Developing Spiritual, Social, Emotional and Cognitive Development in a caring, Catholic environment
2026-27 Priority Enrollment for transfer families & families with older students enrolled at St. Bartholomew Elementary School! Open Enrollment for all coming February 2026.
St. Bartholomew Catholic School offers a NAEYC-accredited preschool program for children ages 33 months - 5 years old. Our preschool program offers both full and part-time programming in a warm and supportive faith-based environment.
Our school strives to be the best possible start for a fully formed early education—one that nurtures the whole child from the very beginning. With a strong STEAM focus, we spark curiosity through hands-on exploration in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math, while also building a foundation of creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. For our youngest learners, this means joyful discovery, purposeful play, and a learning environment that supports academic growth, social development, and a lifelong love of learning. All of this in an environment that feels like family!
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a unique, Montessori-based approach to religious formation that views children not as "empty vessels" to be filled with information, but as individuals who already have a deep, intuitive relationship with God.
For preschool and kindergarten children, the program is centered on the theme of the Good Shepherd who knows, loves, and protects his sheep.
The values and virtues of mutual caring, respect and sensitivity to others will help to foster your child's faith through prayer, song, role modeling, scripture stories, and the celebration of holidays.
SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Children find a sanctuary of peace where they practice the "grace and courtesy" essential for a healthy community. By speaking kindly and respecting the "work" of their peers, children develop profound self-regulation and empathy. This provides a powerful sense of emotional security and belonging. This foundation allows children to build confidence in themselves while learning to care for others, navigate shared spaces with kindness, and find stillness in a busy world.
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
We believe that each child has an "absorbent mind" so through purposeful play, instruction and hands-on exploration. They build neural pathways for concentration, order, and logical sequencing. This approach to learning turns concepts into concrete building blocks of knowledge. Exploring spaces, conversation time and engaging themes, children develop the executive function and critical thinking skills necessary for academic success, all while fostering a lifelong love of discovery.
A Day in PreK - Your child will follow a daily schedule filled with planned themed activities that help them develop in the areas of spiritual, social, emotional, physical, cognitive and language development as we balance creativity and structure throughout the day
ARRIVAL TIME
Arrival is a great time for your child to take advantage of games, puzzles, string beads, sort, count and increase their ability to make and play with friends in a cooperative maner.
CIRCLE TIME
Your child will learn about the calendar, weather, colors, shapes, and numbers. They will pray, sing songs, and listen to stories as they actively participate in our meeting and greeting time.
DRAMATIC PLAY
We have a special playhouse area where your child can participate in a variety of transformed focus themes: grocery store, veterinarian's office, ice cream shop and many other great themes throughout the year.
LIBRARY
Your children can relax and have some quiet time looking at books in the classroom and visit the "big kids" school library each week.
WRITING
Our teachers are trained in "Handwriting Without Tears" and this method helps your child build up to writing their name and other basic words. This also helps with small muscle development.
ACADEMIC
We offer a plethora of hands-on STEM science activities for the children and allow them to explore science, math, social studies, phonics, art, religion, music, and movement. Children will participate in small group and large group activities and events.
MUSIC
Your children will sing and dance in the classroom and attend weekly music classes with our music teacher. Everyone looks forward to seeing the little ones in the Christmas program each December and again in the spring.
BUDDIES
Our Young Scholars (PreK) are buddies with the 4th graders. The buddies come and help with events, projects and guide the students in monthly Mass attendance. They also attend a field trip or two with us during the year.
MOVEMENT
We all know the abundant energy that young children display. We play outside each day, weather permitting. Should it be too cold or rainy, then we often will play in the school gym. The children are supervised and your children enjoy the playground daily.
What Parents Are Saying
"What makes St Bart’s Preschool so special are not only the teachers and staff, but the fact that the kids can develop a true community as they begin their school journeys and continue through elementary school with that same community. Another point that makes it special is the opportunity for Preschool and Elementary age kids within a family to be together – think one drop off, one pick up, one set of holiday schedules, etc. It creates the sense of structure, enables the understanding of a school schedule with all the fun of preschool activities and provides a true foundation for kindergarten and beyond. We love St Bart’s Preschool and specifically moved our daughter to be with her brothers and the staff we got to know and love so well!" - Katie
"We love the faith based education. I really believe the best gift you can give a child is faith. And the preschool teachers do such a lovely job weaving into the traditional preschool curriculum. Both of our children have a noticeably different love for Jesus having attended preschool at St. Bart’s. We also love and value that all the traditional things that make being a kid are allowed & celebrated - Halloween costumes, Christmas Parties, Valentine’s Day, etc. Surprisingly, these have become “off limits” at a lot of schools, including our last daycare.
And let’s be honest, the preschoolers are just the cutest in the school uniform!" - Chelsea
"All four of my children have now gone through preschool at St. Bartholomew. It has felt like the closest thing to being in our own home that we could get - calm, happy, thiving children who aren't overstimulated and overcrowded. It has felt like such a warm launch into the world. We have loved sending our children through the preschool and elementary - it has been the best way to start their education!" - Nicole
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Scholarships
To apply for the Schulze Family Foundation Early Learning Scholarship click here. The Schulze Family Scholarship is intended for families who plan to continue on with a K-5 Catholic Education for their children.
Financial Aid
Families can apply for aid by inquiring with our Admissions Office - JFolkens@st-barts.org.
