Understanding the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP)

Posted on Sunday August 20 , 2023 by Strelitz International Academy
IB school

At Strelitz International Academy, we take great pride in being an International Baccalaureate (IB®) World School for the Primary Years Programme (PYP). As an IB® World School and one of the best affordable private schools in Norfolk VA, we are committed to providing a challenging and inclusive educational experience that empowers our diverse students to become lifelong learners. Read on to learn the key aspects of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and its significance in shaping well-rounded individuals.

Promoting Student Agency through Inquiry-Based Learning

At the heart of the IB® PYP is an inquiry-based approach to learning. We strongly believe that students learn best when actively engaged in the education process and are free to explore their curiosities. By nurturing student agency, we encourage our young learners to take ownership of their education and pursue knowledge both inside and outside the classroom. This approach allows learners to thrive, fostering critical thinking skills and a genuine passion for academia.

Developing the Whole Child

The IB® PYP is built upon a holistic framework that goes beyond academic excellence. It focuses on evolving the whole child—encompassing advanced knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes, and actions. The ultimate goal is to instill in students the qualities that make them well-rounded individuals, like openmindedness, empathy, principled behavior, and strong values. By strengthening these attributes, we aim to shape responsible global citizens who contribute positively to society.

Transdisciplinary Themes for Deeper Learning

As a core focus, the IB® PYP incorporates globally significant transdisciplinary themes to guide deeper learning. These themes, such as “Who We Are,” “How the World Works,” and “Sharing the Planet,” enable students to connect different subjects with real-world issues. This interdisciplinary approach allows students to understand the interconnectedness of knowledge and develop a more comprehensive knowledge of the world around them.

Passionate and Dedicated Educators

Our educators are the key communicators in delivering the IB® PYP properly and effectively. They collaborate to provide an integrated learning model across all disciplines, creating a curriculum based on students’ experiences and interests. To ensure the highest quality of education, our faculty participates in professional development and extensive IB training, inspiring them to innovate new learning methods that ignite students’ curiosity and action.

Global Connections and Inspiring Engagement

The IB® PYP is synonymous with global connectedness—pushing us to translate the best practices in the classroom. We encourage students to engage with communities beyond their immediate surroundings, morphing a newfound sense of global awareness and empathy. This exposure enriches their learning experiences and prepares them to be active and kind citizens in an interconnected world.

Parent and Community Involvement

We can’t elevate our students without their parents’ help. The effects of the IB® PYP reach far past the classroom walls, fusing with our students’ everyday lives. We value parent support and welcome their active involvement in their child’s education. That way, students can further learn how their lessons reflect daily life.
Community experts are invited to share their knowledge and experiences with our students, building meaningful connections between the school and the broader community. With invaluable support from parents and the community, our students can be confident as they find their place in the world.

Empowering Students to Take Action

Our IB® primary school knows that there are only results with action. The IB® Programme empowers students to be active citizens within local and global communities by participating in various activities that make a positive impact. From community service initiatives to environmental conservation projects, our students’ experiences both enrich their education and ignite a sense of responsibility to be empathetic to others.
Looking for an “IB® elementary school near me?” Send your child to a school that sets them up for success. Tour Strelitz International Academy today.

Essentials of Placing Your Child in a Preschool Program

Posted on Wednesday June 15 , 2022 by Carin Simon
Preschool Program taught to small students

As a parent, you want to set your child up for success in the best way possible. An excellent educational program is one of the ways you can do that. Learning and development begin from the moment we are born. In order to ensure your child develops properly, a quality preschool program can help. Strelitz International Academy is one of the best affordable private schools in Virginia Beach. We offer preschool classes that are dedicated to ensuring your child’s successful development and transition into elementary school.

Learning and Development in Preschool

It has long been determined that the early years of childhood development are essential for the long-term success of the child. According to a report from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, early experiences create a foundation for lifelong learning, behavior, and both physical and mental health. A strong foundation in the early years increases the probability of positive outcomes.

Outside of the home, preschool and early education programs have the largest impact on the child’s overall development. According to a report created by The Society for Research in Childhood Development, “Higher-quality preschool programs have larger impacts on children’s development while children are enrolled in the program and are more likely to create gains that are sustained after the child leaves preschool.”

Overall, there are numerous studies that demonstrate the positive impact a high-quality preschool (such as Strelitz’s IB PYP School Program) can have on your child’s overall development and success.

