Academy uses MSDE approved State Curriculum in conjunction with the Core Knowledge Sequence Curriculum

NURSERY AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-5

These programs are offered at our Academy Hills Campus, Cold Spring, DuFief, Galway and Stone Mill locations.

Our programs are play-based and experiential (see program description section). Physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth are stimulated through hands-on, real-life experiences. Developmentally appropriate practice is the foundation of the curriculum and daily schedule planning. Phonological awareness, science, and math activities are important aspects of the program and are integrated throughout the day. Our staff support children so that they feel safe and secure, give them responsibility, model empathy and respect for others, and encourage them to explore and discover the world around them. Teachers have at least a baccalaureate in Early Childhood Education or a related field or the equivalent; Assistant Teachers are Office of Child Care senior staff qualified; Aides, as is true with all staff, have orientation prior to starting and are required to take continued training annually. Teacher biographies are distributed at the beginning of each school year and are available from the director.

Academy Child Development Center at Academy Hills, Cold Spring, DuFief, Galway and Stone Mill Centers offers MSDE Nursery for 3 and 4-year-olds. Children must be 3 or 4 years of age on or before September 1 of the school year to be age-eligible for admission to the nursery school program during that school year. Children must be 5 years old on or before September 1st to be eligible for our MSDE Kindergarten. If multi-age classes were to be offered, each child would be presented with the appropriate nursery school curriculum according to his/ her own ability.

Part-day sessions may be included in the full day programs. Average class size is twenty children with at least one teacher and an assistant. Full day and extended day programs operate according to the Academy calendar. Refer to Academy’s scheduled closings. Part-day sessions are approximately 3.5 or 6 hours and include a lunch period and outdoor play. Part- day programs are open during the school year for at least 170 to 180 days and follow the MCPS kindergarten calendar (no class on late openings, early closing, holidays, inclement weather days, teacher in-service days, field trips, conference days, orientation, etc.).

 CURRICULUM

Academy uses MSDE approved State Curriculum in conjunction with the Core Knowledge Sequence Curriculum.
Students will be exposed to curriculum objectives beyond age expectancy.  For example, they will be guided in reading skill activities to enhance and expand those skills to a higher level. An interactive, independent computer curriculum software system will also be used to enhance reading skills.

Core areas of instruction will be language & literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, social,  emotional, physical, the “art” which includes visual, crafts, dramatic, and musical.

The Core Knowledge Sequence is comprised of a set of model guidelines describing fundamental competencies and specific knowledge that provides a solid, coherent foundation for later learning in Kindergarten and beyond. The Core Knowledge sequence offers a coherent progression of skills and knowledge in the following areas: Physical Well-Being and Motor Development, Social and Emotional Development, Approaches to Learning, Language, Knowledge Acquisition and Cognitive Development.

Academy encourages children to be happy, successful, motivated, lifelong learners.