preview! EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM
In side : ABOUT US
AGE JOURNEYS LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
Serving children 3– 5 YEARS
Welcome! Dear Prospective Families, Welcome to Faithful Shepherd Catholic School’s Discovery Center. We are so glad you are considering us as a partner in nurturing and caring for your child. At Faithful Shepherd, we create a culture that offers the opportunity for each child to grow spiritually and
academically. In our Discovery Center, we provide a
child-focused environment that sparks curiosity and imagination through play, inquiry, and discovery. Through this hands-on approach, each child is
Our dedicated and educated staff is at the heart of our success. We are proud of our school and our
commitment to developing the whole child in a family atmosphere of kindness and inclusiveness. I hope you
feel that sense of family from the moment you walk in our doors and begin an educational journey we hope will continue through fifth grade graduation!
encouraged to discover their unique, God-given gifts. As you read on, you will discover more about how we
support your child and family in our preschool program.
What makes us UNIQUE STRONG CURRICULUM STUDENT ASSESSMENT PLAN CHRISTIAN FAITH INTEGRATION
Highly Qualified, Caring Teaching Team!
PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FLEXIBLE, CUSTOMIZED SCHEDULES
2 FAITHFUL SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL DISCOVERY CENTER
Together for Children,
Catherine Butel Principal Faithful Shepherd Catholic School
Growing in God's Love Our MISSION We, as part of the early childhood community, seek to support parents and children through a creative environment that promotes and teaches Catholic values, honors diversity and fosters fellowship within the greater community.
Our PHILOSOPHY LADC believes that children learn best when they are allowed to experience the world around them. Children learn through “hands-on” exploration in our faith-based environment designed to meet their individual needs and learning styles.
We believe that the parent is the first and most important teacher and we serve as a resource for them on their parenting journey.
Children at LADC are immersed into the weekly “spiritual emphasis” through a variety of daily activities. The curriculum includes daily prayer, Bible lessons, monthly Worship, and the modeling of Catholic values by the teachers.
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Age Journeys
We offer :
School-year and Summer programs. Part and full-time schedules, with full and half-day options available.
PRESCHOOL
Preschool Discovery Classes 3 & 4 YEAR OLDS
• School-year and Summer programs • Part and Full-time schedules, with full and half-day options available
• Toilet Independent
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Youngthreeyear oldsaretakingon new challengesevery day. We plan engaging, hands-on lessons to guide learning and
develop skills for future reading, math, friendships and more!
Discovery lead teachers have education degrees with a MN state teaching license, or have a degree in a related field and meet the DHS Licensing Lead teacher requirements.
Age Journeys KINDERGARTEN-READINESS
Kinder start Program 4 & 5 YEAR OLDS
Fouryearoldsareready tobechallenged withlanguage,
critical-thinking and new information. We support their learning through an engaging, hands-on environment that inspires their imagination and curiosity.
Our Kinderstart lead teachers have education
degrees in early-childhood or elementary education with
Kindergarten certification and have a MN teaching license, or an MA in Education. • School-year and Summer programs • Part and Full-time schedules, with full and half-day options available
• Toilet Independent
Preparing for
success!
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EXTENDED
Adventure Program
BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL PLUS NON-SCHOOL DAYS The Extended Adventure Program (EAP) is a before and after school program that provides a warm and
relaxed environment where children play with friends and continue to learn while having fun.
DAILY SNAPSHOT: • Breakfast offered between 7:00-8:00 AM; After-school snack provided at 4:00 PM. •
Activities include additional large muscle time, creative activities and games.
Our classrooms, curriculum and teaching approach is designed to meet the needs of young children. "I Can" statements that capture:
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING ACADEMIC GROWTH FEELING LOVED VALUED AS A CHILD OF GOD These are all important pieces to a child's self-esteem, friendship and future success in school.
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Teaching to the Whole Child
NINE Environments We use these nine learning areas in our classrooms to optimize children’s developmental learning objectives.
COGNITIVE
SPIRITUAL
STEM LEARNING
Preschool childrenare curious about the world and are able to acquire, organize and use information in increasingly complex ways.
Young children have a natural sense of awe, wonder and mystery. During these early years, we have the opportunity to unwrap a child’s spirituality and develop their connection to God.
Science-TechnologyEngineering-Math: Experiences in these areas help preschoolers develop many skills while engaging their natural curiosity.
LITERACY/LANGUAGE
SOCIAL STUDIES
SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
Beforea child learns toread and write, the path to literacy has already begun. Playing with books, scribbling on paper, tracing letters on an e-tablet are all steps of emergent literacy.
