Preschool (Ages 3-4)

Our Preschool program sparks curiosity with monthly nature themes—hibernation, pond life, insects—brought to life through read-alouds, cooking, and outdoor play. Children develop fine motor strength and early literacy through Handwriting Without Tears activities, and they build early number sense with Montessori materials and calendar routines. Most importantly, they begin learning independence, social skills, and confidence.

Pre-K builds upon the foundation of Preschool with more explicit readiness:

• Literacy through Happily Ever After, Zoo-phonics, and Heggerty Early Pre-K
• Writing with Handwriting Without Tears and multi-sensory practice
• Math through Developing Roots (Singapore Math for Pre-K) focusing on numbers, tens frames, and problem-solving
• Social-emotional growth through explicit instruction in self-regulation, friendships, and collaboration. These skills are then applied during free-play and intentional instruction outdoors. 

Student progress is measured against Delaware early learning standards and shared with families through conferences and progress reports.

The Results Are Clear. 

Our Kindergarten teachers consistently see the difference. Seen in the first weeks of Kindergarten, students who complete PS and PK at St. Anne’s can:

• Recognize letters and sounds, write their name, count to 30
• Follow multi-step directions and manage daily routines
• Hold a pencil correctly, cut with scissors, and zip coats independently
• Look adults in the eye, answer questions on topic, and collaborate with peers

They arrive in Kindergarten eager to learn—and ready to belong.

Every day, rain or shine, our youngest learners are outside—climbing trees, splashing in the creek, exploring the mud kitchen, or hammering nails. These experiences build problem-solving, resilience, teamwork, and confidence, while deepening their connection to the natural world. Research shows outdoor play improves cognitive development, STEM skills, and even sleep. At St. Anne’s, it’s not an add-on—it’s who we are.

"She comes home excited to tell us what she learned—every single day. And she’s grown so confident just from being seen and loved here."