Our Program at the ELC - St. Joseph School Seattle
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Early Learning Center

Early Learning Center (Ages 3 Months to 5 Years)
Our Early Learning Center offers a warm and engaging environment to explore, play, and thrive. With a focus on whole-child development, we nurture early social-emotional skills, spark curiosity, and lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning in partnership with each family.

Our Approach

We practice cura personalis, nurturing each child’s mind, body, and spirit while fostering a kind community.

Children learn through hands-on, socially attuned experiences that promote self-awareness and healthy conflict resolution.

Our outdoor practices inspire curiosity to recognize the divine in all things.

Carefully curated experiences meet each child's developmental needs and support a smooth transition to Kindergarten at St. Joseph School.

Each child's strengths are celebrated, while support is offered for individual challenges.

Our Learning Communities

We have four distinct communities as part of the Early Learning Center. Each intentional community is designed to provide a nurturing environment where the children can learn and grow.

Designed for children 3-12 months
Monday-Friday 7:00 am-5:30 pm
Year-round program (includes summer)

Scheduled breaks: Follows our K-8 program calendar for holidays and breaks
During the summer, there will be a two-week closure for deep cleaning and reset

  • Ratio: 1:4 adult-to-child
  • Safe facilities and equipment for care, napping, and play
  • Attentive staff partners closely with families to maintain routines
  • Through consistent communication, we develop a partnership between parents and staff
  • Daily neighborhood walks for fresh air

Designed for children 12-36 months
Monday-Friday 7:00 am-5:30 pm
Year-round program (includes summer)

Scheduled breaks: Follows our K-8 program calendar for holidays and breaks
During the summer, there will be a two-week closure for deep cleaning and reset

  • Ratio: 1:7 adult-to-child
  • Engaging indoor and outdoor activities to support exploration
  • Development of fine and gross motor skills, language, and community-building skills
  • Emphasis on sharing, caring, and listening behaviors
  • Outdoor play and daily neighborhood walks

Designed for children who are 3 years old by August 31
Monday-Friday 8:30 am-3:30 pm
School year program: will follow the calendar of our K-8 program for the first and last days of school, including holidays and breaks

  • Ratio: 1:10 adult-to-child
  • Fully potty-trained to attend
  • A sensory-rich environment fostering growth in motor and communication skills
  • Focus on social-emotional awareness and decision-making
  • Enhanced outdoor exploration experiences

Designed for children who are 4 years old by August 31
Monday-Friday 8:30 am-3:30 pm
School year program: will follow the calendar of our K-8 program for the first and last days of school, including holidays and breaks

  • Ratio: 1:10 adult-to-child
  • Fully potty-trained to attend
  • A nurturing environment to deepen early learning skills
  • Emphasis on readiness for our Kindergarten program through motor skills, language practice, and community-building
  • Continued focus on social-emotional health and outdoor exploration

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