St. John the Baptist Preschool Program

There’s a gem of a preschool in Beaver County! St. John the Baptist Church in Monaca has a preschool program for 3- and 4-year-olds that’s committed to providing a creative learning environment with a Christian foundation

“We believe in building a strong future,” says Janese Claar, who has taught at St. John's for two years. She has a master’s degree in early childhood education and knows how important it is for kids to learn through free play, guided play, socialization and experimentation. “It’s amazing how much they learn and grow in just a few months. We give them the skills to solve problems through different activities, and through that, they gain confidence,” she explains.

Together with her teacher’s aide, Yvonne Krovisky (who is certified as a child development associate), they instruct between 11-17 kids per day at St. John’s preschool.


Circle time with Ms. Janese

The kids have a routine with clear rules that are reinforced every day, since increasing independence is achieved through routine. They are taught to:

• Develop a positive self-image and social skills
• Enjoy being part of a group
• Respect others while defending their own rights
• Learn through hands-on experience and experimentation

Above all, they are taught that they’re a child of God and that they’ll grow in His love.



St. John’s Preschool Curriculum

The curriculum is centered around hands-on exploration. The children are encouraged to share in a positive, encouraging group atmosphere, and have the opportunity to learn in large and small groups, as well as individual activities. The children learn:

• letter/sound connection
• reading readiness
• math skills
• small and large motor skills
• music
• religion
• art
• science and social studies

St. John’s Preschool has an entire wing that’s available for the kids, including two large classrooms that are used for art, music, games, and group activities. The walls are decorated with brightly colored paintings of rainbows, animals, letters, and numbers that the students proudly display. Computers are available to introduce technology skills to students. This preschool even has a library where kids can take out books for the week! There’s also a playground right across the street and a large gymnasium that’s available for playtime.

When I visited St. John’s Preschool recently, I saw happy, comfortable kids who couldn’t wait to start their school day. During circle time, they reviewed numbers, letters, colors, shapes, and the weather, had show and tell, and patiently listened while Ms. Janese read a book to them. It’s clear that these kids love to learn in this environment!



Preschool Programs Offered

St. John’s Preschool has programs for both 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds. The preschool is accepting registration for the 2015-2016 school year.

• The 3-year-old program runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 -11:30 a.m. Tuition is paid over 10 months at a rate of $75 per month, or $750 a year.

• The 4-year-old program runs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. for part-day school or 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. for full-day school. Tuition for 4-year part-day care is paid over 10 months at $90 a month, or $900 year. Tuition for 4-year full-day care is paid over 10 months at $160 a month, or $1,600 year.

Financial assistance is available through the Pittsburgh Diocese. Ask the St. John the Baptist office for paper work.

Extended care is also available from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. for preschoolers and Central Valley morning kindergarten students. The cost is $4 an hour, and kids should bring their lunch. Milk is provided for 50 cents.

St. John the Baptist Preschool is located at 1501 Virginia Ave. in downtown Monaca. If you’re interested in learning more about St. John’s preschool program, call 724-775-5774 to arrange a tour. You can also email Janese Claar at NeseClaar@verizon.net with the subject line: Preschool.