St. Augustine Catholic Church is launching a new preschool program for 3- and 4-year-olds this fall under director Shannon Conway, a native of St. Simon's Island, Ga., who has more than 15 years of experience in early childhood education.
With Conway at the helm of its refreshed brand and vision, St. Augustine Learning Center will be an academic-based program with openings for 22 students that will be housed in the church's five-room, 3,000-square-foot education wing. A kindergarten preparation program for 4-year-olds will be held Monday through Thursday and a 3-year-old program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, with both programs running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Conway, who is currently teaching third grade at Normal Park Museum Magnet School, will begin her full-time role at St. Augustine in July.
New St. Augustine Learning Center Director Shannon Conway works with students at the preschool, which emphasizes "playing with purpose" and a hands-on approach to learning.
Shannon Conway is joining St. Augustine Learning Center as the preschool's new director this fall."I'm really excited about this opportunity," said Conway, who previously taught 3- and 4-year-olds for 15 years in St. Simon's prior to moving to Chattanooga. "I love that age group and the development that goes on."
The curriculum will follow the Engage NY Prekindergarten Mathematics program, which she said will put students right where they need to be in terms of preparedness for what they'll be learning in kindergarten and first grade in Hamilton County. Conway will continue to use the Talking Letters phonics program used by the preschool in the past, and she'll also be using the Jan Richardson Guided Reading program taught in Hamilton County public schools.
"Our kids will have that experience and know what they're doing," she said.
Along with hands-on learning and exploration, the 3-year-old program's main focus is teaching the ability to pay attention, a skill many kindergarten teachers say their students struggle with, said Conway, who's worked in a variety of educational genres, including traditional and Montessori settings. She said those experiences have shown her what children thrive on, and she's collected all the teaching methods and tools she thinks work best to create a unique program for St. Augustine.
"It's an opportunity to mold something new and different I don't think people have seen on the mountain," Conway said.
She made the program five hours per day instead of three to allow children to take their time and to help with setup and cleanup, which is important to help teach students focus, concentration and independence. While this may interfere with a child's nap time, Conway said children are quick to adapt to waiting a few hours before resting when they get home.
"It's a transition, but once parents see how it works they think it's fantastic," she said.
To provide the consistency children need, the program is held three consecutive days per week, as opposed to many preschool programs which hold classes every other day. St. Augustine's schedule will also correspond with that of Hamilton County Schools, making things easier for parents with older children.
Conway said teachers will hold early childhood development degrees and have experience working with 3- and 4-year-olds.
For its 4-year-old program, St. Augustine is accepting students who turn 4 by Aug. 1. Potty-trained 2-and-a-half-year-olds may be considered for the 3-year-old program - typically for students who are 3 by Aug. 1 - but would need to repeat the program the next year before moving on to the 4-year-old class, she said.
St. Augustine Learning Center is at 1716 Anderson Pike and can be reached at 826-0428. For more information call the church at 886-3424, email learning@staugustinecatholic.org or visit staugustinecatholic.org/learning-center.html.