Preschool

Preschool Philosophy for Beginning Education

Creative Curriculum

Notre Dame Academy partners with the Lake Area Discovery Center (LADC) to offer a Christian-based early childhood program for children two to five years of age. The philosophy for LADC-certified schools is to provide a stimulating environment, which helps each child reach their full potential through “hands-on” exploration in our faith-based environment while growing in God’s love. We believe that the parent is the first and most important teacher, and we serve as a resource for them on their parenting journey.

Children at LADC are immersed spiritually every week through a variety of daily activities including: daily prayer, Bible lessons, monthly worship, and the modeling of Catholic values by the teachers.

Standards of Excellence

Accreditations

The Notre Dame Academy Discovery Center is nationally accredited, (NAEYC) and Four Star Parent Aware Rated Early Childhood Program for children two to five years of age.

Lake Area Discovery Center Website

Lake Area Discovery Center Brochure

Virtual Tour

See what the preschool experience is like at Notre Dame Academy.

Kinderstart

Discovery

Explorers

Registration

Notre Dame Academy welcomes student registrations at any time during the school year and the summer. While there are typical enrollment periods, families are allowed to transfer into Notre Dame Academy while classes are already in session.

Families are encouraged to take a tour of the school, meet our teachers, and experience the extraordinary community where children receive a great foundation of faith and learning. Many families feel that the school is a home away from home.

Current and former families: Interested in enrolling another child? Simply, email admissions@ladcfamilies.org with the child’s name and date of birth. We will add them to our system, and someone will be in touch with you soon!

Schedule a Tour

Toddlers 24-35 Months

Explorers Program

Toddlers learn through play and hands-on activities to develop the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical skills that are important building blocks for future learning success. Our lead teachers have degrees in child-development, education or family studies. For toddlers, we offer school year and summer programs as well as a flexible part-time or full-time schedule with full and half-day options. We are licensed to change diapers.

Preschool 3 and 4-year-olds

Preschool Discovery Classes

Young three-year-olds are taking on new challenges every day. We plan engaging, hands-on lessons to guide learning and develop skills for future reading, math, friendships and more! Discovery lead teachers have education degrees with a Minnesota state teaching license, or have a degree in a related field and meet the DHS Licensing lead teacher requirements. For preschool, we offer school year and summer programs as well as a flexible schedule with full or half-day options available. Our preschool students need to be toilet independent.

Kindergarten-Readiness 4 and 5-year-olds

Kinderstart and High-Five Program

Four-and five-year-olds are ready to be challenged with language, critical-thinking and new information. We support their learning through an engaging, hands-on environment that inspires their imagination and curiosity. Our Kinderstart and High-Five lead teachers have education degrees in early-childhood or elementary education with Kindergarten certification and have a Minnesota teaching license, or an MA in Education. Both of these programs offer school year and summer programs with a flexible schedule including full and half-day options. Our Kinderstart and High-Five students need to be toilet independent.

Nine Environments

We use these nine learning areas in our classrooms to optimize
children’s developmental learning objectives.

Cognitive

Preschool children are curious about the world and are able to acquire, organize and use information in increasingly complex ways.

Spiritual

Young children have a natural sense of awe, wonder and mystery. During these early years, we have the opportunity to unwrap a child’s spirituality and develop their connection to God.

Stem Learning

Science-Technology-Engineering-Math: Experiences in these areas help preschoolers develop many skills while engaging their natural curiosity.

Literacy/Language

Before a child learns to read and write, the path to literacy has already begun. Playing with books, scribbling on paper, tracing letters on an e-tablet are all steps of emergent literacy.

Social Studies

Social studies is the study of people and the ways they relate to others. The focus of social studies for infants and toddlers focus on self development within.

Social/Emotional

Children are best able to learn when they are comfortable in an environment where they feel loved and secure. The world is a complicated social puzzle!

Art/Music

Children who are engaged with and learn to appreciate music and the arts are able to demonstrate what they know. This allows them to expand their creative thinking.

Fine Motor

Fine motor control involves the coordinated movement of small muscles in the hands and fingers. Strong fine motor skills are essential as we approach many self-help and life tasks.

Large Motor

Large motor skills involve movement of the large muscles in arms, legs, and core body. Activities include walking, running, skipping, jumping, throwing, climbing, biking, balancing, dancing and more.

“We want to take a moment to thank you for all that the Notre Dame Academy School community has done to support the development of our oldest son who was a part of the preschool program this past year. From the day we first set foot in the school building, every individual we met reflected the strong sense of kindness and community that define NDA.”
– Preschool Parents