The Essentials Your Child Should Learn in Preschool

At the age of 3 and 4, your child is at an important stage of development. In order to ensure they are offered a high-quality preschool program, it is important to understand what they should be learning. In general, your child should be developing socially and emotionally, cognitively, academically, and physically. These key areas of development are essential for their long-term success. With these factors properly developed, your child can continue to be successful. The many preschool students who graduate from Strelitz International Academy go on to be successful in our IB elementary school program.

Social/Emotional Development

The social/emotional development of your preschooler refers to their ability to have meaningful interactions with others and form relationships with their peers and adults. To encourage their social/emotional development, teacher/student interactions are essential. A well-trained teacher will be able to engage with each of their students, ensuring they feel respected, listened to, comforted, and appreciated.

These interactions with teachers and peers allow them to be able to recognize facial expressions, regulate their emotions, understand social interactions, and develop necessary social skills. In the classroom, this will look like participating in group activities, following directions, communicating their needs, learning to share, and more.

What to Look For:

– Teachers interacting with students on their level
– Children feeling comfortable with teachers (hugging, hand-holding, etc.)
– Teachers responding to the emotions of children (expressing understanding of their anger/sadness)
– Teachers helping children solve disagreements (sharing toys)

Cognitive Development

Cognitive development in your preschooler takes the form of learning how to play pretend, remember information, solve problems, ask questions, and impulse control. In the classroom, this takes the form of providing new and interesting toys/objects to explore, asking children questions, and encouraging playtime and imaginative thinking.

What to Look For:

– Blocks
– Age-appropriate books (counting numbers, learning shapes, animals, etc.)
– Dress-up/costumes
– Play areas (kitchen, dolls, cars)
– Art supplies (paints, play-doh, puzzles)

Language and Literacy Development

Language and literacy development refers to the child’s ability to communicate effectively through language and to understand other forms of communication. This can include reading, writing, talking, and listening. In preschool, this may include learning letters, understanding emotions, and listening to stories.

What to Look For:

– Age-appropriate books (counting numbers, learning shapes, animals, etc.)
– Teachers reading stories to children
– Children learning songs
– Pointing to letters/words while reading to the child
– Providing materials that encourage children to write/draw

Mathematical and Scientific Reasoning

Mathematical and scientific reasoning skills refer to a child’s reasoning skills, spatial awareness, discovery skills, and exploration skills. In preschool, this can include introducing new ideas and topics to children, encouraging them to ask questions, counting/clapping to the beat of a song, and providing them materials to measure or count with.

What to Look For:

– Playing with blocks and counting
– Puzzles
– Activities outside the classroom (Pond, School Garden, Playground)
– New topics of learning (watching caterpillars turn into butterflies)
– Setting out materials for children to explore

Physical Development

Finally, physical development is another key area that children are developing in. This includes a range of skills that refer to a child’s ability to move their bodies, including gross motor skills and fine motor skills. In preschool, the development of gross motor skills includes providing children with time to run, jump, skip, roll, crawl, and climb. The development of fine motor skills includes offering children opportunities to draw, paint, cut with scissors, and grasp small objects.

What to Look For:

– Art supplies (paint, pencils, crayons)
– Outside time with a playground or toys

The Best Affordable Private School in Virginia Beach

Finding a preschool that provides your child with all the tools they need for development can be difficult. However, it is important to try and find the best solution for your child as it can be crucial to their overall success as a student and an adult. Strelitz International Academy is an IB PYP school in Virginia Beach. We offer a preschool program that focuses on providing your child with an environment that allows them to properly develop. Our preschoolers have access to a wide variety of toys, materials, and activities that encourage their social/emotional, cognitive, academic, and physical development.

Interested in learning more about the daily life of a Strelitz preschool student? Check out our Day in the Life page, or call 757.424.4327 to schedule a tour of our preschool classroom.

Reasons Why Private Schools Are The Best Choice For Education

Posted on Monday May 23 , 2022 by Carin Simon
School girl making diy robot in a private school

When it comes time to select a school for your child, you likely want to ensure they get the best of the best. In terms of a well-rounded education, private schools are the best choice. Private schools focus on the educational, spiritual, and emotional development of the child and prepare them for success. In this blog, Strelitz International Academy – one of the best private elementary schools in Virginia Beach – discusses the reasons why private schools are the best choice for your child’s education.

