Pre-School

The goal of the DeSales Pre-School programs is to provide a loving atmosphere in which a child can learn and grow.  It is our philosophy that 3- and 4-year olds learn best through play. Every class is led by a teacher and an aide.  We strive to provide an environment that promotes growth physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively.  Christian values are a part of the everyday classroom experiences.Our goal is to provide child with positive learning experiences in order to enhance their self-confidence and esteem and prepare them to be ready to learn in Kindergarten.  The variety of pre-school programs offered at DeSales allows parents to choose the educational experience best suited for their child.

• The Traditional Pre-school program (for children aged 3 by Dec. 1st) provides activities to develop each child’s gross and fine motor skills.  The class meets on Mondays and Tuesdays for 2¼ hours, either in the morning or in the afternoon. Our daily schedule begins with free play.  After cleanup, we have “circle time”, which includes the Pledge of Allegiance, Prayers, calendar, weather, and show-and-tell.  We have a snack and story each day.  Music, religion, P.E. and art projects are done once or twice a week.   Christian values are a part of our everyday experiences. We encourage group play and work on listening and attending skills for short periods of time. We also have a religion program.  Beginning in January we introduce colors, shapes, and scissors.  Pre-School class size is limited to 15 students.

• The Traditional Pre-Kindergarten program (for children aged 4 by Dec. 1st) offers a “3-Day” and a “5-Day” option.  The 3-Day class meets on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for 2½ hours, either in the morning or in the afternoon.  The 5-Day class meets Monday – Friday from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm, with an additional option for childcare through 5:00pm.  Both programs expose the students to the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, pre-writing, religion, holiday themes, and other fun units such as dinosaurs and planting.  Other units of learning – the body, magnets, penguins, polar bears, fish and rhyming are added during the school year. Literature based activities and fun jobs are shared on a weekly basis.  One letter of the alphabet is introduced each week, beginning at the end of September. The 5-Day program affords the time to for students to dig deeper into these topics.  Increased class time will also be devoted to extra music and art projects. By the completion of either Pre-K program the students will have learned to listen, take turns, follow directions, and share, as well as increased their memory skills, and further developed their fine and gross motor skills. Each Pre-K class is limited to 20 students.

• The Montessori PreSchool program is a multi-age class designed for 3, 4, and 5 year olds.  The class meets Monday - Friday from 8:30 - 11:30 am.  This unique philosophy of education emphasizes the potential of the young child and develops this potential, using special teaching materials to help the child associate abstract concepts with concrete sensorial experiences. Students are permitted a freedom of choice within a stimulating environment with clearly defined limits.  Children work individually as well as in small and large groups. Activities are self-directed and non-competitive, helping children to develop self-discipline, self-mastery and a true love of learning. Montessori Pre-School is limited to 20 students.

All preschoolers must be toilet trained in order to attend school.  All programs will continue to follow the Diocesan Pre-Kindergarten Curriculum that was revised by the Diocese of Buffalo in 2004.  The DeSales faculty and administration are very enthusiastic about the new Pre-K options and feel that the programs will allow our school to better meet the needs of each pre-schooler and their families.