Wheeling Country Day School’s Early Childhood program is a unique and premier group of classes that include ages 2-5. We pride ourselves in creating a positive first impression for our Early Childhood students. We recognize the importance to introducing them to fundamentals that will set them up for success as make progress in their education.
The early childhood program at Wheeling Country Day School focuses on the child within the learner. It is an engaging centers-based curriculum that matches the way children develop and learn, meeting their personal learning needs in a hands-on and nurturing environment.
Children need time for fantasy and spontaneous play. Therefore, the classrooms invite pretending and storytelling, which provide the most fertile ground for language growth, both contextual and semantic.
In addition, the campus layout allows children to be active and to follow their natural sense of wonder. They play and learn in nature with found objects that inspire creativity.
Far from curriculum in a box, the program allows the teachers to take their cues from their students, and then actively guide and encourage their curiosity, intellectual strengths, and above-average skills.
All of the early childhood classes meet every week throughout the school year. We Two meets once a week for one hour and fifteen minutes with a parent or caregiver. Preschool and Junior Kindergarten students may attend either a half-day program or an extended-day (ED) program.
Wheeling Country Day School is a safe place to try a new skill that could become a life’s passion, to connect with an adult who will forever believe in you unconditionally, to balance the vulnerability, to lead with the empowerment of being part of a team and something greater than yourself.
Preschool students enjoy a nurturing, caring, inviting classroom environment. Their experiences include activities to promote socialization skills and an introduction to school procedures and routines. The activities encourage developmental growth through play and present early literacy skills through various centers.
The nurturing, learning environment continues in the junior kindergarten classroom. The students’ activities and play enhance their socialization skills and continue to establish a familiar school routine. They learn basic concepts to build a background of reading readiness skills. Throughout the school year the children become more independent.
Senior kindergarten provides a strong foundation from which each student can grow to become a lifelong learner. The child-centered environment encourages learning through discovery and exploration. The students gain social skills which will enable each to relate to other children and adults. They engage in play as a learning experience. The students experience nature through outside exploration and art. They also learn to follow school and classroom rules to be good citizens and behave appropriately.
Our before and aftercare programs are designed to help the student and the parent. Drop your students off early or pick them up a bit later and feel comfortable knowing they are safe and still learning.
Edge at Wheeling Country Day School is an on-campus instruction center for students with language-based learning differences.
For students ready to graduate from Early Childhood, Wheeling Country Day School offers elementary classes from First to Fifth grade.
Applying online is easy with WCDS. Complete and submit your online application. This application confirms your interest and prompts the school’s consideration of your child. You can download and submit the records release form if your child currently attends kindergarten or above.
The school takes great pride in the fact that the Head of School meets with each family to engage in a mission/philosophy conversation. Admissions Events offer this group opportunity or you can contact the Admissions Office for special arrangements.
Experience WCDS by coming to the campus for an age-appropriate visit with faculty and peers.
WCDS seeks to purposefully build an environment that reflects and honors diversity. We honor the dignity of every human being, and we respect and value differences including but not limited to socioeconomics, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, and family composition. Our community is committed to ongoing dialogue, education, and reflection to develop understanding and inclusion of every member.
Observe our curious and engaged students and teachers in their classrooms and throughout our spacious campus with its grass playing field, classroom courtyard, and outdoor amphitheater. Sit in on classes that give great attention to a curriculum that matches the optimum times for learning within a child’s first ten years.