Meet the Staff:

Amy Steinleitner - I  have worked at St. Ambrose since August of 2000. I am a graduate of St. Cloud State University with a degree in Child and Family Studies. I also have my Minnesota Teaching license for birth-third grade. In my spare time I enjoy reading, traveling, going to Twins games and scrapbooking.

Sue Brenna - I have been at St. Ambrose since August 2005. I have a degree in Elementary Education and since college I have taught at two other centers as an infant teacher for 5 years and for 11 years as a preschool teacher at a Head Start Program. I have been happily married for 17 years and we live in South St. Paul. We have a daughter named Aspen, and a dog and cat. We love being outside as much as we can! Our favorite place to visit in the summer is Duluth. I  have also taught swimming lessons for the past 20 years and previously coached swimming at 2 different high schools.

Canda LePage - I have been at St. Ambrose since October of 2005. I started working in the baby room and now I work in the Turtle Room. I have worked with all age groups -babies to kindergarten. I am married and have no human babies, just two funny cats I call my children! I enjoy spending time outdoor. I enjoy bird watching and planting flowers in my garden! I just recently went on a mission trip to Mexico.

Raija Leiviska - I am a senior at Woodbury High School. Next year I plan on going to college at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Right now I participate in lacrosse and football cheerleading. I have two younger brothers and I have been watching kids since I was eleven! I love taking care of others and in my opinion there is nothing like seeing a little kid smile!

Pre-Toddler Program

• Serves children 12-months to 22-months
• Hours are from 6:30 AM until 6:00 PM (with a 10-hour limit on the day)
• Pre-Toddler room is staffed with three teachers and one full time aide and one part-time aide
• Child – Teacher Ratio is 1:4 Maximum group size is 12 children
• The Daily Schedule is structured in a manner that allows for a variety of activities, including active and quiet times as well as music, science, and art, outside, nap and story times.
• Teachers communicate pertinent information regarding each child’s day through Daily Notes.
• Naptime is scheduled from 12:30-2:30, but allowances are made for children who may still require a morning nap
• Parent-Teacher Conferences are held twice and year. Additional conferences scheduled as needed.
• The Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Early Childhood Education Center is on the National School Lunch Program and will provide a morning and afternoon snack as well as a hot lunch each day.
• Families need to supply diapers, wipes and ointment, nuks, blankets / pillows for naptime and extra changes of clothing.

Pre-Toddler Curriculum

• The young toddlers have many needs as they continue to grow and learn. Activities in the room are geared to the young walkers as well as the more mobile toddlers. The teachers continue to build trust and confidence in each child as they accomplish new developmental goals.
• They also work closely with families so that each child’s needs are met. We do this through:
• Small muscle activities (coloring, painting, feeding themselves, playing with manipulative toys, etc.)
• Large muscle activities (walking, running, playing with balls, using push/pull toys, playing on the playground, dancing, etc.
• Social activities (interacting with other children, teachers, parents, In-House Fieldtrips, Family Events, etc.)
• Spiritual growth (songs, stories, actions, pictures, prayers, etc.)
• Intellectual growth (verbal language, reading stories, singing songs, building with blocks, color, shape, and sensory activties, talking, interacting, weekly themes, etc.)
• Emotional growth (meeting the needs of each child, providing security, building trust, creating a caring, nurturing Christian environment, etc.)

Pre-Toddlers (“Turtles”) Daily Schedule (12-22 month olds):

• Children who need to eat breakfast at school may bring in cereal, etc. and eat it in the designated classroom between the hours of 6:30 and 7:45 A.M. Leftover breakfast food will be thrown away. Milk, bowls, spoons, etc. will be provided by the center.

6:30-8:30 A.M. = Arrivals/greetings, play time and stories

8:30-9:00 A.M. = One-on-One play, Flannel board stories, music

9:00-9:15 A.M. = Diapering, hand washing, snack prep

9:15-9:35 A.M. = Snack time and clean-up

9:40-10:00 A.M. = Large Muscle Room Activites

10:00-10:40 A.M. = Art time, Group time, flannel stories, books, music

10:40-11:00 A.M. = Large Muscle Activities outside or in classroom

11:00-11:25 A.M= Diapering, hand washing, stories, lunch preparation

11:30-11:55 A.M. = Lunch time

11:55-12:20 P.M. = Clean-up, diapering, hand washing, stories, play time

12:20-12:30 P.M. = Quiet time, stories

12:30-2:30 P.M. = Naptime

2:30-3:00 P.M. = Wake-up, diapering, hand washing, play time

3:00-3:20 P.M. = Hand washing, snack time, clean-up

3:20-3:40 P.M. = Large muscle room activity time

3:40 - 4:10 P.M. = Outside playground time, walks or room activites (depending on weather)

4:10-5:00 P.M. = Diapering, hand washing, one-on-one play, stories, music, art activities

5:00-5:30 P.M.= Play time, music, departures

5:30-6:00 P.M. = Large Muscle Room (if attendance is low), otherwise classroom activites.