St. Mary’s Episcopal School treasures children and childhood, fosters development through play and exploration, and prepares children for success in all aspects of their education.
We believe in the whole child , learning through:
Play
Children thrive and succeed when education is based on play and exploration. By providing personalized education, we meet each child where they are, helping the whole child develop social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills.
Exploration
We foster curiosity, wonder, independence, and confidence in each of our students at St. Mary’s. Questioning, investigating, taking risks, and observing builds a child’s understanding of the world around them.
Relationships
Nature
At St. Mary’s spend time in nature to promote wellness, enhance learning, and instill a love for the natural world. Outdoor environments, as the third teacher, encourage children to explore, using all of their senses.
Play
Children thrive and succeed when education is based on play and exploration. By providing personalized education, we meet each child where they are, helping the whole child develop social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills.
Exploration
We foster curiosity, wonder, independence, and confidence in each of our students at St. Mary’s. Questioning, investigating, taking risks, and observing builds a child’s understanding of the world around them.
Relationships
Nature
At St. Mary’s spend time in nature to promote wellness, enhance learning, and instill a love for the natural world. Outdoor environments, as the third teacher, encourage children to explore, using all of their senses.
Outdoor Play
Current research validates the importance of connecting children with nature on a daily basis.
We provide hands-on learning experiences and opportunities for the children to explore, investigate, think, and play creatively while moving actively in our wonderful outdoor spaces.
Children who play outside regularly become fitter and leaner, develop a stronger immune system, have lower stress levels, have more active imaginations, play more creatively, are happier, have a greater respect for themselves and others and learn and cultivate environmental awareness and values.
Thinking of joining St. Mary's Episcopal School?
St. Mary’s Episcopal Preschool and Kindergarten programs are designed to promote a lifelong passion for learning.
What some of our families are saying...
Jenny Pedraza
PARENT
“The transition from Kindergarten at St. Mary’s to first grade in Henrico Public Schools has been incredibly smooth. The nurturing and close-knit kindergarten experience at St. Mary’s was exactly what my daughter needed to gain the confidence and independence necessary for first grade. She has taken what she learned at St. Mary’s – a love for stories, nature, asking questions, following her interests, being kind to friends, and being a respectful student to her new school. The foundational skills she gained in reading, writing and math have proven to be beyond even a first grade level – she was more than prepared to succeed in elementary school, both emotionally and academically. Her first grade teacher just had to ask “where did she go to kindergarten again?!”
Allison Boyd
PARENT
“St. Mary’s provides a nurturing environment where each of my children have been able to thrive through play-based activities, outdoor exploration, and a focus on developing their emotional intelligence and leadership skills. The teachers have given me additional tools to help foster their growth at home, meeting the unique needs of each of my children with a tailored approach. My oldest went into first grade with confidence in reading, problem-solving, and conflict resolution thanks to the developmentally supportive environment at St. Mary’s!”
Dan Poole
PARENT
“St. Mary’s exceeded our very high expectations for preschool and junior kindergarten! Our four children were provided an incredibly warm and nurturing environment to learn, play and grow. They are developing into confident individuals due to the kindness and encouragement received at this amazing school. We will forever remember the love we felt from all the teachers and leadership. Thank you!”
Check out our Blog
About 12 years ago, a local Girl Scout had a vision for her Gold Award project: establishing a nature trail in the woods next to St. Mary’s Episcopal School and Church. It would be a place to explore the plants, ...
Tick-Tock, telling time using a human clock. Our kindergartners quickly learned how to tell time by the hour as they took turns becoming the hands of the enormous floor clock created by their teachers. The whole body learning experience was ...
