OUR  PRESCHOOL  PHILOSOPHY 
Our preschool philosophy is based on two concepts. First, we believe that each child is a unique individual. Each child will develop physically, cognitively, emotionally and socially at his or her own pace. Furthermore, we believe that children are competent learners, capable of engaging with ideas and the world around them. Second, we believe children learn though play. Play is their work. It is through play, art, and our hands-on approach that we introduce language arts, math, and science. We believe that it is essential to create an atmosphere of trust and safety where children will strive to become independent critical thinkers.

PRESCHOOL ADMISSION
We accept families of all faiths, religions and backgrounds. The criteria for preschool admission are based on three factors. First, all children must be three years old before entry into preschool. Second, children must be potty trained. Finally, parents must abide and agree with the rules and regulations of St. Sebastian School and Preschool.

Please download and review the PreSchool Handbook.

STEP ONE: TOURS
Interested families should call our Preschool Director, Kristine Vardanyan to schedule a detailed tour of our preschool. Please call (310) 473-3337. Tours are conducted on a weekly basis.

STEP TWO: APPLICATION
Following a tour of the preschool, interested families should submit an application along with a $50.00 fee to the main office. Checks should be written out to St. Sebastian School. Once the Director of the Preschool has received the application along with the application fee, she will call to confirm your child’s place on the waiting list.

STEP THREE: PLAYDATE
When there is an opening in the preschool, the Director of preschool will schedule a visit with your family to determine eligibility for entry into our preschool.

STEP FOUR: REGISTRATION
Once eligibility has been determined, parents must pay a registration fee of $250.00 to secure a place for their child within two business days. In addition, all paperwork must be filled out and turned in to the Director of Preschool before the child can start school.
 
OUR  PRESCHOOL  CURRICULUM
Our beliefs are fundamentally driven by developmentally appropriate practices. Our curriculum is customized to meet each child’s individual needs: socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively. Our daily practices have consistency and incorporate emergent curriculum which stimulates each child’s unique interests, curiosity and sense of discovery. Ultimately, our curriculum strives to enhance the development of social skills, relationships, respect for others and oneself, self-help skills, autonomy, peaceful conflict resolution and the empowerment of one’s own ideas and feelings. 
 
Children at this age are still acquiring basic life skills. Our curriculum is designed to enhance their cognitive, social and emotional development. Our teacher to student ratio of 1:8 enables our teachers to spend one on one quality time with children. Positive reinforcement, clear consistent guidelines provide a safe nurturing environment for children to explore and grow. It is important to remember that each and every child develops at his or her own individual pace. The four major domains of childhood development are cognitive, social, emotional and physical. Usually, children develop at different levels in all four domains.   Chronological age does not necessarily go hand in hand with developmental stage. Below, please find some areas of growth that we hope your child will experience. Please be aware that the skills listed below are acquired at a certain chronological age which varies from one child to the other.

READING READINESS
Increase verbal and vocabulary skills
Expresses ideas clearly
Develops a love of reading
Develops respect for books
Recalls sequence of events
Listens and follows directions
Explores creativity and imagination
Recognizes letters, numbers, colors and shapes
Understands that print carries message
Enjoys songs and stories
Repeats sentences of 6-8 words
Remembers objects from a given picture
Knows common farm and zoo animals
Understands the meanings of simple words
Completes incomplete sentences with proper word(s)
Answers questions about a short story
Looks at pictures and tells stories
 
ANALYTICAL SKILLS
Knows months and days of the week
Has age appropriate reasoning skills
Understands big and little
Understands long and short
Matches shapes and objects based on size
Recognizes shapes such as square, rectangle, oval, circle, star, heart and diamond
Copies shapes
Counts orally through ten
Counts on a one-to-one correspondence
Understands empty and full
Understands more and less
Repeats a sequence of orally given numbers
Understands day and night
Understands up and down
Understands in and out
Understands front and back
Understands over and under
Understands top bottom and middle
Understands hot and cold
Understands fast and slow

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Shares and takes turns
Asks for help and helps others
Express feelings, needs and ideas
Cooperates with others and accepts limits
Respects and understands others and their differences
Recognizes others as separate individuals
Solves problems that are age appropriate
Learns to take responsibility
Can sit for 10 to 15 minutes
Feels good about oneself
Cares for own belongings
Maintains self control (emotional and physical)
Shares with others
Is able to stay on task
Is able to work independently and in groups
Steps into a leadership role when needed
 
