Pre-Kindergarten Program

Thank you for your interest in our Pre-K Programs. Your child must be 3 or 4 years old by September 1st to enroll in that current school year. We have a 3 year old class and a 4 year old class.  We offer half day and full day programs, with after school care if needed. Click here if you would like more information on the registration process. Please call the school office and schedule a tour to meet and speak to our teachers. 610-399-8400. 

Below is a list of important things parents will need to know about our pre-k program. 

Arrival- Doors open at 7:45am and close at 8:00am.  Please be on time so that your child learns the importance of this life habit. Pull up to the curb and a teacher will assist your child out of the car.  They must be unbuckled and ready to exit.  Teachers are not responsible for buckling and unbuckling children. If you arrive late for school you will need to park your vehicle and report to the school office for a late pass. You will need to walk your child to their classroom. 

Absences- If your child is going to miss school, please call the main office. (610) 399-8400. You may also email the teacher to let them know too!

Birthdays- Birthdays are a very special time for all of us, especially children! If you would like to send in your child’s favorite snack, please contact me a few days prior so I can plan accordingly. We have 18 children in our Pre K 4 classroom. Your child may also bring in a Show and Tell item. It should fit in their tote bag or be carried without assistance. Summer birthdays will be celebrated at the end of the school year.

Blue Ribbon School of Excellence- Did you know that Saint Maximilian Kobe School is a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence? We were recognized on a national level in September 2017. 

Book Orders- Monthly book orders will be sent home through Scholastic Books.  This is a great way for our classroom to obtain free books with points earned each time you order.

Cardinal Clarion- This is the school newsletter that is emailed to you every other week!  Find out about what’s going on in our school!

CARES- this is our after school program that is available from 3pm-6pm every Monday-Friday for an extra fee. 

Conferences- 2X per year: January and May with a Progress Report. A conference may be arranged any time a parent or teachers feels it is necessary.

Cooking- We have monthly cooking in the classroom!  Here are some things we cook…applesauce, pumpkin seeds, Harvest Bread, Irish Potatoes, grilled cheese, etc.

Curriculum- We follow the Archdiocese Guidelines for Early Childhood as well as the Pennsylvania State Standards approved by NAEYC(National Association for the Education of Young Children) and Wilson Fundations.  I also pull from a variety of other curriculums to ensure learning is fun, age appropriate and engaging.

DAP- Developmentally Appropriate Practice: teaching according to research on how young children develop and learn.

Dismissal- Full day students will dismiss at 2:50pm through the rear doors where drop off is in the morning. 

Half day students  dismiss at 11:30am from the lower doors in front of the school building. 

*Please place your name card on the passenger side dashboard for the teacher on duty to see.

If your child is going home with someone other than you, please send in a note in your child’s Take Home Folder with the person’s name and description of vehicle.  We can not put your child in a car to go home with someone else if we do not have a written note!  This is for safety reasons!

Email- djaskot@stmax.org (4 year old) medigregorio@stmax.org (3 year old)

Field Trips- We will go on two class trips. In the fall we will go to Ramsey Farm and in the spring we will go to the DuPont Theater.  We will also have classroom visitors throughout the year such as a firefighter, a dental assistant, and a  Chester County Reading Association representative. FIeld trips are to be determined for the 2021-2022 school year.

Getting Messy- We will be using a variety of materials in the classroom for our many projects and YES, we will get messy. Paint, glitter, glue and outside play are all a part of what we do in Pre K. 

Happy Helpers- Monday/Wednesday/Friday  Mrs. Peterson (Pre-k 3)  Monday-Friday  Mrs. Pirozek or Miss McAllister.

 Illness- If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home. Sickness tends to travel quickly through classrooms at this age since the children touch most items in the classroom and each other.  Please call the school office to report your child absent, late etc. Also, email the teacher to let them know your child will be missing school.

Journal- Weekly journal lessons include drawing a simple picture using shapes and copying or tracing a word to go with it.

Jackets/sweaters- Please labels jackets, coats, sweaters with your child’s name inside. Also, practice putting on, taking off these articles of clothing along with zipping and buttoning. 

Kindness- Students in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of our class, as well as others with kindness and respect. 

Language University- We are  super excited about our brand new Spanish Program!  It  is available to Pre K 3, Pre K 4 and Kindergarten classes for an extra fee.  Please see the information sent home! 

Mindfulness- This year, the children will have lessons incorporated throughout our day to reflect on being present, breathing and calming down if you are upset or mad. I will use a variety of techniques including chimes and breathing buddies.  There will be a free workshops on this topic in the fall. 

