Little Hawks Academy

St. Mary’s preschool and pre-kindergarten program, Little Hawks Academy, is an asset in developing the school’s early learners who are recognized as an important part of the school family. Led by teachers with degrees in early childhood development and education, the LHA program and curriculum has been designed to meet Indiana’s Early Learning Standards and educate the whole child. The personal attachment with staff helps these three and four year old students feel comfortable, confident, and safe making the first transition from home to school a positive experience. Children and God meet daily through the use of prayer, Bible stories, service projects, and occasional Mass attendance with their reading buddies.

Kid friendly themes coupled with developmentally appropriate practices create a structured and engaging classroom with lots of movement and age-appropriate activities. A love of learning is nurtured through various hands-on activities and plenty of creative play! Daily centers include theme-based games and tasks building fine motor, social, and math skills, all centered around a unit theme such as community helpers/safety, the farm, or winter. One-on-one instruction with the teacher is always included in center time. In-school field trips including visits from magicians, firefighters, farmers, religious leaders, and health care professionals enrich the learning experience. Utilizing leading practices from the science of reading, teachers build a foundation for literacy that aligns with K-2 instruction and ensures that LHA students are ready for kindergarten and beyond.  Individual student progress in reading and mathematics skills are tracked using the ESGI assessment tool three times annually. The positive first-school experience in LHA is lovingly documented through student work and photographs in the personalized memory book gifted to each family at the conclusion of the year.