Early Childhood

The Toddler, Preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten Programs at Erie Day School are an interactive process between teacher and student.  Students use materials and engage in activities that are meaningful to them, and investigate stimulating topics through themes. During the school day, children may be grouped by age, in mixed-age groups, and/or by developmental level. The school day consists of a rich variety of activities that include readiness skills for reading, math, social studies, and science as well as outdoor play, story time, and 'sharing' or group discussions. Students enjoy visual arts, performing arts, music, and foreign language classes taught by individual specialists from each field - as well as physical education five days a week. 

Toddler Program

Erie Day School is proud to offer a small group Montessori experience for toddlers, ages 24 months to 3 ½ years.  Under the leadership of JoAnn Marsh, children are encouraged to explore their interests in a peaceful environment; prepared with inviting and challenging materials.  The classroom is a rich educational setting, filled with hands-on activities for this critical age of development.

The Erie Day School Toddler Program:

• is open during the school year, Monday through Friday from 8:25 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.  Parents may choose 5 full days per week or 5 half days;
• supports a class of 10 (maximum);
• is a learning environment supported by two certified teachers;
• offers Extended Day, Monday – Fridays 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.;
• serves a hot lunch;
• does not require your child to be toilet-trained to attend (toilet learning occurs within the program); and
• welcomes students of any race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to all students in the program.

Classroom Experiences
The Erie Day School Toddler Program supports a rich educational setting, filled with hands-on activities, meeting children on their own personal continuum of development.  Dr. Montessori discovered that children all over the world, when given a choice, were drawn to real, purposeful activities including:  practical life; sensorial materials; art; music; language; grace and courtesy lessons; and food preparation.

Outdoor Experiences
The opportunity to move freely, developing both fine and gross motor skills is not only important from a physical standpoint, but also from a psychological one.  Children enrolled in the Erie Day School Toddler Program enjoy:  playground play; walking tours; climbing equipment; riding toys; natural grass surface for tumbling and running; organized movement activities for motor skills development; and blacktop surface for jumping and games.

Choosing a program is an important decision, so parents are asked to do the following:  schedule an appointment for a school visit; and complete an Admissions Application.