Meet the Staff:

Sara Miller - I  have been at St. Ambrose since September 2006. I graduated from North St. Paul High School and then attended both UW Stout and UW Riverfalls. I  have been working with children since the age of 13. I  was the local babysitter! In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and I travel to Cabo every year. I  enjoy creating colorful artwork for the children to enjoy in my classroom. I  love the unconditional love that the children give me each day while at work.

Kelly Rossini - I  have worked at St. Ambrose since we opened in September 2000. In my spare time I  enjoy spending time with my nephew and niece, reading, and watching hockey and baseball.

Kristy Malicki - I have been working in the early childhood field for over 10 years. I have a two-year degree in Child Development. In my spare time I like to hang out with my family and friends and going to the cabin, walking and biking. I enjoy working with kids a lot. Each day is a mystery with them and you never know what the day will bring!

Clare Chandler - I am a senior at Woodbury High School. Next year I hope to attend the University of Minnesota or Wisconsin. I have a younger brother and sister and I have been babysitting since I was twelve years old. Before St. Ambrose, I taught swimming lessons through Community Education. I enjoy skiing, swimming, and spending time with my family and friends!

Toddler Program

• Serves children 22-months to 32-months
• Hours are from 6:30 AM until 6:00 PM (with a 10-hour limit on the day)
• Toddler room is staffed with two teachers and one full time aide and one part-time aide
• Child – Teacher Ratio is 1:7 Maximum group size is 14 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 12:30-2:30/2:45
• 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, blankets / pillows for naptime, and extra changes of clothing.

Toddler Curriculum

• The older toddlers are very busy and excited to learn new things. Activities in the room are geared to the curiosity and energy level of the children. The teachers continue to build trust and confidence in each child and encourage self-help skills and self-confidence. 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, shape sorting, using crayons, markers, etc.)
• Large muscle activities (walking, running, playing with balls, playing on the playground, dancing, using the big gym, etc.)
• Social activities (interacting with other children, teachers, parents, In-House Fieldtrips, Family Events, etc.)
• Spiritual growth (songs, stories, actions / words, pictures, posters, 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.)

Monkey Daily Schedule

6:30-8:00 AM Arrivals/greetings, playtime, stories, etc.

8:00-8:45 AM Large group time activities (stories, songs, flannel stories)

8:50-9:10 AM Art time, small group activities, one-on-one play time

9:10-9:30 AM Diapering, hand washing, snack prep

9:45-10:30 AM Snack, clean-up, hand washing

10:30-10:50 AM Outisde time (may vary in winter and summer/weather permitting)

10:50-11:10 AM Small group activities, one-on-one play time, free choice

11:10-11:30 AM Large muscle room time

11:30-11:50 AM Diapering, hand washing, stories, LUNCH TIME!

11:50-12:30 PM Lunch clean-up, creative movement activities, diapers, hand washing

12:30-2:30 PM Nap time (finish with clean-up as needed)

2:30-3:00 PM Wake up, diapers/hand washing, quiet activities

3:00-3:15 PM Snack

3:15-3:40 PM Art activity, group time, flannel board stories, etc.

3:40-4:00 PM Large Muscle Room

4:00-4:30 PM Free choice time, diapering/hand washing

4:30-5:15 PM Outside time (weather permitting), walks, creative movement, etc.

5:15-5:30 PM Combine with Turtle Room (if numbers are low), one-on-one time, departures

5:30-6:00 PM Combine with other children in Large Muscle Room (if #'s are low), departures