Early Intervention for a Lifetime of Learning
Children born with any developmental delay are at risk for falling behind academically. That is why early intervention is so important. At The Parish School, we’re experts in providing a strong foundation for your young learner. We develop the communication, pre-academic, social-emotional, and self-advocacy skills needed to succeed and thrive in school and in life.
Our early childhood program addresses the needs of children as young as 2 years of age, and is guided by best practices as outlined by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
What Do Parish Classes Look Like?
Classes are grouped to include students of varying ages and developmental levels. All children of the same chronological age rarely perform at the same level. By grouping children according to levels, we build on developmental skills. Multi-age/multi-level groupings allow students to learn from other peer models while also having the opportunity to be a model for other children.
Early Childhood students are placed into the following class levels based upon our assessments:
Emerging Language
(Ages 2 – 3 years)
Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Preschool
(Ages 3 – 4 years)
Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Friday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Pre-primary
(Ages 4 – 5 years)
Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Friday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The following optional programs are also available:
Early Morning Drop-Off
Monday – Friday from 8 – 8:45 a.m.
Extended Day
Monday – Friday afterschool until 6 p.m.
Our Unique Approach
Pre-Academic Curriculum – The Creative Curriculum®
Aligned to Texas State Early Learning Guidelines and individualized for each student, The Creative Curriculum® uses a studies approach, which features hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences to teach pre-academic and readiness skills across all major areas of development and subjects – including reading and math.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech-language pathologists integrate communication and language therapy into all areas of the curriculum. They plan and implement a therapy care plan for each child that encourages growth of essential communication skills.
Social-Emotional Language & Learning Program (SELLP)
This whole-child approach is a school-wide model of support that incorporates intervention strategies that build skills across developmental areas and promote successful group learning, self-regulation, independence and resilience. This includes the implementation of Social Thinking® by Michelle Garcia Winner and Conscious Discipline®.
Purposeful Play
Children play as a means of exploring and researching the world around them. We believe that child-centered, multi-sensory experiences through play fosters curiosity and wonder, and builds important skills for life and learning.
Nature-Based Learning
Daily nature-based learning opportunities facilitate children’s intellectual, social and emotional development through direct, hands-on engagement with our environment.
Occupational Therapy
An occupational therapist promotes development of sensory, gross motor and fine motor skills through in-class support and group lessons.
Arts and Sciences
Full-time specialists lead weekly classes for children to explore creativity and expression through music, theater, art, library and nature studies.
Professional Partnerships
We embrace collaboration with professionals who support a student beyond the doors of The Parish School and consider them important members of the child’s team.
The Good News Book
Communication using the Good News Book is a hallmark of The Parish School. This “journal” records classroom experiences in pictures and words . It focuses on a child’s strengths and provides an avenue to build literacy and communication skills.