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Why Choose Maria Regina for Early Childhood?
Our Early Childhood program is second to none. It is one of the largest programs in the Diocese of Rockville Centre and our parents time and again tell us how well-prepared their children are for Kindergarten.
Our program brings together the social interaction, play, and inquisitiveness that young children need while also providing a strong academic foundation that is now needed for the transition to Kindergarten.
Highlights of the program include weekly Music, Art, Technology, and Gym specials, a private and secured playground, affordable Extended Care programs, experienced teachers that continually go above and beyond, and a strong curriculum that integrates faith and love.
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Nursery
Our Nursery Program lays the foundation for a child to become a thinking and caring individual. We meet the needs of each student in a warm, nurturing environment. Our New York State certified teachers, along with their teacher assistants, help our students develop a love of learning and begin their journey in the Catholic faith.
Students who will be 3 by December 1st are eligible for our Nursery Program. Students must be toilet-trained and cannot wear pull-ups.
Highlights of our Nursery Program include:- Affordable Extended Care programs
- Literacy-based curriculum
- Songs, Movement Activities, and integration of playtime in their learning
- Gym, Music, Art, and Technology Specials
- We are a close-knit community; our Nursery students travel to specials and are known by name by our 8th graders.
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“Our family loves Maria Regina School! The staff is so wonderful and genuinely cares about the students' education and overall well-being. My daughter had a difficult time socially in nursery school and her teachers could not have been more supportive. They went above and beyond to get her the help she needed in Nursery and Pre-K and she is thriving now in Kindergarten. I cannot say enough good things about The Early Childhood Program.
Even with all of the Covid restrictions throughout the past two years, my kids leave school with a smile on their faces every day with stories of all the activities they did, lessons learned, and fun they had! We are so fortunate to have started our children’s education at Maria Regina!”
- Early Childhood Parent
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"Honestly, I am so amazed at how involved the principal and teachers are with the kids, they truly make sure the kids are gaining the skills they need to head on to Kindergarten. I love that I can easily communicate with them either by email or the Remind app. I always get a quick response and whatever situation it may be, they resolve it immediately.
Lukas is now enrolled in the Pre-K program and loves it! He has made so many friends, improved his verbal, motor, and social skills. He has learned so much from this program. I am forever grateful for his teachers involvement and caring demeanor. They truly love their students. Maria Regina is more than a school, it's a family. I highly recommend the early childhood program."
- Early Childhood Parent
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Pre-K
The Maria Regina Pre-Kindergarten program is highly regarded and provides a wonderful introduction to a well-rounded, faith-based education. Much like our Nursery Program, each classroom has a New York State certified teacher and a teaching assistant. Our nurturing community focuses on meeting each student where he or she is and creates an engaging and challenging learning environment.
Highlights of Pre-K include:- Unrivaled preparation for Kindergarten including the introduction of sight words and a focus on letter sounds and word formation.
- Integration of technology in the classroom including interactive use of a SmartBoard and an iPad cart.
- Children learn through a variety of modalities that include critical thinking and tactile exploration.
- Affordable Extended Care programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Our Pre-K program only offers full-days in preparation for Kindergarten. We have 3 Days (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) and 5 Days available. The day begins at 8:25 (doors open at 8:15) and the day ends at 2:15, at which point After Care will begin if you need it.
Our Nursery program offers the same Full Day programs (3 & 5) as Pre-K. In addition and provides families a 5 Half Day option. The Nursery half days end at 11:30.
Our classes are populated regardless of the program. This provides our families a great deal of flexibility throughout the year. Many Nursery families especially will opt to begin the year with either the 5 Half Day or 3 Full Day program, and ultimately end up doing the 5 Full Day program around the halfway point of the school year. The student would not need to change classes and start over with a new teacher and group of students if that were the case.
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- Students arrive and unpack.
- Morning Meeting: Opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, calendar, weather, songs, poems, and Smartboard activities. It is during this time that new concepts are introduced.
- Table Activity: Children complete an activity related to the curriculum topic. This activity may include writing practice, cutting and gluing, coloring, drawing, painting, etc.
- Specials: Students travel with their Teaching Assistants to either Music, Gym, Art, or Technology.
- Snack: Children enjoy a snack brought from home.
- Centers: Children independently explore play activities. Writing and craft activities relating to the curriculum topic can also be completed at this time.
- Lunch: Lunch is eaten in the classroom. We have a Hot Lunch program that parents may take advantage of. Alternatively, you can pack your own lunch.
- Rest time: During this time children are encouraged to rest quietly while the teacher plays relaxing music.
- Additional Curriculum-related activity: Further interaction and follow-up with curriculum introduced earlier that morning.
- Additional Play: Students build, complete puzzles, and/or play with each other as the day winds down.
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Maria Regina understands that Catholic Education is an investment. As such, we aim to provide very affordable extended care rates to our families. Oftentimes, our tuition and extended care rates equal out to the extended care rates offered in your public school district.
We have both Before and After Care programs available to or families. Each has a registration fee of $30 dollars, followed by a $15/hour rate for one child or $20/hour for multiple children. Our programs are pay-as-you-go and have a monthly cap of $350. Registration is done online and on the days where you will be using the program, we ask that you send a note into your child's teacher.
Before Care begins at 7:00 AM and ends at 8:00 AM, at which point the children are walked to their classrooms. After Care begins at dismissal and runs until 6:00 PM. Children are encouraged to bring a snack. They will get to play outside (weather pending), socialize, complete homework (where appropriate), do puzzles, play games, and otherwise wind down from the school day.
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We have a school nurse five days a week from 8:00-3:00. Additionally, we partner with your school district to facilitate additional services such as Speech, Occupational Therapy, etc. for your child if necessary.
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