Locations:

 Telephone (school office):

1307 North Main Street, Mt. Airy, Maryland  21771 

2927 Gillis Falls Road, Mt. Airy, Maryland  21771

(301) 829-0014

Our Program includes:

• Use of the "Teaching Strategies: Creative Curriculum" . For additional information, visit --

  http://www.teachingstrategies.com/page/CCPS_WhyItWorks.cfm

• Thematic curriculum

• Monthly chapel times 

• Purposeful Play to develop skills and concept across the curriculum in math, social studies, science, writing and literacy

• Individual, small group and whole group experiences to work on all curriculum areas

• On-going assessment of children's abilities, skills and interests through developmentally appropriate techniques (observation, work sampling, one-on-one dialogue, etc.)  

• Early literacy experiences and reading readiness skills

• Large and small motor skills practice

• Outdoor play

• Open-ended art which builds creative thinking skills

• Snack time

• Group activities - including circle time, movement, music and story times

• Field trips

• Classroom visitors

• Parent Involvement

• Community Mission Projects

• Year End Ceremonies/Events

Licensing Agent - Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)

The MSDE Office of Child Care is responsible for all child care licensing and regulation in the state.  This includes nursery school and preschool programs.  The primary mission of the MSDE Office of Child Care is to foster the development of safe, available child care, nursery school and preschool facilities for Maryland families.

Regulated child care means that child care providers and their centers have been checked by the state licensing authority and were found to meet minimum health, safety, and program standards.  An informational pamphlet entitled ''Making the Difference for Your Child'' is given to the parents at the beginning of the school year

St. James' Nursery School is a licensed facility. This license is reviewed annually for renewal at both our Main Street and Gillis Falls locations.

Accreditation - NAEYC

St. James' Nursery School has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals.  We are proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards.  NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible. 

To earn NAEYC Accreditation, St. James' Nursery School went through an extensive Self-Study process, measuring the program and its services against the 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria. The program received NAEYC Accreditation after a site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the ten program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.

In the 23 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. Almost 8,000 programs, serving one million young children, are currently accredited by NAEYC -approximately 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs. "The NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs,"  said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. "St. James' Nursery School's NAEYC Accreditation is a sign that they are a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education, and to help give all children a better start."

The NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. In September 2006, the Association revised program standards and criteria to introduce a new level of quality, accountability, and service for parents and children in child care programs. The new standards today reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development. NAEYC is committed to utilizing the newest studies and analysis on positive child outcomes to ensure young children continue receiving the highest-quality care and education possible.

Our Philosophy of Education for Young Children

We believe that the early years in a child's life are truly significant in the development of a child.  Through careful and thoughtful planning of the learning environment and hands-on experiences, children are involved in activities which stimulate and motivate their interest and academic growth. We provide opportunities for children to interact with a wide range of materials and with each other through play.  Social skills, such as getting along with others and working in a group, are a focus of our program.  One of our main goals is for children to be well-prepared for kindergarten and for later life experiences - and most of all - to enjoy their first school experience!

Curriculum

St. James' Nursery School's curriculum is based on The Creative Curriculum, the Maryland Model for School Readiness,  the Work Sampling System (published by Pearson), and the Maryland Voluntary Curriculum early learning standards.  We also follow the curriculum goals of the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which encourages children to be actively involved in the learning process, to experience a variety of developmentally appropriate activities and materials, and to pursue their own interests in the context of life in the community and the world.  Our theme schedule is provided to parents at the beginning of each school year.  Developmental outcome/objectives for each age level are included in the appendix of this handbook.

Developmentally Appropriate Instruction

Play is the primary vehicle of learning for the young child. Play allows the child to experiment, explore and manipulate his/her environment, while developing imagination and creativity. Engaging in symbolic play allows a young child to express his or her thoughts and ideas, practice and rehearse new roles, and test out newly acquired knowledge and skill.  Young children construct knowledge based on their real-life experiences; they learn by doing. Children increase their own knowledge of the world through repeated interactions with people and materials. Our classrooms are designed to encourage children's active exploration with adults, other children and materials.  A typical daily classroom routine includes a mix of direct instruction and opportunities for children to choose their own activities. Children will work individually, in small groups, and as part of a large group. The use of work sheets and drill instructional practices is avoided, with instruction being integrated across traditional subject areas in order to provide a meaningful framework for learning.

Student Teacher Ratio

Classes are limited in size in order that the children may receive as much individual attention as possible. Should a lower/greater number of children advance to any given age level due to variations in enrollment, the following student-teacher ratios may vary slightly.  Student-teacher ratio is typically 10:2 for Twos Classes; 15:2 for Three year olds classes and 18:2 for Pre-Kindergarten Fours and Four/Fives Classes. All classrooms have a Teacher and Assistant Teacher.

Assessment Process

St. James' staff monitors children progress on an ongoing basis by gathering data through observation, work sampling, digital photos, and direct interaction and questioning of children.   Occasionally, a preschool screening may be suggested through a nearby school district for children who may have developmental delays or other concerns. Assessments help the teaching staff to identify children's interests and needs, while also allowing them to modify curriculum and adapt their teaching practices. A detailed Developmental Checklist will be discussed at the parent-teacher conference in January.   During this conference the Developmental Checklist is reviewed and discussed.  This assessment report will be completed for the second term and sent home to parents in May before the school year ends.  If parents desire a conference during the year, please inform your child's classroom teacher. 

Chapel Time

The purpose of chapel time is to enhance the spiritual development of our little ones through developmentally appropriate songs, short prayers, lessons and stories.  Once a month, the 3's and Pre-K classes will be scheduled to visit the sanctuary for a brief (10-15 minute) chapel time.  Annex Chapel Time will be held in the classroom.  The 2's classes will participate in a short movement and song chapel time, in the classroom, with the director beginning in December.  Parents are more than welcome to attend.   Chapel time will be led by the Nursery School Director, Patricia Castle and/or the Church Rector, The Rev. Portia Hirschman. 

Field Trips

Field Trips to interesting and educational places in the area are an integral part of our curriculum.  Parents will be notified beforehand and a completed, signed permission slip must be on file with our Nursery School in order for your child to attend any field trip.  Transportation for most field trips is provided by parents.  While we are a very family-oriented Nursery School, there will be some field trips offered that siblings will be invited to join us and others where we will ask that siblings do not attend.  Throughout the year, various Community Helpers visit our classrooms (parents are encouraged to serve in this capacity!)

Details, Details...

Please follow this link to download and view the Parent Handbook in PDF format for additional information and details.