Saint Michael Early Childhood Center

St. Michael Early Childhood Center (ECC) provides half-day preschool programs for

• Two Year Old: Two (2) years old by 8/31/2008
• Three Year Old: Three (3) years old by 8/31/2008
• Four Year Old: Four (4) years old by 8/31/2008
• Developmental Kindergarten: Five (5) years old by 10/16/2008

Programs begin in September and end in May.

Registration for programs that start in September 2008 begins in January. Returning ECC students can register January 28 - February 1, 2008. Priority registration for parishioners will be held February 4 - 8, 2008. Public registration is held February 11 - 15, 2008. Registration information sessions will be held Monday - Wednesday, January 28 - 30, 2008, from 10:00 - 11:00. Please stop by, call the office, or email mtoscano@stmichaelcary.org or dmandzak@stmichaelcary.org if you’d like more information.

How to Find or Contact Us

The ECC is located on the middle floor of the Trinity Center. Office hours are from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. when school is in session. Visitors are welcome. Except in the summer, appointments aren’t necessary.

• Phone: (919) 468-6110
• FAX: (919) 468-6130

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• 2008-2009 ECC Registration Application (13 KB)
• Preschool Parents Handbook (92 KB)
• 2008-2009 Preschool Calendar (33 KB)

OUR REASON FOR BEING ...

St. Michael's Early Childhood Center provides a caring environment in which children can grow socially, emotionally, mentally, creatively, and spiritually. In this environment children can discover the inherent goodness in all that they are. It is an atmosphere in which children can learn to live effectively with themselves and others and also begin to acquire a sense of identity while experiencing many chances for success. In a world that grows more competitive each day, the staff of the ECC assists children to experience happiness and success in a noncompetitive environment by making material available in an interesting, exciting manner so that they can be children, free to play, explore, and imagine in the course of a child oriented day.

St. Michael's ECC is an integral part of St. Michael parish and spiritual enrichment is recognized as an essential part of the learning process. Throughout our everyday activities, the staff at the ECC strives to help each child know that God is Love, and that He is the maker of all that is great and beautiful in this world. Children who attend the preschool programs meet in the sanctuary one morning a month for a short program of prayer and song; learn the Sign of the Cross; begin each day with a prayer; and honor Mary with a May Crowning ceremony. In addition, children in the four and five year old programs attend Catechesis of the Good Shepherd once a week and volunteer parents present Bible stories to the children several times each year. Finally, in addition to fostering the growth and development of the children who attend, participation in ECC programs provides parents and families with many opportunities to build and strengthen ties to each other and the parish community of St. Michael.

Our preschool programs serve 162 children: 36 children in the two year old program, 48 children in the three year old program, 62 children in the four year old programs and 16 children in the Developmental Kindergarten. There are fourteen or sixteen children in a class taught by a teacher and an assistant. Each of our teachers holds a teaching certificate or has a minimum of four years experience working in early childhood education. All members of the ECC staff are certified in child CPR and first aid.

Each program offers a developmentally appropriate curriculum and each level builds on the previous one.

Whether exploring the many facets of dinosaurs, traveling to Mexico, England or the moon, play-acting famous fairy tales, collecting bugs, or experimenting with erupting volcanoes, our ultimate goal is to expose the children to a wide variety of wonderful units and provide an atmosphere of learning through play. Our units are designed to develop readiness skills and they all provide developmentally appropriate activities directed to that end.

In addition to regular classroom activities and outdoor play, the children go to the Music Room for music and movement with our Music teacher, and the children in the four year old programs and the Developmental Kindergarten attend Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a liturgically based faith development program, once a week.

Two day (M/W or T/TH) or One day (F): Two years old by 8/31/08

This program is a cooperative program in which parents work, on a rotating basis with teachers, to provide a play experience for toddlers. It is an opportunity for parents to have time away while their children play and socialize in a safe, caring environment. Activities are developmentally appropriate for the age of the children.

Two day (T/Th): Three (3) years old by 8/31/08

The emphasis of this program is strictly on socialization. The teachers strive to help the children build self-confidence and self-esteem while they learn through play. We encourage and promote interest in socializing, imaginative play, group activities, and solitary play. All of these activities are enriched with stories and music.

Both four year old programs encourage children to look for peer relationships; to play cooperatively with others as well as alongside them; to share, contribute and interact with others in a group; to explore and to create!

• Three day (M/W/F), four year old: Four (4) years old by 8/31/08

  This program consists of a vast array of units and themes that concentrate on continuing to develop social skills while introducing kindergarten readiness skills in a fun, exciting, and developmentally appropriate way.

• Five day (M-F) four year old: Four (4) years old by 8/31/08

  The curriculum for this program leans heavily towards science and social studies. Kindergarten readiness skills are also introduced and are integrated into units and themes as the children do experiments and travel the globe.

Five day (M-F) - Five (5) years old by 08/31/08

This program organizes developmentally appropriate activities into units and themes designed to accomplish readiness for kindergarten as well as further strengthen the children's confidence and self-esteem. The luxury of five days affords the teacher the opportunity to more fully explore each unit with the children. Teachers encourage readiness to learn and question, utilization of the children's developing sense of responsibility, and their abilities for imaginative play, dramatic play, construction, and simple games. This program offers a "kinder, gentler" approach for children who need an extra year to grow before entering a full day kindergarten.

Parents and children, infants through preschool age, meet together and play in the Parish Center from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays beginning in October and ending in May. P.A.C.T. is a “come if you can” program for parishioners. There is no fee and pre-registration is not required. Some toys are available for use by participants but children are invited to bring toys to share. In addition, parents need to bring whatever supplies they might need to care for their children during the two hour period. P.A.C.T. dates are posted on the bulletin board inside the courtyard entrance of the Trinity Center.