration with intentional academic instruction, encouraging creativity, collaboration, and curiosity across early literacy, numeracy, science, and social studies. Teachers provide ample opportunities for children to engage in open-ended projects, build friendships, and take ownership of their learning in developmentally appropriate ways.
Jr. Kindergarten is about offering children the time, space, and unique challenges they need to thrive. By the end of the year, students emerge with strengthened self-assurance, a solid foundation of skills, and a joyful sense of preparedness for the next step in their educational journey.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten at St. Edmund’s Academy marks both the culmination of the Early Childhood experience and the beginning of a more structured academic journey. It is a year filled with joy, growth, and transformation, where children take bold steps forward as more independent learners while continuing to be nurtured as whole, capable individuals. Our Kindergarten program introduces a heightened focus on academic instruction, with rich, engaging learning experiences in literacy, math, science, and social studies. While academic expectations grow, our approach remains developmentally responsive, with differentiated instruction that honors each child’s unique abilities, interests, and learning style. Play, curiosity, and creativity remain vital parts of the classroom experience. Through collaborative projects, guided exploration, and child-led inquiry, students continue to develop the critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills that will serve them well in the years ahead.
Kindergarteners also build important habits of mind - perseverance, independence, and responsibility - while strengthening the social-emotional foundations that support healthy friendships, self-regulation, and empathy. Our Core Values are woven into each day, helping children grow not only as learners, but as kind and thoughtful members of the community.
By the end of the year, SEA Kindergartners are confident, capable, and excited—ready to take their place in Lower School with a strong sense of self and a love for learning that has been nurtured since their very first days at SEA.
SEA Kindergarten Parent
You can see impressive character traits displayed in even the youngest of children at SEA. Having the Core Values as a foundation for character education helps the students to develop into kind, respectful, empathetic, and confident children.
St. Edmund's Academy
Guided by our Core Values and commitment to high standards, St. Edmund’s Academy provides a diverse, inclusive, and nurturing learning community where students are known, valued, and challenged to achieve their potential.
