Every day begins with wonder. In PK3, JK4, and SK5, children learn through play, exploration, meaningful relationships, and hands-on experiences that build confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. Every child is known, supported, and encouraged to discover their potential from the very beginning. This reflects MCDS’s mission to empower every student, every day, everywhere in a community where every child is known and included.
Through purposeful play, Choice Time, and hands-on investigation, children explore ideas, collaborate with others, solve problems, and build confidence.
Every Child Is Known
Teachers get to know each child’s interests, strengths, needs, and readiness, building relationships that help children feel safe, valued, and ready to learn.
Spanish Begins Early
Daily bilingual experiences help children develop language naturally through conversation, movement, art, and classroom routines.
Innovation Starts Early
Students begin exploring robotics, coding, design thinking, and creative problem solving through age-appropriate experiences.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Gardens, playgrounds, ACES, outdoor classrooms, and nature become part of every school day.
Whole Child Development
Cognitive, social-emotional, physical, language, and creative development grow together through thoughtfully designed experiences that meet children where they are and help them take the next step.
By the Numbers
100%
of our EC classrooms have a Spanish-speaking educator
10
different languages spoken by our EC families
2
Yoga and Mindfulness classes a week to build self-regulation and mindfulness habits
5
Playground spaces around campus
30
minute Classroom Family Style lunch to build community and healthy habits
“I believe the best schools are communities where children and adults thrive together. My leadership is grounded in listening deeply, building shared purpose, and creating the conditions for talented educators to do their best work in teaching students. I bring curiosity, warmth, and high expectations to building communities where people belong, learning is joyful and ambitious, and children are known, challenged, and inspired to discover their highest potential. I call Miami Country Day School my “pinch myself place” because I am able to work with such talented educators and leaders. As Head of Lower School and Director of Strategic Initiatives at Miami Country Day School, I invest my time working with faculty, deepening learning practices, and implementing strategy. My work has advanced teaching and learning, faculty leadership and development, school design, interdisciplinary learning, and innovation. Across these efforts, my approach is consistent: begin with mission and the needs of children, engage the expertise of educators, use research and evidence to inform decisions, and translate shared vision into meaningful experiences for students. I bring more than two decades of experience in education and previously served for eight years as Head of Lower School and Director of Academics PK–8 at Chapin School in Princeton, New Jersey. A continual learner myself, I have pursued advanced study through Harvard Project Zero, the Center for Transformational Teaching and Learning, NAIS, and Leadership + Design, and have presented to educational leaders on organizational change, teacher growth, interdisciplinary collaboration, and school design. I earned my Ed.M. in Educational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, and my B.A. from Carroll University.”
Shana Lindsey
Lower School Director, Strategic Initiatives
Joyful Learning Begins Here
Our Early Childhood program nurtures that curiosity through hands-on exploration, meaningful relationships, purposeful play, and thoughtfully designed learning experiences. Every activity helps children develop the academic, social, and emotional foundations that prepare them for Lower School and beyond.Learning is active, joyful, and personalized because young children learn best by asking questions, making discoveries, creating, collaborating, and trying again.
Literacy
Literacy
Stories become conversations. Sounds become words. Writing begins with expression.
Highlights:
Read Alouds
Phonics
Handwriting
Storytelling
Phonemic Awareness
Mathematics
Mathematics
Children discover math through counting, patterns, building, comparing, and problem solving.
Highlights:
Number Sense
Patterns
Sorting
Measurement
Problem Solving
Science & Nature
Science & Nature
Wonder begins outdoors as children investigate, explore, and care for the natural world.
Highlights:
Outdoor Learning
Nature Exploration
Gardens
Hands-on Science
Environmental Stewardship
Spanish
Spanish
Language grows through conversation, movement, music, art, and everyday experiences.
Highlights:
Daily Spanish
Bilingual Experiences
Communication
Language
Culture
Innovation
Innovation
Children create, design, build, and code as they test ideas and solve problems.