Better Educational Foundation

One of the main reasons parents choose to send their children to private schools over public schools is the better educational foundation they receive in private schools. With more rigorous academic requirements, artistic requirements, better resources, individualized approach and enriching programs, your child is more likely to develop a well-rounded educational foundation.

Rigorous Academic Requirements

Private schools have notoriously rigorous curriculums that their students are required to complete. A study by the CollegeBoard discovered that college-bound seniors who attended private or religiously-affiliated schools scored higher on standardized tests. This is due to the high expectations and requirements students have at private schools.

Artistic Requirements

In addition to the academic requirements, students who attend a private school are more likely to become well-rounded individuals due to the artistic requirements. Unlike public schools, private schools place more emphasis on enrichment activities including music, dance, art, theater, and language classes. Studies have shown that artistic endeavors increase test scores, strengthen community, improve engagement, and develop learning skills.

Better Resources

While public schools depend on state funding to purchase new resources or improve current resources, the tuition requirement at a private school ensures that new and improved resources are always available. Students learn with the latest technology, up-to-date textbooks, most effective teaching strategies, and unique extracurricular opportunities.

These offerings allow students to explore the studies and interests they are passionate about, thus fostering a sense of self-confidence and independence. At the best affordable private school in Virginia Beach, Strelitz International Academy offers students a range of activities and resources to enrich their lives.

Smaller Classes

In public schools, the student-to-teacher ratio averages 16 students per teacher. In private schools, the average student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1. With smaller class sizes, teachers have the ability to spend more one-on-one time with each student. This individualized teaching approach allows students to learn and grow at their own pace.

Enriching Programs

Similarly, private schools often have enriching programs that allow students to specialize in a certain topic or take more rigorous courses. Examples of this include Advanced Placement courses, the International Baccalaureate Program, and gifted programs. Strelitz International Academy is an IB PYP school in Virginia Beach.

Community Engagement

Outside of the classroom, private schools place more of an emphasis on community engagement and the students’ spiritual and emotional development. Many private schools have a religious affiliation that aligns with their family’s values.

For example, one of the best private elementary schools in Virginia Beach area is Strelitz International Academy which focuses on developing an appreciation for Jewish heritage and beliefs. In addition, private schools value communication with the parents or guardians of the child. Parental involvement is an important aspect of the child’s education and private schools foster this relationship.

The International Baccalaureate Program

The International Baccalaureate (IB) World School is a program that aims to help students become individual thinkers that respect and remain open-minded to international dilemmas. This challenging curriculum creates well-rounded students and develops intercultural competence and respect. In each aspect of their education, students learn empathy and compassion and discover a love of learning.

Best Affordable Private Schools in Virginia Beach

Strelitz International Academy is an IB PYP school in Virginia Beach that focuses on educational rigor, emotional development, and community engagement. Students that attend SIA go on to attend rigorous programs in high school and beyond. Our well-rounded curriculum embraces the cultural differences that exist in our world and works to help students form an appreciation of these differences. Are you ready to increase your child’s potential? Speak with the Director of Admissions and schedule a tour today by calling us on 757-424-4327.

The Importance of Community at SIA

Posted on Tuesday March 1 , 2022 by Carin Simon
Different community childrens listening to teacher

A strong sense of community is an essential value in the Jewish culture. At Strelitz International Academy (SIA), we foster this sense of community in all of our students. Through the core values we teach and the examples we set, students learn the importance of community. With the help of Strelitz International Academy, your child can understand their connection to the local and global community.

Teaching Jewish Values-SIA’s Core Values

At Strelitz International Academy, we believe that your child should have a strong foundation of faith, education, and community. Because of this, we chose to incorporate the Jewish values of Kavod, Tikkun Olam, Torah v’Lishma, and Kehillah into our core values. These core values are Respect, Community, Repairing the World, and Love of Learning. Through the lessons we teach and the example we set, our students learn the importance of these core values.

Fostering Philanthropy and Charity

At Strelitz International Academy, students learn to repair the world through charity and philanthropy. Within the Jewish culture, tzedakah (charity) is translated as the moral obligation to give to others. Students in the primary years program learn the importance of giving and how it can help the community and their own spiritual growth. They participate in activities relating to the act of giving charitably and learn how this can repair the world. Similarly, students at SIA discover how to act philanthropically by understanding how much, where, and why they should give. Through these projects and lessons, SIA fosters a core value of repairing the world through charity.

