At St. Margaret’s Early School, every day is an adventure in learning—sometimes with a dash of garden soil, a sprinkle of discovery, and always plenty of imagination. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, St. Margaret’s Early School treats young learners as curious explorers and creative co-pilots on their educational journeys. Classrooms and outdoor spaces are set up to invite young minds to dive into hands-on projects, nature quests, and dramatic play. 

Early School students experience reading, writing, and storytelling as playful pursuits. Whether it’s crafting a treasure map or writing a grocery list for a pretend picnic, literacy pops up in unexpected and delightful ways. The Early School makes reading and writing feel natural, relevant, and, above all, fun—always tailored to each student’s unique interests and pace.

According to Early School Director Dr. Stefania Rubino, classrooms are stocked with more than just paper and markers—“loose parts,” which include natural materials such as pinecones, pebbles, or even a mysterious feather may be found, all waiting to become part of the learning adventure. “Loose parts include natural materials and man-made recycled items such as bottle caps, cardboard tubes or even fabric. These materials play a central role in the learning environment,” explained Dr. Rubino. “These simple, open-ended objects allow children to move, carry, combine, redesign, and use them in endless ways during play.” 

Loose parts offer rich opportunities for creativity and help Early School students develop important skills such as sequencing, classifying, and noticing characteristics. With these treasures at their fingertips, Early School students are inspired to draw, write, and label their discoveries. 

The fun of learning continues from indoors to the outdoors. Out in the open-air classroom, students hunt for interesting finds and share stories about their discoveries. By taking literacy outside, St. Margaret’s Early School highlights that reading and writing aren’t just for desks—they’re for gardens, playgrounds, and wherever curiosity leads.

“Through engaging in play, Early School students interact with print and mimic literacy behaviors while building essential language skills, in addition to developing executive functioning abilities such as planning, attention, and self-regulation, to say a few,” said Dr. Rubino. “These foundational skills are crucial for later academic success, and research emphasizes that they are best nurtured through play-based experiences rather than structured instruction alone.”

St. Margaret’s Early School embraces the core principles of the Reggio Emilia approach, viewing students as capable, curious learners, and co-creators of their learning experience.  From classrooms and outdoor learning spaces, to the demo lab, atelier, garden and multipurpose room, every environment is thoughtfully designed to spark exploration and encourage self-expression.