Center for Early Learning - Inspired by the Schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy
Our Lady of Peace School is accepting registrations for its Center for Early Learning. The center has a re-designed, stand-alone, secure building that offers a vibrant, stimulating setting for preschoolers. The Our Lady of Peace Center for Early Learning offers a wide menu of class times to choose from plus extended care and early drop-off for working parents.
Our curriculum is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, which encourages young children and their teachers to explore, question and discover in a stimulating environment. Children express interests and ideas, research for further information, reflect on the experience and form conclusions. Through this process, children develop confidence and independence with encouragement from parents, teachers and community members.
Children Learn By Searching For Answers
At the heart of the Reggio philosophy is the belief that children are strong, competent and born ready to learn. They are full of emerging ideas and creativity; they are not empty vessels waiting to be filled with knowledge. For all children, especially the youngest ones, this process begins by developing trusting relationships. Teachers and children then begin to understand each other’s expressions of wonder, excitement, confusion and joy.
Our Reggio-inspired curriculum is flexible and emerges from children’s ideas, thoughts and observations. We believe that every part of a young child’s day here is part of our curriculum. Learning happens when children are interacting with their families, teachers, friends and environment. We allow children to lead the inquiry, understanding they are capable and competent to direct their learning. We provide rich "hands-on" experiences that allow children to explore, experiment, reflect and represent.
Children form their own hypotheses and try to answer their own questions. Caring, respectful teachers help them learn to ask good questions and guide them toward answers, rather than answering their questions for them. Teachers also use the classroom and outdoor environments to provoke new experiences and inspire learning. Parents are encouraged to continue these conversations with their children at home or to participate in the classrooms as volunteers.
Our environment is set up to fuel the children’s worlds and minds. Our Lady of Peace Center for Early Learning students are enthusiastic learners. Our teachers encourage children to be active and creative explorers who are not afraid to try out their ideas and 
to think their own thoughts. Our goal is to help children become independent, self-confident, inquisitive learners.
We understand that young children learn best by doing. Our teachers develop curriculum that uses all five senses. This requires children to think actively and experiment to find out how things work, promoting firsthand learning about the world we live in. In short, our staff teaches children how to learn, not just in preschool, but all through their lives.
At the Our Lady of Peace Center for Early Learning, your child will learn good habits and attitudes in a loving Catholic community. Through quality, patient and respectful methods, Our Lady of Peace’s earliest learners will develop a positive sense of themselves, which will make a difference throughout their lives.
Transitional Kindergarten
Our Transitional Kindergarten serves as a bridge for older children who are advanced academically, yet need time to learn more about friendships, assert independence, and examine the world around them. In short, this program allows children to become more confident as they move to the next level of academic achievement.
At the Center for Early Learning, we define ourselves not only by what we are, but by what we are capable of, for it is in the vast spectrum of possibility where our students will learn that life is full of adventure, full of hope, and full of possibilities.
Children Learn By Exploring, Collaborating and Building Relationships
Children learn more about the topics they have chosen by exploring the world. They also explore their interests in the art and music studios. Teachers observe, participate in, and document children’s experiences in order to make thoughtful decisions about how to develop curriculum. As children engage in topics that interest them, they learn to work together collaboratively and respectfully. Education is based on relationships, exchange and communication.
The Importance of Art
Children express their thoughts and feelings about what they have learned through a variety of means such as art, music, language, dance and play.
Children’s Learning Is Documented
Teachers share the children’s learning and insights with parents through detailed documentation. Each child enrolled will have his or her own portfolio.
Admission Forms
Center for Early Learning Registration Packet
Email us at olopcenterforlearning@gmail.com
"There is no preschool, just as there is no pre-life. Our students are at school and are learning things that will serve them throughout their lives."
- Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio Emilia approach to early education