Holy Cross Academy

Holy Cross Academy is a licensed child development center. We are open 12 months of the year and provide full-time care on weekdays from 6:30 am until 6:00 p.m. Your child may enroll at any time during the year. Please call 864-963-5986 or visit us to check prices and availability. We encourage you to tour our facility and meet our staff!

We enroll infants as young as 6 weeks, and offer preschool programs for each age until they enter kindergarten. We also provide transportation and after-school, summer, and holiday care for children at the following elementary schools: Plain, Simpsonville, Bryson, Fountain Inn, Rudolph Gordon, Bethel, Bells Crossing and Greenbrier.

Philosophy
 

Holy Cross Academy is here to help your child develop to his or her full potential spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and physically. Our programs are designed to meet the needs of each developmental stage your child passes through. This is primarily done through hands-on activities in learning centers and positive role modeling of the staff. Teachers treat each child as an individual because children learn in different ways and at different rates

By providing a safe, secure environment, we hope to encourage children to grow to a maximum level of independence which will allow each child to meet the challenges they will face in our ever widening world. We invite and encourage parental communication and will arrange for a conference with the teacher and director whenever requested. We are partners in the most challenging and rewarding task of helping a child grow into a responsible, productive adult. Let us share this experience knowing that we have been entrusted with God's most precious gift...a human life.

Staff

All of our employees had a complete background check through SLED, FBI, and Central Registry prior to beginning employment. All of our staff members are certified in CPR and First Aid, and have a current health assessment and TB test in their file.

Many of our staff have their certificates in Early Childhood Development or higher. Our teachers are required to take continuing education courses each year in growth and development, curriculum, health and safety to enhance their knowledge on the best practices for childcare.

Curriculum

Children enrolled in our preschool are exposed to many different teaching styles so they have an opportunity to discover and use their particular talents. Some of the teaching methods we use include:
• Thematic Units: Weekly themes that relate to the current season are selected in advance. Art, songs, stories and lessons are all based on the theme being taught, linking the subject matter together. (Primarily used in the 2K & 3K classes)
• Literature Based Units: The teacher selects some of the finest children's literature as a springboard for studies around animals, people and places of the world. Each book covers different themes incorporating pre math and reading as well as wonderful life themes that are relevant to young children. (Primarily used in the 4K classroom)
• Project Approach: A topic that a child or group of children seem very interested in is chosen for study. Children discuss and plan what they will be doing during the class session, then do it, then reflect on what they did. The topic of study can last from 1 day to many weeks, and several projects can continue at the same time. (Primarily used in the 5K classroom)
• Religious Education: The 3K, 4K, and 5K classes will go to chapel next door at Holy Cross Episcopal church every other week. The director of children’s Christian formation will teach non-denominational bible stories and songs to the children. These teachings will be reviewed and elaborated upon in the classrooms. Spring and winter programs are typically performed for graduation and Christmas.

Extra Programs

For an additional charge, gymnastics, computer, sports and fitness classes are available to children 2 and up weekly. Children who see an early interventionist, speech, occupational, or physical therapist may receive these special services while they are in our care.

Meals

Lunch and snacks are provided by Holy Cross Academy. The preschool children will say the blessing before they are served lunch. We will provide meal alternatives if your child has a specific allergy to items on our menu. We do not provide breakfast, but children who arrive before 8:00 a.m. may bring breakfast from home and eat it in their classroom.

Illnesses

All children must provide a current immunization record prior to enrollment; these records must be kept up-to-date to continue to remain enrolled at Holy Cross Academy. Children with a fever and/or contagious illness are not permitted to attend until they have clearance from a physician; if they get sick while they are at school a parent will be required to pick them up. Administrators will post a sign on the classroom door if a child in the classroom has been diagnosed with a contagious illness. The staff members at Holy Cross Academy are authorized to administer medications to children enrolled at the center with the proper documentation.

Security

The doors to Holy Cross Academy remain locked at all times. Families are given a code upon enrollment that grants them access into the building during the hours of operation. All classrooms have a portable attendance tracking system to account for all children and their location at all times throughout the day. Children will not be released to anyone other than a parent without parent permission and proper identification.