Creating a Community of Respect-Locally and Globally

In addition to repairing the world, students learn the importance of respect and community. This sense of community is set through the examples of their peers and mentors. With organized community events such as the SIA Family Pasta Dinner, Fall Festival, Hanukkah celebration, families are able to connect and build relationships beyond the classroom. Similarly, Strelitz International Academy works with a number of outreach programs to foster a sense of community in the local area. Students participate in projects such as restocking the Jewish Family Service food pantry and providing Hanukkah gifts to children in need. These projects foster a sense of responsibility to the local community and reinforce the value of Tikkun Olam.

In addition, students are encouraged to explore the global community and learn respect for others. Students discover how to read and write in conversational Hebrew and biblical Hebrew. This connects them to their Israeli culture and heritage. With a rich knowledge of Jewish history, these students can feel a connection to their faith and the global community.

How SIA Teaches the Importance of Community

At Strelitz International Academy, our students learn the importance of community through the International Baccalaureate® program. Students are introduced to the global community within the primary years program and understand their place within it. Through inquiry-based learning, students are encouraged to explore areas of interest and develop respect for democratic ideals. Students develop the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and tools to form their own opinions and take the initiative within each subject. With this program, students learn that their personal actions can have long-lasting effects that make a difference.

Join the SIA Community

Strelitz International Academy is the best private elementary school in the Tidewater area. We take the time to imbue each of our classes with the core values we are dedicated to. With the inquiry-based learning approach provided by the International Baccalaureate® program, our graduates learn respect, community, repairing the world, and love of learning.

Are you interested in learning more? Check out our website to see how you can join our community. We are enrolling for the 2022-2023 school year and would love to welcome your family with open arms.

To find out more and schedule a campus tour, please call 757-424-4327.

The Ethics of a Successful Private Preschool in Virginia Beach

Posted on Wednesday February 16 , 2022 by Carin Simon
Preschoolers playing with teacher in the classroom

In many public schools, underfunding, lack of resources, and strict lesson plans can prevent your child from being successful. This can lead to an ethical dilemma for parents who are looking to set their children up for success. In this article, Strelitz International Academy, a private school with a preschool program in Virginia Beach, discusses the ethics of sending your child to a private preschool program.

Pre K Private School

As their children grow, many parents are concerned about setting their children up for success. In order to get ahead of the curve, these parents enroll their children in pre-school. Pre-school acts as a way for students to learn motor skills while also playing and having fun. However, as later education (elementary school) becomes more intense, so too do the pre-schools. Instead of allowing 3 or 4-year-olds to be children, many pre-schools are moving to a stricter, academic environment.

However, unlike public schools, private preschools are able to provide balance. They can adjust these new academic expectations to fit the child’s needs. This shift towards a more academic environment has led many parents to an ethical dilemma. They want to set their child up for success, but they also want them to be a kid. This leaves them with one question in mind—should I send my child to private preschool?

Ethics to Consider of Private Preschool for 3-Year-Olds

Many parents are turning to private schools in order to better meet their child’s needs. Let us consider the ethics of sending your child to a private school. With a private preschool education, your child will have the resources, teaching style, schedule, foundation, and support system to succeed in middle and high school.

Resources

In private preschools, children are able to benefit from the abundance of resources that private schools provide. This can include physical resources such as up-to-date textbooks, advanced technology, or class space. It can also include intangible resources such as after-school programs, disability resources, liberal arts courses, or even highly-qualified teachers.

Different Learning Styles

Different children have different learning styles. As discussed in the International Baccalaureate Approach the best way to blend these styles is through hands-on learning. The hands-on learning style is a blend of visual and auditory learning, thus it works for almost every child.

When your child goes to a private preschool, they are introduced to an inquiry-based learning program. Because private schools do not rely on government funding they are able to adapt lessons. This allows them to spend more time with each child. Thus ensuring they learn in a way that is best for them.

Adjust the Schedule

Private preschools are able to adjust their schedule according to the needs of their community. Instead of relying on government-mandated school closures, the private school system operates independently and forms its own schedule. This allows them to close/open based on weather conditions, religious holidays, or even illness/COVID.

Strong Knowledge Foundation

One of the main goals of preschool is to prepare children for the lessons they will receive in later years. With a private preschool, they are able to continue with a strong foundation which will support them through middle and high school. With a private primary school/preschool experience your child is set up to thrive as a student and as an individual.

