Preschool

Aquinas Academy offers separate preschool programs for three and four years olds. Preschoolers will be exposed to many different skills and subject areas, including:

• Language Arts Development (listening, speaking, pre-writing, phonics)
• Conceptual Math
• Fine Arts (art, music, and dramatic play)
• Science
• Computers
• Physical Education (fine and gross motor development)
• Social Living

The Aquinas Academy Preschool program operates under the following schedule:

Students may transition from half to full at any time in the year.

For more information, contact Janet Shugarts, administrative assistant, by email at [email protected], or call 724-834-7940 x401. You may also contact Kelly Watkins, principal, by email at [email protected], or call 724-834-7940 x407.

The mission of the Christ the Divine Teacher School preschool program is to provide each child with vast opportunities through a classical education approach, which allows the children to explore and learn. We provide a safe and secure environment where respect for self and others is emphasized. We strive to:

• Help our children feel secure in making the transition from home to school
• Inspire a love for learning and preparation for kindergarten
• Foster the natural curiosity that is innate in every child
• Instill in children a love of God and appreciation for his gifts

Preschoolers visit the school library, computer lab, and Divine Artworks Center. They also participate in physical education classes as well as field trips and educational assemblies. Teachers motivate the children to develop self-expression, auditory listening skills, and motor skills within a nurturing environment full of energy, imagination, music, dance, and creative play.

The Christ the Divine Teacher preschool program operates under the following schedule:

For more information, contact Teresa Tallarico, principal, at [email protected] or call 724-539-1561.

The Conn-Area Catholic School preschool program is designed for four-year-olds. Children should be four by the September 1. The school will accept three-year-olds who turn four by December, only if there are vacancies after a certain date to be determined. All students must be potty-trained and be able to care for their own needs.

Students engage in experiences and projects that will prepare them for kindergarten, and expose them to many different skills including:

• Expressing thoughts
• Listening
• Developing sound and symbol relationships
• Memorizing songs and poems
• Determining meaning from spoken language and stories
• Identifying alphabet letters
• Sorting
• Solving problems
• Learning shapes, patterns, time, size, and other math skills
• Participating in faith formation
• Attending music and physical education classes twice a week
• Attending art and Spanish once a week
• Exploring robotics

Extended Care Services that begin at 7:15 a.m. and go to 6:00 p.m. are available.

The Conn-Area Catholic School program operates under the following schedule:

For more information, please contact Mrs. Cecilia Solan, principal, by email at [email protected] or call 724-628-5090.

The Divine Redeemer preschool program offers sessions for two, three, and four year olds, that include morning, afternoon and full-day time slots.

To be eligible for the three and four year old programs, children must be three or four by August 31, and must be potty trained. The National School Free and Reduced Breakfast and Lunch Programs are available for all day preschool programs.

The Terrific Twos program is available for two-year-old children and their parents or caregivers. These once a week sessions include crafts, stories, games and free play.

Three and four year old preschool students have religion classes and faith formation throughout their day. Literacy and number sense lessons and activities, science, social studies, the arts, health, and Spanish lessons are offered weekly. Interactive boards and iPads are used to enhance the curriculum. Students also participate in school assemblies and field trips.

By the end of preschool and kindergarten at The Divine Redeemer School, you can expect your child to:

• Separate from caregiver with ease
• Follow directions agreeable and easily
• Use the restroom independently
• Pay attention for 10-15 minutes
• Follow classroom rules
• Take turns and share toys
• Speak some basic Spanish
• Play side-by-side with other students
• Recognize most numbers and letters
• Recognize most colors and shapes

The Divine Redeemer preschool program operates under the following schedule:

Any additional information can be found by contacting the school at 724-763-3761, or by emailing Jack Giancola, principal, at [email protected].

The Elizabeth Seton Montessori School offers morning, afternoon and all-day (pre-kindergarten & kindergarten) programs for children ages two-and-a-half through six years old.  The school operates September through May and offers both a September and January entrance for students.

The Elizabeth Seton Montessori School’s prepared environment fosters a hands-on active learning atmosphere where our students receive a well-rounded early childhood experience, which encourages the child to be an independent, competent, responsible, social and caring individual.  The Montessori Method encourages confidence through development of each child’s desire to “help me do it myself.”  The Elizabeth Seton Montessori School’s three-year development program promotes inquisitiveness and cooperation, such that each child attains knowledge from his or her own experiences. 

