Welcome to St. James’ Children’s School
St. James’ Children’s School offers a year-round, extended day program for Infants through Kindergarten in a nurturing, play-based environment. We are proud to hold a Maryland EXCELS Level 3 quality rating from the Maryland State Department of Education, recognizing our commitment to high standards and best practices that exceed state licensing requirements.
Curriculum & Approach
We follow the MSDE-approved Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool, enhanced with classroom-specific themes and projects that create a rich, traditional Preschool and Pre-K experience. This developmentally appropriate curriculum supports growth across four key areas: social/emotional, cognitive, physical, and language development. Lessons are adapted to meet the individual needs of each child and classroom.
Pre-K & Kindergarten Readiness
Our fully approved Kindergarten meets all state standards for First Grade readiness. Pre-K students are introduced to foundational academic concepts including early reading, math, and social studies. Small reading groups begin when children show readiness and interest.
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The Pre-K/Fours class is designed for younger fours (those turning four in the spring, summer, or fall).
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The Pre-K/Kindergarten class serves older Pre-K students and Kindergarten-eligible children (those turning five in the fall or winter).
Learning Through Play
Our entire program is play-based and experiential, with a strong focus on social-emotional learning, hands-on exploration, and meaningful peer interactions. Starting in the Twos, all children participate in age-appropriate spiritual development through Bible stories, songs, simple prayers, and weekly Chapel for our Pre-K classes.
Enrichment & Extracurricular Programs
At St. James’ Children’s School, we believe in nurturing the whole child through enriching experiences that support creativity, cultural awareness, physical development, and joyful learning beyond the classroom. We offer a variety of enrichment programs for children in the Twos through Kindergarten:
Spanish
Our Spanish program, created by longtime teacher Ms. Vanessa in 2016, introduces students to the Spanish language through hands-on activities, puppets, books, games, and songs. Children learn basic vocabulary such as numbers, colors, greetings, days of the week, foods, and seasonal terms, while also exploring different cultures. Spanish songs are incorporated throughout the year, with special emphasis during the Christmas season. Spanish instruction is held twice weekly.
Art
Art education is provided twice monthly by Ms. Emily from Red Panda Art Studio in Chevy Chase. Using process-based lesson plans and a wide variety of creative materials, children explore different artistic techniques and mediums. These engaging projects help build a strong foundation in visual arts and encourage self-expression and creativity.
Music
Our music program is led by Ms. Gina from Music Time for Tots. Every Monday, she brings joyful, hands-on music experiences to students through singing, movement, and instrument play. This program encourages rhythm, listening skills, and a love of music in a fun, age-appropriate setting.
Extracurricular Options
In addition to our in-house enrichment, we offer optional extracurricular programs:
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Soccer Shots holds sessions on our field three times a year for children age two and up. Families may sign up independently, and children participate alongside classmates during the school day.
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Positive Impact Martial Arts, located in our building, offers programs for our oldest four- and five-year-olds. Their instructors pick children up directly from class, and families meet them upstairs at the end of the session.
These programs are designed to complement our play-based curriculum and give children opportunities to explore new interests, build confidence, and discover their passions.
