Academics
Lower School
Early Childhood
Setting the Course
Our Early Childhood Education Program — serving PK3 (Little Pirates) and PK4 — is thoughtfully designed around your child.
Through a purposeful, age-appropriate curriculum, we meet children where they are, providing individualized support that honors each child’s learning style while nurturing curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.
Through a purposeful, age-appropriate curriculum, we meet children where they are, providing individualized support that honors each child’s learning style while nurturing curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.
Little Pirates (PK3)
The Little Pirates (PK3) program provides a warm, play-centered introduction to school that supports the social, emotional, and early academic development of three-year-olds.
In a nurturing environment, children build confidence, independence and a sense of belonging while learning classroom routines and forming relationships with peers and teachers.
Language development is emphasized through songs, stories, conversation and play, fostering early vocabulary and listening skills. Math and science are introduced through hands-on, joyful exploration using manipulatives, movement, sensory activities and nature-based experiences.
Social studies focus on self-awareness, community and cooperation. Students enjoy playful exposure to Spanish, music exploration, library time, STEAM activities in the Innovation Lab and physical education, all designed to spark curiosity, creativity and a love of learning.
In a nurturing environment, children build confidence, independence and a sense of belonging while learning classroom routines and forming relationships with peers and teachers.
Language development is emphasized through songs, stories, conversation and play, fostering early vocabulary and listening skills. Math and science are introduced through hands-on, joyful exploration using manipulatives, movement, sensory activities and nature-based experiences.
Social studies focus on self-awareness, community and cooperation. Students enjoy playful exposure to Spanish, music exploration, library time, STEAM activities in the Innovation Lab and physical education, all designed to spark curiosity, creativity and a love of learning.
Pre-Kindergarten 4
The PK4 program builds on the Little Pirates foundation while preparing students for a confident transition to kindergarten. Instruction is purposeful, engaging and developmentally appropriate, supporting growing independence and academic readiness.
Language and literacy instruction expands to include phonemic awareness, early reading and writing skills, and expressive communication.
Math learning becomes more structured while remaining hands-on, with a focus on number relationships, basic operations, patterns, measurement and geometry.
Science emphasizes inquiry and investigation, while social studies broaden children’s understanding of community, responsibility and empathy.
Spanish, music exploration, library visits, Innovation Lab STEAM challenges, and physical education continue with increased depth, fostering creativity, collaboration, problem-solving as well as the social and physical skills essential for kindergarten success.
Language and literacy instruction expands to include phonemic awareness, early reading and writing skills, and expressive communication.
Math learning becomes more structured while remaining hands-on, with a focus on number relationships, basic operations, patterns, measurement and geometry.
Science emphasizes inquiry and investigation, while social studies broaden children’s understanding of community, responsibility and empathy.
Spanish, music exploration, library visits, Innovation Lab STEAM challenges, and physical education continue with increased depth, fostering creativity, collaboration, problem-solving as well as the social and physical skills essential for kindergarten success.
Early Childhood News
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Brrr-illiant Polar Bear Art!
During our Ice Science unit, our Little Pirates enjoyed learning about animals that live in cold weather, including polar bears! To extend their learning, they created polar bear art using a fun and creative technique. Instead of traditional paintbrushes, they used pom-poms to stamp the outlines of their polar bear faces. This hands-on, engaging activity allowed our Little Pirates to explore art using unconventional tools while strengthening fine motor skills and creativity!Read More -
PK4 Visits Kindergarten Readers
PK4 students had a special opportunity to read with kindergarten students and were so excited to hear their friends share stories. This meaningful experience encouraged a love of reading, built confidence and fostered positive connections between the two grade levels. Students proudly listened, learned and enjoyed spending time together as a school community.Read More -
Deductive Reasoning
In PK4, Mrs. Miner and Mrs. Young's students are introduced to problem-solving in mathematics through the use of deductive reasoning. Children learn to apply known information, such as number relationships, patterns and simple rules to make logical predictions and solve age-appropriate math problems. Through hands-on activities, guided questioning and daily practice, students develop the ability to explain their thinking, make connections and use reasoning skills to arrive at solutions, building a strong foundation for future mathematical learning.Read More -
Little Cloud Experiment
PK4 students enjoyed reading Little Cloud by Eric Carle as part of their weather study. After the story, they participated in a hands-on science experiment to explore how clouds hold water and how rain forms. Through observation and discussion, students strengthened their understanding of weather concepts while building curiosity and early scientific thinking skills.Read More -
Building Number Sense with Ten Frames and Positional Words
In PK4 math, students are learning how to use ten frames to build number sense by drawing counters on the whiteboard to represent numbers in different ways. They enjoy showing how numbers can be made and compared through their drawings. Students are also practicing positional terms such as above, below, beside and next to by using classroom objects and visuals. These activities help strengthen both their math skills and spatial awareness.Read More
Parent of a current Little Pirate (PK3)
As a parent of a Little Pirate, I am extremely happy with Saint Edward's Early Childhood program. The teachers are well-educated, caring and nurturing. I am confident that SES will build the foundational skills my child will need to thrive in school and in life. What a great place to grow and learn!
Saint Edward's School
Non-Discrimination Statement
Saint Edward's School admits students of any race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, national or ethnic origin, or marital status to all rights, priveleges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School, and does not discriminate on these bases – including traits associated with race such as protective hairstyles – in the administration of its admissions, educational, financial aid, or other School programs, in accordance with IRS regulations and Florida Statute §1002.421.
Saint Edward's School admits students of any race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, national or ethnic origin, or marital status to all rights, priveleges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School, and does not discriminate on these bases – including traits associated with race such as protective hairstyles – in the administration of its admissions, educational, financial aid, or other School programs, in accordance with IRS regulations and Florida Statute §1002.421.
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