FINE AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS
Develops hand-eye coordination
Is able to run
Is able to walk a straight line
Is able to jump
Is able to hop
Is able to march
Is able to stand on one foot for 5-10 seconds
Is able to throw a ball
Pastes objects
Matches simple objects
Claps hands
Touches fingers
Builds with blocks
Draws and colors beyond simple scribbles
Controls crayons and pencils well
Handles scissors well
 
WRITING SKILLS
Develops left to right sweep movement. Masters pre-writing activities such as scribbling: painting, pouring, cutting, manipulating with play-dough and clay.  Identifies first name and prints own first name.

ST. SEBASTIAN’S PRESCHOOL MONTHLY THEMES
SEPTEMBER - All About Me During this month, we will learn the following: fostering a positive identity and a sense of self respect, our likes and dislikes, our talents and skills, our senses, recognition and respect between our similarities and differences.

OCTOBER - Fun and Fantasy During this month we will learn the following: the difference between real and make belief, dramatic play, discussion of fears and how to overcome them.

NOVEMBER - Friends and Family During this month we will learn the following: different structures of families, importance of friendships, and community service.

DECEMBER - Celebrations Around the World During this month we will learn the following: people from different parts of the world, different cultures and their traditions/food/music/clothing/languages, and different holidays.

JANUARY - Nutrition, Health and Personal Care During this month we will learn the following: food groups and their importance, dental hygiene, proper/adequate rest and exercise, germs and importance of washing hands.

FEBRUARY - Emotions During this month we will learn the following: developing and understanding of one’s own feelings, handling emotions in positive ways, different structure of families, importance of friends.

MARCH - Things that Grow During this month we will learn the following: plants, trees, flowers, gardening, the importance of nature and as well as respect for nature and all life forms and recycling.

APRIL - Animals/Dinosaurs During this month we will learn the following: different types of animals (farm, zoo, extinct, domestic, wild, sea), their life cycles and the way animals help us (food, medicine).

MAY - Community Helpers During this month we will learn he following: names of different occupations and their importance, (parents are required to make presentations about their profession).

JUNE - Safety at Home, School and in the Community During this month we will learn the following: earthquake preparedness, fire safety, strangers, knowing basic personal information, playground safety, and classroom safety.

Please be advised that teachers are not limited to projects and lessons related to these themes, instead they use the monthly themes as a guide and point of reference.

DAILY SCHEDULE
7:00 am – 8:45 am          
Welcome! Open Centers
 
8:45 am - 9:00 am
Clean-up Time
 
9:00 am – 9:30 am
Circle Time (older group)
 
9:30 am – 9:45 am
Circle Time (younger group)
 
9:45 am – 10:15 am
Snack
 
10:15 am – 11:15 am
Inside and Outside Time
 
11:15 am – 11:30 am
Clean-up Time
 
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Lunch and Play Time
 
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Resting Time
 
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Wake-up and Snack Time
 
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
After Care

The daily schedule is subject to change based on children’s needs and interests.

Conflict Resolution    
At St. Sebastian we encourage our children to think, reason and question without fear. Our teachers skillfully facilitate problem solving and peaceful conflict resolution.  By doing so, we teach respect, empathy and tolerance for each other and instill critical thinking skills. The outline below illustrates how we handle conflict resolution.   
 
STEP 1: TEACHER WILL STOP THE ACTION.
 
STEP 2: CHILDREN WILL EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS AND PROBLEM(S).
 
STEP 3: TEACHER WILL CLARIFY AND VALIDATE CHILDRENS FEELINGS AND PROBLEM(S).
 
STEP 4: CHILDREN WILL MAKE A PLAN USING THEIR OWN LEVEL OF REASONING SKILLS. (what to do in order to avoid the problem next time)
 
STEP 5: TEACHER WILL SUMMARIZE THE PLAN.
 
PARENTS: If you happen to observe a conflict between children (even if it involves your own child), please refrain from facilitating their conflict resolution process. Our staff will help facilitate all conflicts between children. Parents are never allowed to discipline and/or facilitate children’s conflicts on the preschool grounds.