The daily schedule is organized for the benefit of our parents who depend on the Villa to provide childcare as well as classroom instruction. The full day allows time for play, social interaction, lessons, center exploration, rest, recess, snacks and lunch. Classroom schedules are flexible and vary to accomodate indoor/outdoor play and the lunch schedule. The general schedule for the day is:

• 6:30 AM—Earliest time for children to enter the building with supervision--all children go to the playroom
• 8:00 AM—Kindergarten goes to the classroom
• 8:10-8:30 AM.—Nursery & Pre-K go to the classrooms with their teachers/aides
• 8:30-12:30 PM— Morning prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, curriculum time, snack, center exploration time, play time (indoor/outdoor play), bathroom break; lunch
• 12:30-2:45 PM—Nursery Rest time/Pre-K 1:30 PM Rest time
  Kindergarten: Recess, quiet activity, curriculum, snack
• 3-5 PM—Snack, enrichment activities, group games, indoor/outdoor play
• 5-5:30 PM—Children may be indoors or outside depending upon weather
• Parents sign out their child at the end of the day.                                            

The individual class schedules vary according to the class level. During the seasons of Advent and Lent the whole school assembles for morning prayer in the playroom every Friday. Presentations take place in the playroom throughout the year.

Uniforms

The uniform consists of a navy blue crew shirt with the Sacred Heart Villa emblem. The coordinating outfits are:

• Girls: a plaid skort or khaki pants
• Boys: khaki shorts or pants
• Shoes: tennis shoes and socks. Sandals are not safe.

In winter, a navy blue sweatshirt with the school emblem may be worn over the crew shirt and a long-sleeve red or white turtleneck may be worn under the crew shirt. The crew shirt is ordered through the school. The skort may be purchased through school or Quinn Uniform Company on Ivanhoe Ave. All uniform items are preordered and are not in stock at school. All children must have a complete change of clothing at school for emergencies. Additional clothing information is listed in the handbook.

Meals and Snacks

The lunch menu is posted weekly.  The menu follows the federal and state

nutrition guidelines. Parents should notify the director of any specific food allergies or dietary needs. This can be explained in detail on the registration form.

Special Features

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
All students take part in this special spiritual development program once a week during school time. The certified catechist and an aide assist the children in their spiritual growth and knowledge of God. For additional information, please visit our Curriculum section or The National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd website.

Dance
A dance teacher comes to the Villa on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons after school. Interested families pay a separate fee for the lessons that are conducted in the playroom.

Summer Camp
Summer Camp is held during the months of June, July, and August. The Villa teachers and aides serve as the supervisors for the campers. Special activities are planned with a summer theme. High school students serve as volunteer helpers. The daily summer camp time is the same as during the year. Families register and pay a separate summer camp fee.

School and Community
There are a variety of local services that help enrich our school program:

• Each fall our local firefighters come for a presentation and demonstration on fire safety
• Once a month, a librarian from the Kingshighway Branch of the St. Louis Library comes to read stories
• Each year, vision, hearing and speech screenings are conducted
• Each spring the Kindergarten class visits a local restaurant to practice the social etiquette skills they learn during the year
• Community helpers, parents and friends visit classes to talk about their work
• Delta Dental of Missouri presents an oral health education program
• The local community supports us for the annual barbeque fundraiser held during the month of April
• Local Catholic middle and high school students volunteer to help the children
• Summer campers go to the Italia America Bocce Club, take walking tours of the neighborhood, and participate in other fieldtrips

Sacred Heart Villa takes part in community awareness activities:

        

• local Columbus Day coloring contest
• Thanksgiving collection
• Advent/Christmas/Lent
• special events

Safety

The school has regular recorded fire and tornado drills. Directions are posted and teachers practice the procedures with their classes.