Early childhood is a time of exploration, wonder and curiosity. Whether it’s through making friends, discovering interests or building habits of mind, the years before kindergarten are a crucial period for children’s growth and learning. Community School is focused on making sure its youngest students are ready to tackle what awaits them on their educational journey. Located in Ladue, the independent preschool and elementary school serves ages 3 through grade six. For more than 100 years, it has been teaching students through hands-on experiences.
Community School believes in nurturing the gifts of mind, body and spirit for every child. This mission starts with its youngest students, using education and exploration to spark their natural sense of wonder. Lessons promote pre-academics, social-emotional learning and more. “Our early childhood program is fundamental,” lower division head Jessica Hendricks says. “We lay the foundation for a life-long love of learning and build the habits and skills our students will need to succeed, including listening, cooperation, fine motor skills and more.”
At Community School, students are encouraged to take an active role in directing their own learning, and that includes the early childhood program. Junior kindergarten teacher Katie Norris notes that teachers curate experiences and develop lessons around classroom discussions. Activities are designed to reflect what ignites students’ interest and curiosity. “We ask what they would like to learn more about, and that helps launch us into our next unit,” she says. “This engages students more in their learning by giving them a sense of ownership and really fostering a feeling of community inside the classroom. When kids are excited, they’re more willing to learn what you have to teach them.”
The early childhood program provides an environment that nurtures the whole child, with a thoughtful balance of developmentally appropriate work and play. Students are engaged in a wide variety of hands-on activities and topics, working with specialists in fields like French, drama, music, science, physical education and more. This curriculum is paired with purposeful play to help reinforce lessons in fun and engaging ways. “Play is our students’ work, so classrooms are set up to naturally encourage them to practice skills and challenge themselves,” nursery teacher Kris Major explains. “Lessons are teacher-guided and student-directed with a balance of independent and collaborative activities.”
Community School understands that every student comes with their own interests and personality. The early childhood educators are dedicated to serving as facilitators, using what makes each student unique as the starting point for success in more than just academics. The program prepares children for elementary school and beyond while still engaging them at their developmental level. “At Community School, we start by building relationships with students,” Hendricks says. “We learn every child’s strengths, interests and needs, which allows our teachers to create lessons that help them build both skills and confidence. We create a safe space for young learners to be curious and grow in independence.”
Community School is an independent preschool and elementary school for ages 3 through grade six. It believes in fostering the intellectual, emotional and creative growth of students to encourage their development as leaders of the next generation. Pictured on the Cover: Nursery students explore nature, strengthen gross motor skills, and connect with friends on the playground. For more information, call 314.991.0005 or visit communityschool.com.
Cover design by Julie Streiler
Cover photo by Tim Parker Photography
Pictured at the top: Students build fine motor skills and reinforce shape and letter recognition while painting.
Photo: Tim Parker Photography