Programs | St. Paul Lutheran School

ECC Programs

St. Paul Lutheran School’s Early Childhood Center (ECC) provides Early Childhood Education for children ages 2 through 5 in our Preschool 2, Preschool 3, Prekindergarten (Pre-K), and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) programs.

We strive to work in partnership with parents, who have the primary and most critical role in the nurturing of their child.

We Believe:

That each child is a special creation with God-given abilities
That each child is able to learn and grow at his or her own pace
That play is a very important part of our day and that active play teaches many skills
That our day begins and ends with prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord

We Provide:

Outstanding, caring staff members
Supportive, nurturing care responsive to each child’s needs
Enrichment and fostering of each child’s development: spiritual, cognitive, social, emotional and physical
Activities to develop problem-solving skills
Strengthening of personal interaction skills through hands-on experiences
Creative exploration opportunities
Optional on-campus enrichment opportunities
(for example, Soccer Shots)

We Offer:

Full-time and part-time program options, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

ECC Special Days St Paul Preschool Catonsville

We are licensed with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). All staff exceed the MSDE training standards and are certified in CPR and First Aid.

Please Note: Some of our classes fill up quickly. Current students and their siblings receive preference for open spaces. If you are interested in learning more about our Early Childhood Center or are interested in registering, please contact our office at your earliest convenience.

Please click on the buttons below for detailed descriptions of our Early Childhood programs and curriculum.

ECC Goals

In all of our Early Childhood Center programs, we focus on the whole child – soul, mind and body. Our commitment is to nurture children’s spiritual growth and their love of learning. Dedicated staff and educated teachers provide a warm, Christian environment, while our developmentally-appropriate curriculum helps prepare children for the next steps in their education.

Faith development is at the core of our curriculum and is integrated into every aspect of teaching. Each class features special objectives in the areas of Phonics, Math, Language Arts, and Science, as well as Motor Skills, Christian Living, and Social and School Skills, such as self-regulation. Children enjoy outdoor exploration, using creative expression, and participating in field trips and other events.

ECC Goals are:

To teach each child about the Bible and the Triune God through songs, fingerplays, Bible stories, devotions, and dramatic play
To nurture each child’s understanding of Bible truths and apply them to everyday life
To encourage each child to learn about God’s wonderful creation
To provide opportunities for social interaction and fellowship through play
To teach through developmentally appropriate practices throughout each age and stage of childhood
To encourage cooperative play and a positive attitude
To foster a love of lifelong learning

Pre2, Pre2/3, and Pre3 Programs

For many 2 and 3-year-olds, preschool is their first experience in a structured environment where children learn to share, follow instructions, and cooperate in a classroom setting. Our focus is on loving God and loving others with an emphasis on learning good decision-making skills. Children in the Pre3 program are 3 by September 1.

The St. Paul preschool program is filled with active hands-on learning opportunities. We look for teachable moments throughout the day while encouraging children to see and do new things. Bible stories are taught through singing, puppets, fingerplays, dramatic play and reading from picture Bibles. Academic development is encouraged through work with manipulatives and fine motor activities. Active play and social interaction is an important part of our day. Children learn independence, develop exploration skills, and gain self-esteem through play.

Each class has a quiet rest time where children can sleep or rest quietly on individual cots.

Prekindergarten (Pre-K) Program

Our Prekindergarten (Pre-K) program has been designed to meet the needs of children who are four years of age on or before September 1. The goal of the program is to prepare your child for Kindergarten. Throughout our day, students explore the print-rich environment around them. The daily schedule includes a balance of teacher-directed instruction, large- and small-group activities, and learning centers.

Our Prekindergarten students also enjoy a variety of enrichment activities including choir, library, and physical education. The Angel Choir (Prekindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten students) sings during several church services throughout the school year and during Christmas and Spring concerts.

Academic and Kindergarten readiness in the Pre-K program includes the following:

Alphabet reinforcement: Recognition with a focus on the sounds the letters make.
Teaching with manipulatives, stories, games, poems, songs and movement rhymes.
Handwriting and fine motor skills developmentally appropriate and tailored to your child’s readiness.
Fine motor skills practice: Writing, letters, numbers, drawing, lacing, tracing and cutting. Learning to write both uppercase, lower case and each child’s name is encouraged.
Math skills: Using hands on activities and manipulatives counting to 50, writing numbers, measurement, learning basic shape names, number operations of addition and subtraction, measurement through clocks and calendars.
Social Studies and Science: Developing skills through experiments and Let’s Find from Scholastic. Participation in the Social Studies and Science Fairs.

Children who are enrolled in the Pre-K program are prepared to enter Kindergarten the following year. We follow the state cutoff date for children entering Kindergarten.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program

Our Transitional Kindergarten class is a program that serves:

4 year olds who are ready for an academic challenge.
Children with a late birthday who do not meet the September 1 cut off for Kindergarten.
A child who could benefit from an extra year in Pre-K to help him/her thrive in Kindergarten.

Students are challenged with enriching activities designed to engage their minds. Students will enjoy a more structured environment where they are introduced to letters and the sounds they make. The Transitional Kindergarten students will also explore patterns that make up our mathematical world. Our Transitional Kindergarten students enjoy a variety of enrichment activities including choir, library, and physical education. The Angel Choir (Prekindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten students) sings during several church services throughout the school year and during Christmas and Spring concerts.

We encourage children to develop a sense of independence and confidence that is age-appropriate for each child. The academics taught in Pre-K are also taught in Transitional Kindergarten but with a larger focus on fine motor skills, writing and pre-reading. Academic and Kindergarten readiness in the Transitional Kindergarten program includes the following:

Alphabet reinforcement: Recognition with a focus on the sounds the letters make.
Teaching with manipulatives, stories, games, poems, songs and movement rhymes.
Handwriting and fine motor skills developmentally appropriate and tailored to your child’s readiness.
Fine motor skills practice: Writing, letters, numbers, drawing, lacing, tracing and cutting. Learning to write both uppercase, lower case and each child’s name is encouraged.
Math skills: Using hands on activities and manipulatives counting to 50, writing numbers, measurement, learning basic shape names, number operations of addition and subtraction, measurement through clocks and calendars.
Social Studies and Science: Developing skills through experiments and Let’s Find from Scholastic. Participation in the Social Studies and Science Fairs.

Parents desiring to enroll their child in the TK program need to arrange for testing. Students will be placed according to the recommendation of our Early Childhood Director.