Why Choose Montessori-Influenced Early Childhood Education?

At Holy Child Academy, students as young as two- and three-years-old are a major part of the school’s joyful, child-centered education. If you’re a parent who is looking for something more than just daycare for your toddler, Holy Child Academy’s Early Childhood Montessori-influenced Program may be just what you’ve been searching for. Welcoming learners as young as two-years-old, Holy Child Academy believes toddlerhood is a “vital stage of education, where meaningful learning begins.”

“We offer something deeper, an intentional beginning to a lifelong love of learning with our Early Childhood Montessori-influenced program,” says Cecilia Ulmer, Holy Child Academy’s Director of Enrollment Management. “This program nurtures each student’s natural curiosity, building independence and confidence every step of the way.”

About Holy Child Academy’s Mission and History

HCA is an independent Catholic, co-ed school, in Drexel Hill, PA, that has students from Nursery 2 through Eighth Grade. Since 1927, the mission of foundress Cornelia Connelly has guided HCA. She believed that education is a work of love, and joy should be infused into every child’s learning each day.

“We craft a well-rounded experience for our students so they can explore all the different aspects of themselves,” explains Ulmer. “We are nurturing all of our students spiritually, emotionally, academically, physically and socially.”

Small Class Sizes and Individualized Attention

Small classes at the Nursery level ensure that young learners receive individualized attention from teachers with two teachers per class. In a Montessori-influenced environment, children are developing their fine motor skills. They are beginning the first steps of reading and writing, and gaining overall confidence in their ability to learn.

“Very intentionally from the youngest ages we are encouraging problem solving, critical thinking, communication and collaboration,” says Annie Barrera, Director of Early Childhood.

Comprehensive STEAM and Specialty Programs

Nursery learners participate in all the school has to offer. There are age-appropriate classes in the school’s Innovation Lab, physical education classes with HCA’s P.E. teacher/athletic director, and classes with the school’s music and art teachers. The Innovation Lab is a fully equipped, state-of-the-art, curriculum-based, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) lab.

“These young students are really engaging with a team of adult mentors who know them well and who are able to help develop all the different pieces of who they are,” says Barrera.

Flexible Scheduling Options for Families

Another benefit for HCA families with young learners is a flexible schedule. Families can choose between half days, half day with lunch bunch (an extra hour added on for lunch and play), full day, or an afterschool program that goes until 6 pm.

“We understand that every family is different and some may need the flexibility of extended hours,” explains Barrera.

Outdoor Nature Space: Learning Through Natural Exploration

A highlight of the Nursery curriculum is the recently completed Outdoor Nature Space. This area provides the school’s youngest learners with the “opportunity to explore the natural world, encouraging curiosity and critical thinking while promoting physical activity and environmental awareness.”

The importance of unstructured play at these young ages is partially what led to the building of the space. “We think of it almost as an extension of the Montessori-influenced classroom,” says Barrera.

There are two sides of the Nature Space: the land side and the water side. On the land side, students can do activities like pushing wheelbarrows, building structures, and engaging in gross motor play. On the water side, there’s a cascading water table, easels, and a mud kitchen.

“There is so much for them to explore,” says Barrera. “The students are using a lot of the same skills in the Nature Space that they work on in the classroom, including strengthening their independence, boosting their imagination, and developing their problem solving skills.”

Building Community Connections Across Grade Levels

Nursery 2 and Nursery 3 students frequently have the opportunity to interact with the students in the older grades. “They’re so little and they’re in this really big space, but they feel known by students and teachers throughout the school,” says Barrera. “It’s a great experience for all the students.”

Another way that Nursery students are invited to be a part of the broader school community is through HCA’s commitment to giving back through service. “At the beginning of the school year, HCA commissions each class with a service project and that includes our Nursery students,” says Barrera. “They feel ownership of that special project and it continues throughout their time at Holy Child Academy. We’re based in that sense of service.”

A Diverse and Welcoming School Community

HCA highly values its school community. Families from many different ethnicities and diverse backgrounds bring a richness to the school community. “There is a real sense of belonging among all the students here,” says Ulmer. “That starts with our youngest nursery students. You feel like you are part of something bigger.”

Connections at HCA start at the earliest grades and stay strong through eighth grade and beyond. “We have families whose children have graduated from Holy Child Academy and they still get together with one another,” says Ulmer. “It’s such a special, tight-knit community.”

Interested parents can reach out to Cecelia Ulmer culmer@holychildacademy.com to schedule a personal tour.

Photos courtesy of Holy Child Academy, as seen in the Education Guide.
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