Pre-K and Kindergarten

Pre-K

Our Early Childhood program helps children develop essential skills through play-based learning experiences.

Social and emotional development is fostered through activities that encourage children to work together, share, and communicate effectively.

School Readiness

School readiness is promoted through activities that help children develop early literacy and numeracy skills, as well as, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

We nurture self-confidence through activities that encourage children to take risks, try new things, and celebrate their successes.

Language & Cognitive

Language and cognitive skills are developed through daily activities such as Spanish, Music, Art, and Physical Education.

Our preschool’s daily schedule involves whole-group instruction, circle time, cross-curricular centers, gross-motor play time, fine motor skills, lunch, and nap time.

St. Mary Nativity’s Preschool provides students ages 3 – 4 with enriching, inquiry-based instruction in a nurturing, play-based, multi-cultural environment. Guided by standards-based teaching methodologies and learning objectives, our preschool students benefit from an emphasis on critical thinking skills and a global perspective that is present in our entire school from Pre-K 4 – 8th grade.

Program Highlights

  • Certified teacher and teacher’s assistants’ support
  • 10:1 student-teacher ratio
  • Outdoor playground
  • Indoor gross motor activities
  • Secured campus on a self-contained city block
  • Seamless plan to transition into kindergarten

Academics

  • Social Emotional Learning: Choose Love
  • Physical Education period per week
  • 1 Library Class per week
  • 1 Music period per week
  • Field Trips throughout the year
  • Technology Integration

Faith

  • 40-minute Mass service once a week
  • Prayer buddy with upper school students

Extra-Curricular

  • After-school care
  • After School Enrichment

Kindergarten Program

Our kindergarten program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to foster academic growth and character development. Through daily phonics sessions, guided reading, and basic math instruction, students build foundational skills for future success. In addition, our program integrates religious instruction, fostering a sense of love and community.

Emphasizing the International Baccalaureate approach, our students engage in Units of Inquiry, exploring diverse topics like emotions, historical figures, climate awareness, and endangered species, encouraging curiosity and meaningful expression.

Academics

  • Social Emotional Learning: Choose Love
  • 2 Physical Education periods per week
  • 1 Music period per week
  • 1 Library period per week
  • Daily recess per day inside or outside, depending on weather conditions
  • Field Trips throughout the year
  • Technology Integration

Faith

  • 1-Hour Mass service once a week
  • Daily prayer
  • Prayer Buddy Partnerships with Upper School Students

Extra-Curricular

  • After-school care
  • After School Enrichment
Contact Info
St. Mary Nativity Catholic School
  • 702 N. Broadway St. Joliet, IL 60435
  • (815) 722-8518
  • info@stmarynativity.org