Lifelong Friendships

With a private school education, students are set up to have lifelong friendships with people who hold similar values. In preschool, students form a foundation of values and beliefs that persist throughout their adult lives. This set of values is a large part of student life in a private school. As they progress through the grades these values follow them and remain an important part of their education. Because of this, students grow and develop with children who share their values and belief systems, creating a supportive community of like-minded individuals.

Private Preschools Set Your Child Up For Success

As you can see, there are a variety of benefits to sending your child to a private preschool. With private preschool, your child has the resources, qualified teachers, and adequate funding they need. And they can learn and develop the building blocks of knowledge at their own pace. A Pre-K private school is able to focus on your child’s individual success. This ensures they are ready to move on to the next level.

With the International Baccalaureate approach to learning, your child learns the curriculum. But they also learn communication and social skills that set them up to be successful adults.

Private Preschools in Virginia Beach

Are you looking for a private preschool in Virginia Beach? Strelitz International Academy is the place for you! Our preschool curriculum fosters the natural curiosity/imagination of your child and funnels it into productive, academic learning. Teachers develop learning activities centered around student’s interests. Because of this, your child is set up to be a successful student and global citizen.

Interested in learning more? Visit our Early Years Program page to see a detailed “day in the life” of our private preschool in Virginia Beach. Like what you see? We are currently enrolling for the 2022-2023 academic year. We would love to schedule a campus tour with you! Reach out to us at 757-424-4327.

6 Reasons Why Crafts Are a MUST in Kindergarten

Posted on Tuesday November 30 , 2021 by Carin Simon
Children are playing

Is your refrigerator filling up with your kindergartener’s masterpieces? Have you started an archive of drawings and projects to save and smile over for years to come? Preserving memories is one of the best parts of being a parent, but have you ever considered how a private kindergarten school like Strelitz International Academy(SIA) uses art projects to help child development?

Here are 6 reasons why craft activities are essential for kindergarteners, both at home and in the classroom:

Improves hand-eye coordination and strengthens fine-motor skills

To create art, kindergarteners learn how to hold art materials such as pencils, pastels, brushes, as well as work with materials like clay, sand, and mud. Handling safety scissors to practice cutting straight lines, filling in a coloring book page, or learning how to draw circles are other excellent ways for your child to develop the hand and finger muscles that strengthen and support fine-motor skills. Arts and crafts also improve a child’s hand-eye coordination.

Allows for self-expression

Young children sometimes don’t know how to communicate clearly about their feelings. Arts and crafts are a way for them to explore their emotions as well as provide a safe space where they can express their difficulties and their dreams. There’s a reason why art therapy is so effective – creating something all by yourself builds healthy self-esteem.

Provides a way to socialize

Art and crafts activities can bring together children, spark friendships, and help them develop an appreciation for each other. They also build communication skills by sharing and talking about their creations with their peers.

Develops decision making

Creating art and craft involves a lot of simple and complex decisions, and also can require problem-solving. Some examples are deciding what colors to use, what tools are best for the project, or how much clay will they need.

Expands vocabulary

Art can make learning new words fun. Absorbing the names of different shapes, colors, and materials as part of craft activities doesn’t feel like a lesson.

Offers an alternative to screens

Using paper, clay, sand, or other materials gives children a way to learn, experiment, and stay occupied that is much more hands-on, not to mention causes less eye strain, than a phone or tablet. Arts and crafts keep kindergarteners engaged in a healthy way.

The invaluable skills learned through arts and crafts activities will not only give your child a head start in school, they’ll also help them throughout their lives.

Children are more likely to learn listening skills and absorb how to follow multi-step directions if what they’re doing is fun and engaging. At SIA Kindergarten, craft projects are as much a part of every student’s day as practicing handwriting and other fine motor skills. These activities are usually based on the lessons taught through stories combined with character-building discussions.

For example, our kindergarteners learn how to tell stories themselves by first hearing a story, making puppets based on some of the characters, creating a schedule from the story, and finally, putting all of the events together into a sequence.

Our kindergarten students also learn the Hebrew letters by learning a vocabulary word associated with each letter. Coloring and decorating each letter lesson helps with mastery.

Are you looking for a private kindergarten near Chesapeake or in Virginia Beach for your child?

