Academics
Lower School
Little Pirates (PK3) & PK4
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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Learning About the House "La Casa"
Little Pirates have fun learning about the rooms in a house. We practiced not only the names of each room but what you do in each room. We acted out scenarios, played games to test what they were learning, and sang songs about "la casa."Read More -
We Went on a Science Hunt!
Read MoreLittle Pirates kicked off our new Meadows and Butterflies science unit with an exciting outdoor scavenger hunt around campus! To make the experience more meaningful, the scavenger hunt sheets included real photographs of flowers, trees, and plants found around campus, helping students connect what they saw on paper to what they discovered in real life. The activity sparked a lot of excitement as the children worked together to find familiar plants, share their discoveries and discuss what they saw. Hands-on activities like this make our science lessons more fun and help our littlest learners learn more about the world around them. -
Little Pirates Celebrate Friendship Through Reading!
Read MoreOur Little Pirates are discovering that books are even better when shared with friends! During Book Week, our class has been talking about friendship and what it means to be kind, caring, and helpful to one another. This week, we loved seeing friends cozied up on the rug, reading and sharing books together. Moments like these show that even our youngest learners understand that stories bring us closer and that reading is more fun when enjoyed side by side. We are so proud of our Little Pirates for learning that friendship and books make the perfect pair! -
A Sponge-tacular Way to Learn About Rectangles!
Read MoreOur Little Pirates had a blast combining math and art during our recent geometry lesson! As part of our study of shapes, the children explored rectangles by using different sizes of cut-up sponges to stamp colorful designs onto tag board. They loved experimenting with a variety of sponges and paint colors to create their own rectangle masterpieces. This hands-on activity strengthened fine motor skills while allowing students to see firsthand that shapes can come in many sizes. Learning about geometry has never been so creative—or so fun! -
Building Up in PK4
Read MorePK4 students explored Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building by Christy Hale and were inspired to become little architects! After reading, they worked together to design and build their own amazing structures using a variety of materials. As they stacked, balanced and created, students practiced recognizing shapes, counting pieces and learning how teamwork helps big ideas come to life. Their creativity and cooperation truly built more than just buildings — they built important early math and problem-solving skills too!
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!
One of the best parts of my job is having a front-row seat to watch a child’s transformation in the early childhood years. Here at Saint Edward’s School, we have the amazing opportunity to watch these children progress through the grades and graduate from the Upper School. It is such a rewarding experience knowing that my colleagues and I were a part of the very beginning stages of their learning journey.
Saint Edward's School
Non-Discrimination Statement
Founded upon the independent Episcopal school tradition, Saint Edward’s School is a co-educational, pre-kindergarten through grade 12, college preparatory school committed to educational excellence. Saint Edward’s is located in Vero Beach and is a not-for-profit, 501 (C)(3). Saint Edward’s School does not discriminate on the basis of age, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, physical disability, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational programs, hiring policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.
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