The Elizabeth Seton Montessori School’s materials are rotated monthly, so the child is continuously challenged.  The curriculum for each of our programs provides age appropriate experience in the following areas:

• Daily Living Skills
• Sensory Learning and Dexterity
• Language Development
• Mathematical Skills
• Scientific Discoveries
• Geographical Awareness
• Musical and Artistic Expression
• Physical Education

The Elizabeth Seton Montessori Preschool operates under the following schedule:

Please call or email the school for more information:  (724) 837-8500 or [email protected]

Mary Queen of Apostles School offers preschool programs for three and four year olds. This early childhood program strives to excite and prepare children to be life long learners, and takes place in a supportive, caring environment. As a regional Catholic school in the Diocese of Greensburg, we celebrate our faith, serve others and educate the total person. We appreciate the wonder and creativity the children bring to our school as we provide varied opportunities allowing each child to shine.

​Some features of our preschool curriculum include:

• Faith Formation
• Hands-on activities
• Thematic units
• Dramatic and creative play
• Movement and music
• Arts and crafts
• Language arts and math focus
• Guest visitors and programs

The Mary Queen of Apostles preschool program operates under the following schedule:

For more information, contact Michelle Farrell, Enrollment coordinator, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 724-339-4411

Mother of Sorrows School offers a preschool program for three and four year olds. In their classes, students, learn age appropriate skills and concepts, including transitions, interpersonal skills, fine motor movement, and problem solving. This is done through song, routine, prayer, seatwork and play. Our preschool classes attend all of the same special classes as our K-8 students: Physical education, music, art, computers, Spanish, and library. Our teachers care for the children and help them grow into the students they are meant to be to be successful for a lifetime.

Children registered in our program must be self-sufficient in the bathroom. We suggest parents avoid dressing their children in difficult belts, snaps, or overalls.

Students must be of age by September 1 to enroll in the age designated program.

Classes run on half and full-day schedules. Families may change from half to full-day at any time throughout the school year, and their tuition will be prorated based on when the change is made.

Mother of Sorrows School operates under the following schedule:

For more information, or to set up a tour, contact Theresa Szmed, principal, by email at [email protected] or call 724-733-8840. An online application can be found on their school website: www.mosschool.org.

Queen of Angels Catholic School offers a variety of preschool programs for children ages two through five. Queen of Angels Early Childhood Program offers a developmentally appropriate curriculum based on standards set by the PA Department of Education, The National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the Diocese of Greensburg. It is staffed by qualified, experienced teachers holding degrees in elementary education and specializing in early childhood education. The class ratio considers the requirements set by the Department of Education.

The curriculum allows preschool age children to explore, investigate, observe, participate, sing, laugh, play, pray, and learn and grow physically, cognitively, emotionally and spiritually. Children are exposed to many different subject areas and learn important skills, including:

• Developing perception and memory, self-esteem and creativity
• Learning rhymes, and the alphabet and numbers
• Learning to listen and solve problems
• Learning control and cooperation
• Taking turns, making choices, and finding solutions
• Asking questions, discussing stories, and making friends

 The Queen of Angels Early Childhood Program operates under the following schedule:

For more information, please contact Jennifer Filak, principal, by email [email protected] or at 724-978-0144.

St. Bernard Regional Catholic School offers preschool programs for three and four year olds. All children must be potty trained. Children must be three or four years old, respectively, on or before August 31, to attend.

The Preschool curriculum includes the following:

• Literacy skills
• Number theory: Mathematical thinking
• Social/emotional development
• Gross/fine motor skills
• Religion
• Morning snack, whole and small group discussion, and afternoon rest/nap time

Three year old students attend music and library specials, and four year olds attend music, library, Spanish, and technology.

Four year old all day have in addition phys ed and art.

Our preschool students are academically and socially prepared to enter kindergarten by the end of the school year.

St. Bernard operates under the following schedule:

For more information, contact Tina Bucci, principal, by email at [email protected] or call 724-465-7139.

St. Florian Parish offers a preschool program for three and four year olds. We offer a variety of activities to prepare children for kindergarten, as well as help them grow socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually to their fullest potential in a Christ-centered environment.

