Learning & Growing Through Play

IN OUR PRE-PRIMARY PROGRAM

Our Pre-Primary program is having a moment. Just like the children enrolled in the program, we woke up one morning and realized the program had grown even bigger and better than the day before.

The Pre-Primary program, which includes early childhood (18 months) through Pre-Kindergarten II/Montessori II, had record enrollment in 2022-23 with 162 students. Waiting lists have been established for the Early Childhood classrooms since 2018-19, and applications for fewer than 45 open spots exceeded 100 this past year. Inquiries for the program will exceed 175 for the next school year, and applications are rolling in 14 months prior to the start of the new school year, which is the earliest that applications can be submitted.

“We have a lot to offer in the Pre-Primary that draw people to our program,” says Kathi Bagnoli, director of the Pre-Primary program. “Country Day teachers go above and beyond, putting their whole heart into everything they do to support our students and community at large.”

Undoubtedly, students receive a rigorous and amazing academic education here at Country Day. However, our teachers are also committed to so much more: developing the whole child from character virtues to social-emotional skills.

This is what Kathi says Pre-Primary is all about: social-emotional learning. “Students here are learning how to be contributing and respectful community members. They learn to negotiate, take turns, plan, work together, be leaders, solve problems, and resolve conflicts. Children need to develop these skills before diving into deep academic learning in their later years.”

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