SMCCNS strives to provide a healthy, welcoming atmosphere that offers young children the opportunity to learn through developmentally appropriate practices. It is our goal and our privilege to foster an environment of joy and laughter, where every child is met with positive regard and support.
Additionally, it is our hope that every family member and guardian feels supported and nurtured in their child-rearing efforts. We aim for children to leave San Marino Community Church Nursery School having gained the confidence, knowledge, curiosity, and age-appropriate skills to best succeed for the next step in their education and their lives.
As a part of the Educational and Spiritual Development Committee of the San Marino Community Church, and under the direction of the Nursery School Board, the mission of the SMCC Nursery School is to provide a Christian atmosphere that offers young children the opportunity to learn through Developmentally Appropriate Practice.
We are so excited to share an important step we’re taking to continue providing high quality, intentional early childhood education. This school year, we have chosen Frog Street as the foundational curriculum for our classrooms. We are excited to announce that we have fully adopted the Frog Street Curriculum across all age groups, including TK.
This comprehensive curriculum is rooted in child development research and supported by independent studies. Research has shown that children who learn through Frog Street develop stronger skills in critical thinking, decision making, creativity, self directed learning and problem solving. It goes beyond covering developmental domains by helping children strengthen these important skills every day.
Another exciting part of Frog Street is its assessment tools. These allow us to observe and assess children as they learn in the classroom, giving us a better understanding of each child’s progress and helping us provide meaningful, individualized instruction.
One of the greatest strengths of Frog Street is the foundation it builds for future learning. Long term studies have found that children who experience this type of developmentally appropriate, child centered learning are better prepared for future academic success. They also develop stronger problem solving skills, greater confidence and the ability to express themselves and make independent choices.
We believe this curriculum reflects the values of our school by nurturing the whole child, encouraging creativity and inspiring a love of learning while honoring the unique way God created each child. To learn more about Frog Street, you can visit their website here.
We can’t wait to see how your child grows and thrives with Frog Street this year!
For over 30 years, the SMCC Nursery School has been fully accredited by NAEYC (the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a division of the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs) for many years.
To obtain accreditation, we have voluntarily undergone a thorough internal, self-study process as well as invited an external professional to review and verify our compliance with the Academy’s comprehensive criteria. To maintain accreditation, this process must be undertaken every five years. The accreditation process was most recently completed in October of 2022 and will remain in effect until late 2027.
To learn more about NAEYC and their accreditation requirements, you can visit their website here.