Newsletter- Every Sunday night you will receive my Weekly Newsletter (Pre-k 4) through email. Please take time to read it so you know what is happening in our classroom!  You will also find lots of reminders so you don’t forget what items are due and when.

Outdoor Play- Weather permitting, we will have outdoor play time.  There is a playground on school property. We will also use sidewalk chalk, water and sand tables on warm weather days.  Please be sure your child has appropriate shoes for outside play so they can run, jump and explore. 

Parties- We LOVE to celebrate in Pre K!  There will be a Halloween Parade, Thanksgiving Feast, Christmas Show, Live Nativity, Pajama Day, Valentine’s and St. Patrick celebrations, Easter Egg Hunt, Phillies Day, End of Year Picnic and more!

Potty Trained- All students must be potty trained before they can enroll in any of our programs.

Prayers- We will pray as a class every morning to start our day. We will begin with the Sign of the Cross and pray the Hail Mary for a new family in our class each day. We have a prayer that we sing before snack and lunch. At the end of each day, we will pray again before dismissal. 

Prayer Partners- Once a month the Pre K 4 children meet with the fourth grade students for a religion lesson and activity. Each Pre K student is paired with a fourth grade student for the school year.  Both classes look forward to our gatherings. The Pre-K 3 class is paired with a 3rd grade class and complete activities. 

Quick- Quick goodbyes make drier eyes!

Rest Time- Every afternoon your child will have a quiet, peaceful hour to rest. They will need a small blanket that must fit in their cubby.  A small, travel pillow and stuffed animal are allowed but must fit in your child’s cubby.  They will rest on a cot provided by school.

Religion- Weekly lessons regarding our faith as well as a spiritual atmosphere are  integrated into our classroom and throughout the school. 

The children will learn to bless themselves and say some prayers such as the “Hail Mary” and a special snack and lunch song. We will also make monthly visits to church to get holy water, pray, and learn about the many things you may see in church.

We will learn about some saints and liturgical seasons of the church such as Advent and Lent.

Snack- Please provide a snack and drink everyday for your child.  Full day students will need a lunch and drink as well as snack.

Specials- Our class will attend library, music and gym every week! 

Take Home Folder- Please check the folder daily for information, your child’s art work, class work etc.  use the folder to send in dismissal notes etc.

Tote- Your child is being provide a tote bag that they will bring to school every day.  Please do not send in back packs!

Uniforms- Pre-K children wear play clothes each day. Please make sure they have comfortable shoes that allow them to run, jump and play outside. 

Unique- Every child is unique and I look forward to celebrating what makes all of us different! We all look different, learn different and like different things!

Volunteers-   Homeroom moms are responsible for planning our many celebrations throughout the year.  Look for them to contact you in the upcoming weeks!

There will be other opportunities for you to volunteer in our classroom/school throughout the school year.  Lunch Duty volunteers in our classroom will be needed Monday-Friday from 11:30am-12:30pm.

All volunteers must have their clearances and be COVID 19 vacinated. See Mrs. Truitt in the school office for assistance. 

eXtra Set of Clothes- Please be sure your child has a change of clothes in school in case of a bathroom accident, messy art project or a spill at snack/lunch. This should include: underpants, short and long pants, short and long sleeve shirts 

You- You are your child’s first and most important teacher! 

Zzzzzz- We all need sleep. Please make sure your child gets plenty of rest.  Setting and keeping a bedtime routine is a gift you can give your child. Our days are busy and full of fun mental and physical activities. 

Children entering the PK 3 program need to be three years of age by September 1st and children entering the PK 4 program need to be 4 years of age by September 1st.

School year 2023-2024  Pre-Kindergarten hours are:
4 year old program hours:  Choice of full day  8:00-3:00 (M-F) or half day 8:00-11:30 (M-F) 
3 year old program for 2023-2024 half day 8:00-11:30 or full day 8:00-3:00 MWF or M-F.
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All children entering our Pre-Kindergarten Program must be fully potty trained.
1. Be able to TELL the adult they have to go the bathroom BEFORE they have to go.
2. Be able to pull down their underwear and pants and get them back up without assistance. 
3.Be able to wipe themselves.
4. Be able to get on and off the toilet by themselves.
5. Be able to wash and dry hands.
6. Be able to postpone going if they must wait for someone who is in the bathroom or if outside at play.
7. If attending the full day program, they must be able to make it through rest time by being dry when they wake up if they should fall asleep. 

NO PULL UPS!

There is one dedicated classroom for the 3 year olds and one dedicated classroom for the 4 year olds.

Our Pre-school teachers welcome the children into the program each day. They plan lessons using the Archdiocesan Curriculum Guidelines for early childhood education. Come for a visit and see why St. Max Pre-School is a great place to learn and grow.