Morning Arrival:
•   7:15 - 7:45 a.m. — Early Bird Program in the library
•   After 7:50 a.m. — Students must be signed in at the front office.

Dismissal:
•   Full Day- 2:45 p.m. at the front of Marist Hall
•  WEDNESDAYS — 1:30 p.m. at the front of Marist Hall


CURRICULUM

OLACS believes that young children acquire knowledge about the world in which they live through playful interaction with objects and people. Young children learn by doing. The classroom environment is designed to provide materials and activities that will stimulate and challenge each child. Experiences will be provided to allow each child to grow in all developmental areas and to develop positive attitudes toward learning.

The curriculum includes balanced instruction in reading, writing, math, religion, science, and social studies.

READING: MacMillan/McGraw Hill Little Treasures reading program. This program utilizes systematic instruction in phonics and letter awareness as well as experience with authentic literature. The children will be exposed to a collection of classic tales, multicultural stories, nursery rhymes, and songs each week.

MATH: The math program is designed to integrate math into all subject areas as well as the students' daily routines. Focus is on counting, numeral recognition, shape recognition, sorting, and patterning.

RELIGION: Sadlier’s Discovering God’s World. Each lesson contains a Scripture-based story, an activity, and prayer experiences. A parent letter accompanies each lesson. Pre-K students attend a weekly prayer service on Wednesday mornings.

SCIENCE and SOCIAL STUDIES are integrated into daily activities and reading selections.

The Pre-K classrooms have been designed to provide a variety of activities that will promote social interaction, cooperation, and opportunities to communicate in ways that will stimulate the development of language. Some of the activities encourage active involvement while others allow for some quiet time. Some of the centers which are available include:

• BLOCKS: A variety of experiences are available in the block center. There are unit blocks, small wooden blocks, cardboard blocks, Legos, toy people, animals, and cars. All of these provide opportunities to learn concepts such as weight, height, size, problem solving, cooperation, and language development.
   
• HOUSE CENTER: The children have many opportunities to interact socially and expand language in the house center. A play kitchen, dolls, telephones, play foods, dishes, and dress ups all combine to allow children to experience real-life roles through dramatic play.
   
• ART CENTER: The children will have opportunities to express themselves through art on a daily basis. There is an easel, crayons, markers, glue, printing materials, scissors, and a variety of papers. In addition to promoting creative expression, these activities also give the children needed practice in the areas of fine motor and perceptual development.
   
• READING CENTER: Baskets of books, puppets, and teddy bears make the reading center an inviting place to relax while learning to investigate books and develop an early love of reading. There is also a listening station to allow students to listen to stories read on tape.
   
• WRITING CENTER : The children are exposed to a variety of print materials and are encouraged to dictate stories and to illustrate them. They will be encouraged to write to each other as the year progresses.

Parent/Teacher communication:

Daily Folders: Daily folders must be returned each morning with parent initials signed next to the day. All student work will be on the left, and all communication will be on the right.

Thursday Folders: Every Thursday important school-wide information will also go home. This will be in an office envelope. Please look at the information inside and sign, date, and return the folder on Friday.

Teacher Communication: Communication with the classroom teachers should be via e-mail.