Early Years

DSC International School Early Years Program is designed to nurture curious and creative learners who are eager to learn independently and collaboratively within a play and inquiry based environment.

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DSC’s full-day Early Years Program focuses on establishing a strong foundation for learning and preparing students, both academically and socially, for Elementary years and beyond.

The primary goals for the Early Years Program are to:

Establish a strong foundation for learning in the early years;
Help children make a smooth transition from home or preschool settings to school settings;
Allow children to reap the many proven benefits of learning through relationships, and through play and inquiry;
Set children on a path of lifelong learning and nurture competencies that they will need to thrive in the world of today and tomorrow.

Our full-day Early Years Program provides 3 to 5 year-olds with multiple opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills within the four frames of our play and inquiry-based curriculum:

Belonging and Contributing
Self-Regulation and Well-Being
Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics (Numeracy) Behaviours
Problem Solving and Innovating

Our Early Years teachers consistently reflect and adjust to the needs of their classes as a unique community. Our focus on an individualized approach to learning allows for high-quality experiences to take place in the classroom which enhances a child’s individual strengths and caters to their individual learning needs. There is a conscious focus on developing learning skills, such as independence and self-regulation, as these skills are needed for our students to be successful in their academic years ahead. Our program meets the expectations of the Ontario curriculum by supporting every child to reach their full potential through a program of learning that is interesting and relevant to them.

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Curriculum

Play-based learning

Play-based learning is an approach that maximizes a child’s natural curiosity and exuberance. It recognizes that play is essential to a child’s optimal development.

ItThis approach acknowledges that children are inherently curious, and they are capable of complex thinking. Each student brings tremendous energy, potential, and their own experiences into the classroom each day, and that creates such a positive and engaging experience for all.

The learning environment that we have established plays a key role in what and how a child learns. Our supportive teachers and educational assistants build a caring, dynamic learning environment that allows each student to learn, share, and thrive academically and socially.

STEAM in Early Years

In the Early Years, we believe that it is never too early to instill a passion for combining building and creativity skills by using a variety of materials and technology. Our focus is to introduce students to foundational concepts found in Science, Technology, and Mathematics by applying simple engineering skills to creatively build on ideas that solve problems. By engaging young students in ideas that capture their interests, students have the opportunity to explore concepts that will later evolve into a more intricate and fascinating world of STEAM.

Community Connections in Early Years

In the Early Years, we also believe that it is important for students to orient themselves within a larger community. The importance of community is presented to our students in their first years at DSC. Within the DSC community, our Early Years students interact with older Elementary students through our “Reading Buddies” Program. By connecting with others, younger DSC students develop a deeper understanding of how members of the same community can help each other learn and grow. Additionally, under the supervision of their teachers, students explore the community within close proximity to DSC’s campus to learn about different places and people that help the communities around them thrive. Furthermore, Early Years classrooms welcome members of the community to come in and speak with our students so that they can get a deeper understanding of the larger communities around them.

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