Strelitz International Academy is well known in southeastern Virginia for providing a stellar private school education program within a warm and nurturing environment. As you can see, arts and crafts activities are an essential part of our unique curriculum, as well as our team of exemplary teachers, staff, and administrators.

We are currently enrolling for the 2022-2023 school year, and would love to welcome your child to SIA. To find out more and schedule a campus tour, please call 757-424-4327. Find out what other parents have to say about SIA here.

Fall Fun at Strelitz International Academy

Posted on Thursday November 25 , 2021 by Carin Simon

One of the endearing qualities about preschoolers is that everything, including the changing seasons, is still a new experience. This is an age when it’s easy to get children outside where they can appreciate the wonders of nature. Encourage your child’s curiosity and creativity with hands-on activities that celebrate the beauty of fall.

We created a variety of fun options for our students to explore, from playing in piles of leaves to investigating the pumpkin patch to making new friends in the petting zoo. Other encouraging activities included cornhole games, pounding pegs into pumpkins, making leaf rubbings, and of course, eating fall snacks!

This is only one of the special experiences that are part of our Early Years Families Program, where we concentrate on helping children flourish. We’d love to have your child join our school community. Enrollment is now open for our 2022-23 school year. Click here to find out more.

While you might not have a pumpkin patch or a petting zoo at your disposal, there are lots of options for celebrating autumn at home. In southeastern Virginia, we’re fortunate to be in a part of the country that usually offers a full spectrum of leaf colors in October and November.

Playing in a pile of them never gets old (see above) but there are even more fun activities that start with a leaf hunt, and end with your little ones getting creative with whatever they find.

Sticky Leaf Tree

What You’ll Need: fall leaves, contact paper, markers, tape.

Peel the back off of a long piece of contact paper and place it sticky side up on the table. Draw the outline of a tree with markers, then tape it to the wall. Your preschooler can then fill in the tree by sticking on the treasures they’ve found outside.

Leaf Rubbings

What You’ll Need: fall leaves, white paper, a white crayon, watercolor paints, and brushes.

Place the leaves under a white piece of paper and give your child a white crayon to scribble over the paper. This creates a rubbing. When your little one paints the rubbing with watercolors, the leaves are revealed.

Leaf Confetti

What You’ll Need: fall leaves, hole punch, glue stick, white paper.

Who knew confetti could be both pretty and biodegradable? This activity couldn’t be simpler and helps practice fine motor skills. Give your preschooler a hole punch to make confetti by hole-punching the leaves. Both the leaves and the confetti can be glued down to make some fabulous fall art. Another option is to crush up the leaves and glue them down on a tree template.

Leaf Memory Game

What You’ll Need: fall leaves, clear contact paper, card stock.

For this activity, make sure you have at least two of each leaf you gather. Cut the cardstock into rectangles large enough to fit your leaves, then do the same with the contact paper. Place a leaf on each piece of cardstock. You might want to use a small piece of tape or a glue stick to make sure it doesn’t move around. Then, place the contact paper carefully over each card. Once you’ve made all of your pairs of cards, turn them over and shuffle them around. Then have your child flip over two cards at a time to find a match.

Are you looking for a private Virginia Beach preschool for your 2 or 3-Year-old?

Strelitz International Academy is known for providing some of the best private school education in Hampton Roads within a warm and nurturing environment. We believe your child will flourish in a smaller class with a unique curriculum. Our exemplary teachers, staff, and administrators are all committed to putting your child on the path to a lifelong love of learning and educational excellence. To find out what other parents have to say about SIA, click here. Please give us a call at 757-424-4327 to find out more, or to schedule a visit to our campus.

Helpful Transition Tips for Early Years Students

Posted on Wednesday September 8 , 2021 by Elyssa Brinn
Some kids are doing coloring activities

We were so excited to see so many smiling faces greeting us on the first day of school. This can be such an exciting time for many of us, either joining the school community for the first time or transitioning to a new age level and a group of friends and teachers. This can also be a challenging transition for some, as many of our early learners have built a trust and comfort level with their teachers from last year. Additionally, several of our students have been away from the school setting for the summer and are reacclimating to our environment.

