Early Years at St Monica's
See Also: Early Years Philosophy Statement

Prep Year:
St Monica’s offers full time Prep School education to provide children with the opportunity of a smooth transition from home to school life. In this context, Prep Education at St Monica’s has the following characteristics:-
St Monica’s Prep provides opportunities for children to make the transition from the naturalistic learning environment of home to the necessarily more formal learning environment of school.
The learning experiences which best suit children at this age are based on constructive and meaningful play activities. This aspect of early education is encouraged so that each child’s spiritual, social, emotional, and cognitive and language growth is allowed to develop.
It is the developmental needs and capabilities of your child which determines their progress through school. Therefore the move towards formal learning situations throughout the early years (P-3) will be determined by the needs of your child.
St Monica’s offers full time Prep School education to provide children with the opportunity of a smooth transition from home to school life. In this context, Prep Education at St Monica’s has the following characteristics:-
St Monica’s Prep provides opportunities for children to make the transition from the naturalistic learning environment of home to the necessarily more formal learning environment of school.
The learning experiences which best suit children at this age are based on constructive and meaningful play activities. This aspect of early education is encouraged so that each child’s spiritual, social, emotional, and cognitive and language growth is allowed to develop.
It is the developmental needs and capabilities of your child which determines their progress through school. Therefore the move towards formal learning situations throughout the early years (P-3) will be determined by the needs of your child.

Grade One:
A child’s ability to settle into school is influenced by many things, in particular their individual experiences during Pre School years.
Preparation for school takes place over a period of years and there are several things which might help parents and children face going to school with greater confidence.
It is important that your child comes to school curious, with an interest in the world around them.
Most children take going to school in their stride but you sometimes have to expect a few problems at first. Don’t be overly concerned if there is some initial difficulty. Once the initial excitement has worn off, most children have no difficulty accepting the fact that they are required to go to school all day, every day.
A child’s ability to settle into school is influenced by many things, in particular their individual experiences during Pre School years.
Preparation for school takes place over a period of years and there are several things which might help parents and children face going to school with greater confidence.
- Be positive in your attitude towards education and schooling;
- Reinforce the feeling that school is an exciting and happy place where friends can be found and where you can participate in many interesting activities; and
- Show a genuine interest in what your child has done at school.
It is important that your child comes to school curious, with an interest in the world around them.
Most children take going to school in their stride but you sometimes have to expect a few problems at first. Don’t be overly concerned if there is some initial difficulty. Once the initial excitement has worn off, most children have no difficulty accepting the fact that they are required to go to school all day, every day.