Students participate in many activities throughout that day, such as educational lessons, play time, and discussions and show-and-tell time with guest speakers, which help them to develop skills for kindergarten and beyond.

St. Florian Parish preschool operates under the following schedule:

For more information contact the preschool at 724-423-4437, or email Lottie Hirak at [email protected].

St. John the Baptist preschool is a place where Christ and children meet. The program enables the children to develop social and academic skills needed for primary school. We are committed to helping each child develop a relationship with God and realize their God given talents.

This program offers three and four year old classes. A child must be three or four years old by September 1, to be admitted. If a child enters the three year old program after September 1, because of turning three after that date, the child will repeat the three year old program the following year. If a child is not four years old by September 1, he or she is eligible for the three year old program.

Students must be fully toilet trained and may not wear diapers or pull-ups while at school.

St. John the Baptist preschool offers rolling admission, and financial aid. Our program consists of activities and events, including: lunch, table play, circle time, art activities, reading and story time, field trips, guest speakers and more.

The St. John the Baptist preschool program operates under the following schedule:

For more information, please call 724-887-9550, or See the website.

St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School offers preschool programs for three and four year olds. All children must be three years old by September 1, to be eligible for the three-year-old class, or four years old by September​​ 1, to be eligible for the four-year-old class. A state birth certificate, a baptismal certificate, and a completed immunization record is required. Your child must be toilet trained. There is a teacher as well as an aide in all the classes. The preschoolers are incorporated into all school activities, such as the spring musical, Christmas program, marathon, and other school-wide events.

The St. John the Evangelist preschool program is currently operating under the following schedule for the school year:

For more information about our preschool, please contact Christine Roskovensky, principal, at 724-438-8598, or by email at [email protected].

St. Sebastian Regional Catholic School offers preschool programs for three and four year olds.  These programs are centered on better preparing children for a happier adjustment to kindergarten through a fun and informative program of learning. Each child is encouraged individually in a safe and nurturing environment.

To be eligible for the preschool programs, children must be 3, 4 or 5 by October 1.  All students must be potty trained.  A birth certificate and a completed immunization record are required.

We offer sessions for children starting at the age of three and includes morning or full-day time slots. Some features of our preschool curriculum include:

• Colors and shapes
• Listening and thinking skills
• Fine/Gross motor skills
• Social skills and sharing
• Math readiness skills: Number recognition, number ordering and counting
• Reading readiness sills: Letter recognition and sounds
• Dramatic and creative play
• Faith formation

In addition, students also participate in:

Music, Visual Arts, Physical Education, Spanish, STREAM and Sign Language classes

Afternoon rest period

Buddy program: Students are paired with a middle school student to participate in a variety of activities.

Educational assemblies and field trips.

The National School Free and Reduced Breakfast and Lunch program is available to all day preschool students who qualify.

The St. Sebastian preschool program operates under the following schedule:

For more information, contact us at 724-929-5143 or email Principal Carole Aiello at [email protected]

Verna Montessori School (VMS) seeks to build within the child the foundation for a lifetime of creative and joyful learning. The Children’s House, mixed-age level classrooms (ages three – six), in a Montessori program, provide children, both younger and older, a wonderful opportunity to practice their social skills and learn at their own pace. The Montessori curriculum is designed to ensure development in human relations, engagement in self-discovery and full realization of the individual.

In the carefully prepared environment of the Children’s House, materials are designed to help students develop their natural sense of order. These materials can be divided into three main groups: practical life, sensorial, and academic materials.

The three and four-year olds of the preschool program work especially on the practical life exercises, such as pouring, sorting, washing, polishing, sewing, and cutting. These activities help in coordination and concentration by training the child to pay attention to detail and to follow a regular sequence of action. However, the youngest children are not excluded from working with the academic material if they are ready for it.

Employing the child’s already heightened senses, mathematical and aesthetic-based materials prepare the child for academic learning. Academic materials in language, science, math and geography encourage students to explore the world and acquire the basis for more advanced studies in the lower elementary class. In addition, music and Italian enrich the experience for all Children’s House students.

VMS is a private, religious school for children from all faith backgrounds. Religious instruction is the core of the school curriculum.

The VMS Children’s House operates under the following schedule, though any exceptions to this schedule can be discussed on an individualized basis prior to registration:

For more information, please contact Sr. Juliana Tengia, principal, by calling 724-887-8810 ext. 104.