That being said, what can we all do to help make this transition as smooth as

– Little things from home can sometimes make our children feel more comfortable: a blanket, a stuffed animal, or for infants and toddlers, a scarf or shirt with mommy’s smell. Photographs also help. Many of our teachers have a family board with pictures to help bridge school and home.
– Establish Rituals and Routines. Young children thrive on routine and consistency, and developing these is key in making sure they feel safe in new environments. Developing a quick, simple way to say “good-bye” and reassuring your children that you will return will help separation go more smoothly.
– Be Positive. Our children are incredibly intuitive. They sense and feed off of our anxiety and hesitation. Present school as a safe place where your child will learn new things and make friends. Continue to bridge the home/school connection by talking with your child about their teachers and use our newsletters to show you are excited about what they are doing in school.
– Lastly, feel free to reach out to your child’s teachers or administrator about the day. We want both you and your children to have a great day after drop off, and if you need a little reassurance as to how the day is going, just give us a call or send a quick message.

Adapting to their new environment and overcoming separation anxiety takes time for some of us, both young and old. Worked through correctly, these can be great learning opportunities for our children and us.

At Strelitz International Academy, our Early Years program cultivates students for the day when they will be responsible, compassionate citizens and leaders. As the first official Primary Years IB Programme in Hampton Roads, SIA’s Early Years curriculum emphasizes the development of the whole child, including social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth. The IB® World School aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

Each classroom incorporates SIA’s values of respect, community, repairing the world, love of learning into the daily routine and provides opportunities to talk about and practice these values. The student’s experience is designed with opportunities to develop independence and self-confidence. As children grow as learners in the Early Years Program, we work to instill a sense of joy and confidence in all they do. Teachers and students work together to develop learning activities that further develop readiness skills in a variety of content areas including language arts, math, science, and social studies.

To learn more about Strelitz International Academy and our Early Years Program, please call 757.424.4327.

Here’s to a great new year and more smile-filled days!

Summer Fun for Toddlers

Posted on Friday August 13 , 2021 by Carin Simon
Two toddlers playing with magnet pins

Adventures in Science Week Led us to Many New Discoveries!

Science offers so many exciting ways to engage young students. Our Adventures in Science Week was a fun-filled five days of activities and experiments we hope might start our early learners on the path to a life-long love of science.

Toddler Class

Magnets are pretty magical, even if you understand the properties behind them. For our magnetism activity, we learned how to use a magnetic block to push and pull paper clips through a plastic bag, watching as a trail of clips lengthened as we swirled it on top of the bag. The children also built with the magnet blocks, quickly figuring out that they only attached when they were placed in the right direction.

During our playground time, we traveled into another area of science and scooped up a cicada to examine. Our children were very curious to look at this bug! We taught the concept of evaporation by wetting down boxes and having the children “water paint” them as they dried.

For our weather unit, we created our own clouds and rainbows in a container using common household ingredients. The children were fascinated as they watched shaving cream puff up into clouds. Dripping watercolors over the clouds created a mesmerizing rainbow as the colors seeped through. The students were so entranced that we found another colorful science project involving the properties of oil and water.

Infant Class

Our adorable infant class also had a fun week, beginning our regular outside water play. The babies saw some older toddler friends in the opposite playground and had a good time interacting with them. What a great organic way to learn about being a part of a larger community, and the roles we all play within that community!

The class continued working on sitting up and tummy time. At Strelitz International Academy, we spend a lot of time focusing on strengthening core and neck strength in our wee ones, all through play activities. This is essential to helping them move up to the next level of their gross motor development.

You can recreate a simple sensory activity at home that was a big hit with both the babies and teachers. All you have to do is pour a handful of baby soap into a mixing bowl and use an electric mixer or whisk to stir it up, adding a little bit of water to loosen it up. Voila! You’ve made soapy foam bubbles!

Our Adventures in Science Week activities are just a few examples of the many ways to keep your young ones engaged and creative during the summer months. At Strelitz International Academy, our lively educational games keep your children active and learning all year long. Since the early years are crucial to healthy brain development, we encourage inquiry through play, singing, early literacy, and verbal acquisition at all developmental stages.

Searching for a “top private school near me”? We are a top private school serving Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake with a proven track record of exceptional education. Strelitz’s International Academy’s IB Primary Years Program offers an integrated curriculum of core subject areas, supported by our specialty classes. Our culturally enriched curriculum benefits students in a variety of ways.

