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Early Education | Ages 2-5

Mission of the Early Education Program

The Mission of the Early Education Program at PILGRIM School is to develop Passionate, Imaginative Learners who are Go-getters and Risk takers with Inquisitive Minds.

The Vision of Pilgrim Early Education is that we:

Respect each child as a changing individual and appreciate their uniqueness.
Center learning topics around student interests.
Allow each child to develop at their own pace.
Share and acknowledge the wide range of feelings expressed by each child.
Value children and co-learners.
See parents as members of our team.
Embrace the diversity of our community.
Create nurturing and safe, home-like environments where children thrive.
Provide indoor and outdoor learning experiences.

Pilgrim Stats

Toddler Program (2 Year Olds)

During the Toddler years, children learn to come to school without moms or dads. Our separation practices follow sound attachment theory. We work with each family to create a safe and happy transition from parent to teacher and from home to school. Once separated, our toddlers practice self-help skills, build vocabulary, lengthen attention stamina, practice moving from solitary play (playing alone) into parallel play (playing next to others), and learn the routines of a classroom.

List of 4 items.

Social and Emotional Skills
- Asking for help and helping others
- Expressing feelings, needs, and ideas
- Recognizing others as separate individuals
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
- Holding a writing instrument using a fisted or palmar grasp
- Engaging in activities that require control of fingers such as: pulling up pants, feeding self-using utensils, and holding cups
- Strengthening hand-eye coordination like rolling or tossing a ball
- Developing a sense of one’s body
- Building physical stamina through outdoor play activities like running, hopping, and climbing.
Cognitive Skills
- Following simple directions
- Responding when addressed by teachers and peers
- Naming everyday objects in pictures and surroundings
- Sustaining attention in the learning circle for the duration of one story
- Accepting redirection from teachers
Specialist Classes
- Music
- Art
- Library
- Dance
- Free Gym Exploration

Pre-School Program (3 Year Olds)

In our Preschool classrooms (3-year-olds), we continue to support healthy transitions from home to school, learn to resolve conflicts, problem solve, and build vocabulary. Our classroom and outdoor activities focus purposefully on moving from parallel play (playing next to others) to interactive play (playing with others). As language develops, children begin to build first friendships and learn to navigate the social implications of making friends. In addition, activities are designed to build fine and gross motor skills, paving the way for future writing, reading, math, and science explorations.

List of 4 items.

Social and Emotional Skills
- Cooperating with others and accepting limits
- Learning to take responsibility
- Solving simple social challenges
- Respecting rules
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
- Holding writing instruments using a tripod or quad grasp
- Engaging in activities that require control of fingers such as: stringing, rolling, and pulling
- Demonstrating agility, balance, and endurance while walking and running, climbing, and dancing
Cognitive Skills
- Demonstrating an interest in letters and numbers
- Restating stories, identifying main characters, and story sequencing.
- Identifying primary and secondary colors
- Naming complex shapes
- Following two-step directions
Specialist Classes
- Music
- Art
- Library
- Dance
- PE

Jr. Kindergarten Program (4 Year Olds)

Our emergent curriculum, which begins in our JK program, ties directly to Kindergarten readiness skills. An emergent curriculum means that the focus on learning comes from the students’ interests. Our trained teachers provide exciting topics for children to explore and, through observation, materials choices, and learning centers, facilitate rich and meaningful experiences for learning. At the end of the JK school year, Pilgrim students move on to our Elementary School Kindergarten program with strong literacy skills, solid numeracy skills, and the ability to sustain attention for the learning ahead in Kindergarten.

List of 4 items.

Social and Emotional Skills
- Developing empathy skills
- Respecting, tolerating, and understanding differences in others
- Demonstrating self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence
- Learning to self-reflect and self-advocate
- Responding positively to constructive criticism
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
- Holding writing instruments correctly while demonstrating either a dynamic or tripod grasp
- Engaging in activities that require control of fingers, such as tearing paper, taping objects, and using scissors.
- Demonstrating agility, balance, and endurance while walking, running, climbing, dancing, hopping on one foot, skipping, galloping, and climbing
Cognitive Skills
- Following complex, multi-step directions
- Identifying both first and last name
- Giving reasons or examples for classification and sorting objects of different characteristics
- Showing interest in stories and identifying characters, sequencing stories, and predicting what may happen next
- Dictating stories to go with drawings
Specialist Classes
- Music
- Art
- Library
- PE
- Dance