When preparing to expose young children to art and involve them in the process, our art teacher consulted many publications. As a result of her research, the following findings helped form the foundation of our art program:

• Young children are usually most interested in the process of art, not the finished product.
• The most important thing for the child is to explore new art-oriented ideas and techniques.
• Independent thinking is encouraged while skills and responsibility are enhanced through individual decisions.
• Utilizing various media (painting, drawing, sculpture, print-making) expands experiences and generates familiarity resulting in fulfilled self-esteem.
• Getting to know great artists inspires children to read books, visit museums and libraries, collect information and look at the world in a new way.
• It is our hope that the children at St. John's will enjoy their time in art class, be comortable working with a variety of mediums, take pride in their creations and have confidence in the decisions they make.

We use the FLEX philosophy to enrich our students. FLEX stands for Foreign Language Exposure. There is exposure to foreign language without an emphasis on communication. It is a foundation for later foreign language skills and it helps the child acquire the skills of careful listening. At St. John's, the child is exposed to French food, songs, books, culture, and pictures of people and landscapes.

The dramatic method of language teaching is used. As much as possible each word is dramatized in as many ways as possible. By teaching in a spirit of play, the children do not experience the frustration or worry of being penalized for an incorrect response. The preschool years are the time for wonder, play and enjoyment!

Exposure to musical experiences is fundamental to the preschool education. The concepts of rhythm, melody and dance through simple motions help develop the young mind. The memory is developed as we learn new songs whose themes coincide with our lessons and the seasons. The children enjoy the attention of our dedicated music instructor in our music room.