Our Infant/Toddler Program is for children six weeks to two years old. We’d love to welcome your child into this stimulating, supportive environment. There are still a few spots open for the 2021-2022 school year! For more information or to schedule a tour of one of the best private elementary schools in Virginia Beach, please contact Carin Simon, Admissions Director at 757-424-4327 or email.csimon@strelitzacademy.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

Advantages of Preschool for Toddlers

Posted on Monday July 26 , 2021 by Carin Simon
Three girls studying and doing there daily chores

As your sweet baby grows into a more independent child, you may be thinking about preschool. Even though it might be hard to send your little one off to school for the first time, providing your child with a quality private preschool education sets your son or daughter up for success.

The emotional skills and understanding of the world that children develop while very young will help them become constructive members of society throughout their lives. Research shows that preschool graduates are better prepared for school and eventually, earn more money as adults.

Here are some important reasons why private preschool is so important for toddlers:

Preschool Teaches Children How to Learn

Young children are constantly soaking up experiences like a sponge through playing and observing the world around them. Acclimating them to a school setting while toddlers is a great way for children to learn in ways that interest them, and instill the idea that learning, and school, is fun.

Preschool Develops Social Skills

Preschool is probably the first place where a child will spend long periods of time with other children and adults outside the family. This new environment provides the chance to learn essential interpersonal skills, such as how to pay attention, listen, cooperate, make friends, and learn the basics of conversation.

Preschool Teaches Children How to Self-Regulate

Inevitably, any time children play and engage in activities together, conflicts arise. Those times of frustration and anger are opportunities for teachers to provide “teachable moments,” where they can encourage children to notice the effect their behavior has on others and start practicing how to resolve conflict. These emotional skills will be vital to preschool graduates throughout their entire lives.

Preschool Boosts Pre-Literacy Skills

A big part of every preschool day are the variety of games and activities that help children build pre-literacy skills. These can include singing alphabet songs, learning rhymes to help distinguish between sounds, listening to stories read by their teacher, and playing with magnetic alphabet letters. An early positive association with reading often leads to a lifetime love of it.

Preschool teachers help children develop language capabilities by introducing new vocabulary and asking thought-provoking questions.

Preschool Gets Children Ready for Math

Along with reading, preschool builds the foundations for future success in math through calendar time, guided play and fun activities like sorting, matching, or counting games. Certain board games are also useful at helping young students develop an understanding of categories and numbers.

Preschool Nurtures Children’s Curiosity and Creativity

Young children have lively imaginations. It’s important to nurture their active minds to fuel learning and creativity. Preschool environments are set up to encourage and stimulate exploration. A good preschool teacher will encourage children to be curious and develop their own ideas and thoughts. They will ask questions and listen to children’s ideas rather than pushing “correct” answers.

Preschool Teaches Children How to Be Responsible

Preschool children are often given chances to practice how to be responsible. These include washing their hands, keeping personal belongings in cubbies, and putting toys back in their proper spots. In addition to self-care, preschoolers learn how to take care of others by helping other children learn skills they’re more competent at or by helping out in the classroom.

Preschool Helps Children Develop Cognitive and Motor Skills

Children build cognitive skills by engaging in activities that challenge them to try new things, ask questions, solve problems, and be more aware of the world around them. Preschool is centered around these types of activities, so children are able to learn more.

But the mind isn’t the only important part of your child’s development. In addition to outside play time, many preschool activities help children develop fine motor skills and physical coordination. For example they might be given projects that involve drawing, threading beads, even cutting with scissors.

Preschool Prepares Children for Kindergarten!

Over the years, kindergarten has become increasingly academic. A high-quality preschool education program will offer children the skills development they’ll need to prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.

After having learned basic social and communication skills, they’ll be more comfortable cooperating and asking for help. With strong pre-literacy, cognition, and math foundation skills, they’re less likely to struggle.

The Best Private Preschool in Hampton Roads

Are you looking for a private preschool in Virginia Beach for your 3 year old? The best preschools help children develop a drive to learn that they will take with them throughout their time in school and throughout their lives.

At Strelitz International Academy, our staff, administration, and teachers believe in inquiry-based education rather than the standardized curriculums used in public school. Our Early Years Programme follows the guidelines of developmentally appropriate practice promoted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children(NAEYC).

The Strelitz International Academy is an International Baccalaureate® World School for students between the ages of 3 and 12 (kindergarten through 5th grade).

A private preschool might just be the perfect choice for your toddler. We invite you to come join us, learn more about our curriculum and our dedication to helping children learn so we can get their journey started. Click here to find out more, or please give us a call at 757-424-4327.

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