Social studies is the study of people and the ways they relate to others. The focus of social studies for infants and toddlers focus on self development within.
Childrenare bestable tolearn when they are comfortable in an environment where they feel loved and secure. The world is a complicated social puzzle!
ART/MUSIC
FINE MOTOR
Children who are engaged with and learn to appreciate music and the arts are able to demonstrate what they know. This allows them to expand their creative thinking.
Fine motor control involves the coordinated movement of small muscles in the hands and fingers. Strong fine motor skills are essential as we approach many self-help and life tasks.
LARGE MOTOR Large motor skills involve movement of the large muscles in arms, legs, and core body. Activities include walking, running, skipping, jumping, throwing, climbing, biking, balancing, dancing and more.
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9 Environments COGNITIVE Scan this QR Code to view video or visit: www.ladcfamilies.org /cognitive/
SPIRITUAL Scan this QR Codeto view video or visit: www.ladcfamilies.org /spiritual/
SOCIAL STUDIES Scan this QRCodetoview video or visit: www.ladcfamilies.org/ social-studies/
STEM
- Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Scan this QR Code to view video or visit: www.ladcfamilies.org /stem/
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LITERACY/ LANGUAGE Scan this QR Code to view video or visit: www.ladcfamilies.org /literacy-language/
ART & MUSIC Scan this QR Codeto view video or visit: www.ladcfamilies.org/ arts-and-music/
SOCIAL/ EMOTIONAL Scan this QR Codeto view video or visit: www.ladcfamilies.org/ social-emotional/
FINE MOTOR Scan this QR Code to view video orvisit: www.ladcfamilies.org/ finemotor/
LARGE MOTOR Scan this QR Code to view video or visit: www.ladcfamilies.org /large/motor/
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Special Events Circus, Outreach, Festivalof Family & Friends, Christmas, Fieldtrips, Graduation ANNUAL SPRING CIRCUS EVENT
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & SERVICE
SPRING GRADUATION
FAMILY NIGHTS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS & FRIENDS JOIN IN "THE FESTIVAL OF FAMILY & FRIENDS" OFF-SITE AND IN-HOUSE FIELDTRIPS
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How ChiLdrenDevelop
Curriculum & Assessments
and Learn
The Family’s Role
Art Blocks STEM/Science Sensory Dramatic & Imaginative Play Manipulative Play Music & Movement Computers Outdoors Library Individualized Cooking
The Teacher’s Role
The Learning EnviroNment
STRONG CURRICULUM The Creative Curriculum model is the basis of the Discovery Center's environments and activity centers. The Discovery Center Program Curriculum Directors oversee the Lead Teachers at monthly curriculum planning meetings, ensuring that all activities and learning experiences relate back to one of the 39 learning objectives within the Creative Curriculum.
What Children Learn
STUDENT ASSESSMENT PLAN Incorporating learning assessments are continually tracked through teacher observation notes, the skills checklist, work-sample portfolios and the Developmental Continuum
Teacher Notes & Classroom Observations
Learning Assessments
student packet. CURRICULUM ENRICHMENTS •
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Zoo-Phonics
•
Handwriting Without TearsTM •
•
Spanish
Library
Phy-Ed
Nutrition
The Deveopmental Continuum TM
Work Sample Portfolios
Parent/Teacher Conferences (2x per year)
(MDH “LANATM Program”)
PROGRAM GOALS • •
• •
•
To provide a safe and stimulating environment that nurtures the natural wonder in each child. To create a setting that fosters the child's physical, social, emotional, cultural, spiritual and intellectual development. To honor and respect the diversity within each child as well as in all of God's creation. To facilitate enjoyment of school and model a positive attitude toward learning which will allow children to face future experiences with skill and confidence. To acknowledge the parent(s) as the first and most important teacher and to support them on their parenting journey.
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Faithful Shepherd Catholic School 3355 Columbia Drive Eagan, MN 55121
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Educating Eagan Youth For more information visit ladcfamilies.org To schedule a site tour: calendly.com/fscsadmissions or call 651-262-2898
or contact Co-Site Directors Sara Ihmels and Heidi Delesha at faithfulshepherd.preschool@ladcfamilies.org
NAEYC ACCREDITATION As an organization, LADC is proud to have earned NAEYC Accreditation since 2009. NAEYC is the mark of quality and excellence for early childhood education. LADC is also 4 Star Parent Aware rated; the highest quality rating possible in Minnesota.
Lake Area Discovery Center is a non-profit early childhood experience for children ages 6 weeks to five years old. LADC admits students of any race, religion, color, national and ethnic origins.