The Reggio Emilia philosophy identifies the environment as the "third teacher," actively fostering relationships, communication, collaboration and exploration through play. Our thoughtfully chosen materials within this environment inspire creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving and safe risk-taking. Our learning environment is intentionally designed to:

• Support each student's unique learning journey.
• Ensure accessibility and engagement for every learner.
• Cultivate a sense of ownership in students.
• Celebrate and stimulate students' innate capabilities.
• Offer a rich choice of materials and resources.
• Adapt to students' evolving needs as they grow.
• Provide safe and nurturing opportunities for risk-taking.
• Foster deep connections with nature.
• Honor and respect the rich diversity of our community.

Every child is a valued and contributing member of our community. As they grow into independent and empowered thinkers, our students:

• Fuel their curiosity by asking their own questions and discovering their own answers.
• Embrace their role as researchers - wondering, hypothesizing, investigating, and problem-solving through exploration.
• Appreciate their unique contributions to the learning process.
• Welcome new opportunities with a growth mindset.
• Act as creators and ambassadors of our community and culture.

The teacher's role in Early Childhood is to work alongside our students by becoming members of their learning group. Rather than be the one to guide the learning, our teachers follow the interests of the children helping them to consider alternative approaches and assist them as they problem-solve through the challenging phases of their investigations. Our teachers are committed to:

• Actively listening to and respecting every child's voice.
• Valuing each child's unique thoughts and perspectives.
• Empowering children to take ownership of their learning journey.
• Cultivating a safe and nurturing environment built on respect and trust.
• Developing a comprehensive and balanced curriculum.
• Thoughtfully documenting children's learning, thinking, and evolving interests.
• Honoring the inherent value and wonder of childhood.
• Creating space for children to discover new passions and authentic joy.

Our Early Childhood program values learning through play, as it helps children develop essential skills and knowledge. Through play, children naturally cultivate social connections, emotional intelligence, cognitive abilities and physical development, all of which are critical for progress in areas such as language, literacy and math. Our play-based program offers a dynamic mix of Free Play and Guided Play daily, which is supported by adult guidance and directly aligned with our Units of Inquiry. Throughout the year, we implement three to four in-depth units. This allows children to explore each theme deeply through a variety of experiences and perspectives, which builds their understanding and broadens their vocabulary. These transdisciplinary themes include topics like:

• Who We Are
• How the World Works
• How We Express Ourselves
• Sharing the Planet
• Where We Are in Place and Time

In Early Childhood we nurture our students through every developmental stage, as they become emerging readers and writers.

Children naturally learn through imitation, building their vocabulary through engaging stories, songs, discussions, and inquiry. They grasp the art of conversation, becoming more attentive listeners. As they observe, they begin to differentiate between print and illustrations, drawing connections from environmental print and recognizing the consistency in letter names and sounds.

Our emerging readers start with "predictable" texts, like recognizing classmates' names during morning routines. They also begin to retell familiar stories, predict endings, and create their own narratives using loose parts, story workshops, and dramatic play.