Highlights:
Robotics
Coding
Design Thinking
Problem Solving
Creativity
Social & Emotional Learning
Social & Emotional Learning
Children learn to understand themselves, build relationships, and care for their community.
Highlights:
Self-Awareness
Self-Management
Relationships
Empathy
Belonging
learning Beyond the Classroom
These experiences extend learning beyond the classroom, giving children new ways to create, move, communicate, investigate, and discover. Along the way, they build confidence, explore new interests, care for their environment, and begin to see the world from different perspectives
Art
ART
Music
Music
Yoga
Yoga
Library
Library
ACES
ACES
Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies
Innovation
Innovation
Spanish
Spanish
Wellness
Wellness
the Rhythm of an Early Childhood Day
Warm Welcome
Children arrive, connect with teachers, and ease into the day through classroom or outdoor Choice Time; moving, playing, connecting with friends, and preparing for the learning ahead.
Learning Together
Morning Meeting brings children together through stories, songs, conversations, and shared routines that build community and spark curiosity. Whole-group and small-group learning give teachers opportunities to respond to each child’s needs and readiness.
Explore & Discover
Centers, inquiry-based investigations, outdoor learning, innovation, and purposeful play invite children to ask questions, experiment, collaborate, build, and create.
move & Grow
Recess, movement, wellness, and enrichment help children develop healthy bodies, active minds, and growing self-regulation.
Reflect & Celebrate
Closing Circle gives children time to reflect, share discoveries, celebrate one another, and end the day feeling connected to their classroom community.
Every Child is Known
The first school experience should feel joyful, welcoming, and filled with possibility. In Early Childhood, every child is known as an individual, with unique interests, emerging strengths, and their own way of learning. Our teachers build meaningful relationships with each student, creating classrooms where children feel safe to explore, ask questions, take healthy risks, and grow with confidence.
Through thoughtful routines, small-group learning, purposeful play, and individualized support, teachers meet children where they are while encouraging them to take the next step. Teachers observe children as they learn, create, play, and interact, using what they see to understand each child’s growth and plan what comes next. As students make choices, solve problems, express their ideas, and build friendships, they develop the confidence and independence that prepare them for the years ahead.
A place where every child belongs.
Just as importantly, children learn what it means to be part of a caring community. Guided by the MCDS Core Values of purpose, honor, respect, compassion, and wisdom, they learn to listen, collaborate, care for others, appreciate different perspectives, and contribute in meaningful ways. These everyday experiences create a strong sense of belonging while beginning the habits of empathy and global citizenship that grow throughout an MCDS education.
“Curiosity is the starting point. Every question, every discovery, and every moment of wonder is an opportunity to learn.”
Signature Early Childhood Experiences
Early Childhood DNA Strands
In Early Childhood, the DNA strands support students as they build an understanding of themselves, their relationships, and the communities in which they belong. Through developmentally appropriate experiences, children begin to explore their identities, celebrate human diversity, practice empathy and fairness, and recognize how they can care for and support others.
Students learn about themselves, their surroundings, and the people who make up their world. They begin to develop curiosity, awareness, and a sense of connection while learning that each person has unique experiences, identities, and ways of being.
Students develop an understanding of who they are and how to share their feelings, interests, multiple identities, strengths, and needs. They learn that knowing and expressing themselves helps them build meaningful relationships and appreciate the similarities and differences among others.
Students recognize and celebrate the people, cultures, traditions, and experiences that make their community special. They practice empathy, fairness, and inclusion while learning how their participation and contributions can help create a welcoming community for everyone.
By the end of SK5, students leave Early Childhood as confident learners, thoughtful classmates, curious explorers, and caring members of the MCDS community. They have learned how to ask questions, express ideas, solve problems, build relationships, and take increasing ownership of their learning.
Through joyful learning, meaningful relationships, and purposeful experiences, they are well prepared to begin their Lower School journey with confidence and excitement.
How we connect reflects the strength of our PK3–12 community. Through school messages, digital storytelling, student publications, social media, calendars, and signature publications, families can learn more about the people, programs, and experiences that shape life at MCDS.
