Pre-Kindergarten 3 & 4: Helping Children Grow

Focused On Social, Emotional, Intellectual, and Spiritual Development

Begin your child’s educational journey with the Early Childhood Education Program at Saint Francis de Sales Catholic School. Open to children ages 3 and 4, our program is licensed by the State of Maryland and rooted in Catholic values.

We offer a nurturing, multi-faceted approach that supports growth in all areas of development—social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. Within our loving, faith-filled environment, students build the foundation to become confident learners, kind classmates, and faithful individuals.

Our Pre-K curriculum is centered around five key areas of development:

1. Religion

Faith is at the heart of everything we do. Pre-K students learn about their Catholic faith through engaging lessons that include art, music, stories, and prayer. They participate in weekly school-wide Wednesday Mass and school prayer services.

Children also begin to express their faith by learning foundational prayers such as The Sign of the Cross, The Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary, and grace before and after meals.

2. Reading and Math

We introduce children to the fundamentals of reading and math through lessons aligned with the State of Maryland’s curriculum. By focusing on phonics, number recognition, counting, and early literacy skills, students are well-prepared to transition into Kindergarten with confidence and a strong academic foundation.

3. Handwriting

Using the Handwriting Without Tears program, our Pre-K students begin learning proper letter formation in a developmentally appropriate, multi-sensory way. These early writing experiences build the foundation for strong future skills in reading, writing, and communication.

4. Sign Language

To support early communication skills and inclusion, students are introduced to basic American Sign Language (ASL). They learn to sign everyday instructions, the alphabet, days of the week, and eventually more advanced expressions like the Pledge of Allegiance and songs performed with their classmates.

5. Science

Through the LabLearner® science program, our youngest learners explore age-appropriate hands-on experiments that encourage curiosity and discovery. These fun, interactive lessons introduce the scientific method and build foundational knowledge that prepares students for elementary-level science.