“We are thrilled! Our preschool has been a fantastic addition to our existing program,” says Janice Wood, Admissions Director. “It has not only filled a gap within our Oakville Christian School community but it services many new families in the Oakville area. We are able to meet their needs. Our parents have peace of mind knowing their children are in the caring hands of professionals who are kind, compassionate, and who love working with young students.”
The JK-grade 8 philosophy of teaching and learning at OCS is based on the Schoolwide Enrichment Model. The goal is to optimize the quality of scholarship through differentiated learning experiences that take into consideration each student’s abilities, interests, learning styles and preferred styles of expression. Through an atmosphere of excellence and creativity, we provide challenging and appropriate educational opportunities for all students. We encourage every child to reach his or her full potential academically, socially, spiritually, and emotionally.
Our preschool director explains that it was important to incorporate a teaching and learning philosophy that would merge seamlessly with the rest of the school, and the Emergent Curriculum does just that. “We hear a lot about play-based learning, and we agree with this theory, especially for the preschool-aged students. We are very intentional about the way we deliver that. We want to observe what children are doing, how they are doing it, and what they are saying as they do it.”
Our preschool program is led by passionate educators. Early Years are at an age that is about exploring, experimenting and discovery! Children learn best by a hands-on approach. They need opportunities to explore the world around them. Their progress is evident when a child’s face lights up at the moment of discovery when learning something new. Their love for learning is contagious! We are excited about sharing our love of teaching with these young students.
As in all of the other classes at OCS, Christianity will be at the forefront of the preschool classroom. Along with an emphasis on developing Christian values and character traits, students will engage in Bible stories, sing related songs, and pray together before meals.
The advantages to having a preschool within an existing school go beyond student readiness for Kindergarten. The JK and SK classrooms are right down the hall which provides opportunity for multi-age interaction as well as informal mentoring. This is encouraged among OCS students already. It is also evident that lifelong, meaningful friendships are more readily formed when students begin the educational journey at a younger age.
The OCS Preschool will accept students from ages 2.5 to 4 years old with full-day or half-day (morning only) options. Hours of operation will be from 8:00 to 4:00 with an after-school program available if required.