Our Curriculum
Mission
Our goal is to provide young children with a loving, nurturing, and safe environment in which they can develop emotionally, physically, intellectually, and socially. We want to love them first; education follows through exposure to lessons and planned activities. We promote a positive atmosphere where parents, teachers, staff, and children interact with mutual respect and caring.
We are committed to providing students with the opportunities and skills necessary to face the challenges of our community as people of faith and vision, with the will to succeed as productive members of society.
Curriculum
STC ELC serves children from 6 weeks through 5 years. Program ages are estimates rather than strict placement rules; a child may move sooner or later based on development, enrollment, and classroom availability. We use theme-based instruction and Frog Street Press curricula from Infants through Pre-K Plus. Frog Street integrates character education across 10 learning domains guided by the Pennsylvania Learning Standards. Below, you will find details about each classroom's curriculum and milestones.
Infants
Ages approximately 6 weeks-1 year. The Infant classroom provides a nurturing environment for physical, emotional, and social development. Frog Street’s Infant Curriculum is designed to help caregivers lead with intention, even in the busiest infant rooms. It provides developmentally appropriate routines, sensory exploration activities, and structured, predictable, and emotionally supportive early language experiences. Skills include vocal sounds and simple gestures, exploration, handling toys and objects, sitting, pulling to stand, and walking. Families provide diapers, wipes, bibs, utensils, and all food/drink needed while the child is in care.
Pre-Toddlers
Ages approximately 1-1 1/2 years. In this stage, we begin introducing Frog Street's Toddler curriculum with slight adjustments to keep lessons age appropriate. Children continue developing physical, emotional, and social skills through independent and cooperative play, simple words and gestures, object recognition, walking/running, drinking from a sippy cup, sleeping on a mat rather than in a crib, and eating solid/finger foods.
Toddlers
Ages approximately 1 1/2-2 1/2 years. The Toddler program combines care, love, and beginning education. Toddlers thrive when they can explore, feel safe, and follow gentle routines. Frog Street's Toddler Curriculum is built from the ground up for this stage of playful discovery and emotional development. Children practice following simple directions, recognizing named pictures, throwing and kicking a ball, engaging with peers, and beginning color, letter, and shape recognition. Children should be able to feed themselves appropriate finger foods and begin spoon-feeding themselves.
Little Learners
Ages approximately 2 1/2-3 1/2 years. In this class, teachers use the Frog Street Preschool Curriculum with minor adjustments to keep lessons age appropriate. Children practice turn-taking, multi-step directions, fine-motor tasks such as buttons, screws, and other moving parts, pedaling a tricycle, toilet use, and responsibility for belongings. Children should self-feed with little or no assistance, begin cleaning up after meals, use open-top cups, and practice fine-motor independence. When exiting this program, a child should be potty trained and need only minimal bathroom assistance.
Preschool
Ages approximately 3-4 1/2 years. Children must be 3 by August 31 and fully potty trained, needing no assistance. The classroom schedule is not designed for diapers or pull-ups throughout the day. Children must be able to communicate the need to use the bathroom and use it independently rather than relying only on scheduled bathroom times. Preschool strengthens independence, multi-step direction-following, responsibility for belongings, toilet independence, and beginning academics. Three-year-olds are learning how to be part of a classroom. They expand vocabulary, test boundaries, and form new skills through exploration and interaction. This year is about learning how to learn, how to follow a routine, ask for help, and stay with a task just a little longer. Frog Street provides a comprehensive, dual-language approach across 10 learning domains. A more formal religious component is introduced, including prayers and monthly Bible verses.
Pre-K
Ages approximately 4-5 years. Children must be 4 by August 31. Pre-K supports clear speech and full sentences, knowledge of name/address/phone number, writing letters and numbers, hopping/skipping/balance, and collaboration with peers. Pre-K is the year that connects early learning to elementary expectations. Children are refining attention, expanding vocabulary, and learning to navigate academic content and peer relationships. Frog Street Pre-K continues with weekly instructional plans, integrated STEAM projects, and Conscious Discipline® for social emotional development. Children may attend First Friday Mass with Father Brandt.
Pre-K Plus
Ages approximately 4 1/2-5 years, designed for older 4-year-olds and younger 5-year-olds who miss the kindergarten cutoff or may benefit from another year of Pre-K. The class extends Pre-K skills and may include kindergarten-level skills for advanced learners. It combines advanced Frog Street content with beginning aspects of the St. Teresa K-8 kindergarten curriculum. Children attend First Friday Mass monthly with Father Brandt.
