- Mon - Fri: 6:30 - 5:30
- (812) 424-4780
- info@stvincentelc.org
- EIN # 35-0869067
St. Vincent is a school that values curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. With a research-based curriculum, we strive to foster critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and relationships that set children on a pathway to lifelong success. We use inquiry-based approaches, play-based education, and project-based learning, aligned with Reggio-inspired values, to create a framework for meaningful learning. A strong image of the child, nature, and the arts is a critical underpinnings of our curriculum.
As a Reggio-inspired center, relationships are a central theme of our non-prescribed/rote curriculum. This relational approach demonstrates our connection and growth values in action, fostering a strong sense of community within the classroom by cultivating a culture of respect for oneself, others, the environment, and resources.
Children have many ways to think, communicate and learn. We emphasize giving children endless ways to express their ideas, thoughts, understanding, and knowledge.
Play-based and inquiry-based learning is focused on children’s interests – engaging and challenging them to make sense of the world. Play is used to maximize their potential in all areas of development, and through exploration of materials they build knowledge and understanding.
A strong school-home connection inspires children to think deeply about the world and their own interests. We value families as their child’s first teacher and encourage their active participation in our program.
Environment plays an integral role as a “Third Teacher.” It sparks children’s exploration and curiosity. Mindful use of space, color, and light along with enriching materials helps to promote deeper thinking skills and learning.
Children and educators are partners in learning. Educators seek to understand children’s thinking and provoke their ideas. They listen and pose questions to encourage children to test theories, justify reasoning, and assist in developing plans.
Together educators and early learners communicate and present their journeys through documentation. Educators honor and value children’s ideas through observation, documentation (photographs, writing, art, portfolios, video), and reflection. Educators are present to assist children in expressing what they have learned.
Interested in donating, volunteering, enrolling or learning more about the importance of high-quality early learning?
As a Reggio-inspired center, relationships are a central theme to the curriculum. This relational approach builds a strong sense of community within the context of the classroom by fostering a culture of respect for oneself, others, the environment, and resources.
As an inclusive early learning center, we review, evaluate, and document all program recommendations from resource persons, including recommendations from Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)/Individualized Education Program (IEP’s) related to a child’s needs and progress at least twice a year. Family values and beliefs play an important part in making goals for children. We partner with many community agencies to work throughout our program to ensure that we provide the highest quality early education services to children and families.
High-quality early education must be data-informed. We use assessments and screening tools such as Brigance, SWYC, and DECA are used at the time of enrollment or the start of a new school year to provide information about a child’s growth and development. The results of these screeners are shared with the Child Support Team to identify children that may have potential areas of developmental concern.
Children are also assessed using the ongoing, authentic Teaching Strategies® GOLD assessment in order to improve the curriculum and adjust teaching methods to meet the individual learning needs of all children, including children with special needs.
We consider children’s outdoor experiences an important part of curriculum. The outdoor learning environments include equipment and spaces designed for active play and discovery to provide children with exercise, fresh air, and extended learning activities. Daily outdoor activities will occur, weather permitting.
Continuity of Care is the practice of keeping children and caregivers together for as long as possible. Based on Attachment Theory, our practice is rooted in the research around relationships with a trusted adult serving as a secure base that children can rely on to feel safe in exploring their environment. We provide Continuity of Care through looping in our Birth to Three side of the building and through Multi-Age Grouping in our PreK side of the building.
At St. Vincent, the presence of diversity is central to our mission, putting our values into practice. Diverse cultures and classroom environments can enrich education and social development. We take diversity of all kinds into account when making each decision, including hiring, admission, and employment relations. The goal is simple: to ensure that each employee, family, and child feels a sense of welcome and joy in our community.
To work toward accomplishing social justice and upholding our values, we are committed to the following anti-bias education goals:
The North American Reggio Emilia Alliance, member of the Reggio Children International Network, is a diverse community of advocates and educators actively promoting and defending the rights of children, families, and teachers of all cultures through a collaboration of colleagues inspired by the Reggio Emilia experience.
St. Vincent Early Learning Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which represents the highest quality in early childhood education.
NAEYC establishes and maintains a clearly defined process for pursuing, achieving, and maintaining Accreditation, with the intent being to increase the accountability of the system for children and families and ensure programs meet NAEYC’s definition of excellence for early childhood programs.
NAEYC Accreditation is for a five-year period, after which programs apply for reaccreditation. SVELC first earned NAEYC accreditation in 2010 and was re-accredited in 2015, 2020, and 2025.
St. Vincent Early Learning Center has achieved a Paths to QUALITY™ Level 4 rating—the highest level—from the State of Indiana since 2010.
Paths to QUALITY™ Level 4 programs are the highest-rated programs and have demonstrated a commitment to the highest level of professionalism in quality early care and education — achievement of a nationally recognized accreditation.
