St. Joseph Early Education Program (EEP) offers a full day/full year preschool experience for
children ages 2-5 who are currently potty trained. Our staff offers an academic, faith based
environment where each child is treated as an individual with individual needs that will be met
through their learning environment using developmentally appropriate practice (DAP). We
have two classrooms. Our preschool classroom for children ages 2-3 and our Pre-K
classroom for children 3-5. We provide a morning and afternoon snack, children can bring
their own lunch or purchase a school lunch.
St. Joseph EEP is a Montana State Licensed facility which provides our program standards to
maintain a safe, nurturing and educational environment. Our curriculum works hand in hand
with the Montana Early Learning Standards (MELS), with the National Association for the
Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP).
Early educators intentionally build their curriculum based off of the many developmental
domains to help prepare children for Kindergarten.
St. Joseph School Early Education Program Application
St. Joseph EEP follows a curriculum that is based on the Montana Early Learning Standards.
Children are taught Social Emotional Development, Physical Development and Health, Language Literacy, Communication, Math, Science, Creative Arts, and Social Studies to prepare them for Kindergarten. When available through the school, Pre-K students benefit from weekly lessons with a physical education teacher, art teacher, and music teacher.
“Curriculum is an educational plan that guides the teaching process – from lesson development – to implementation – to evaluation. Quality early childhood curriculum is grounded in research-based understandings of child development and developmentally appropriate practices. Teachers utilize curriculum to identify what to teach, to develop and organize learning experiences, and to assess what was learned.” —Taken from the MELS
At St. Joseph EEP we assess and observe children to help determine their level of school readiness and we work with parents and guardians to establish individual goals to support every student’s growth and development.Children are engaged daily in hands-on experiences that encourage them to think, imagine, and problem-solve. Staff support and challenge children’s thinking with diverse materials, thoughtful conversations, and nurturing interactions.
As a Catholic School, each child will benefit from religion lessons taught throughout the week. Pre-K students will attend weekly Prayer Service in the St. Joseph gymnasium.
Mission Statement
“Living the charisms of the Jesuits and Sisters of Providence, Missoula Catholic Schools is compelled through Christ’s love to serve Western Montana families by providing an excellent Catholic education while forming young people of compassion, conscience, competence, and community.”
Philosophy Statement
The purpose of St. Joseph Early Education Program is to supply the care and protection a child needs while his/her parents are out of the home in a Christian and developmentally appropriate learning environment. The programs follow the philosophy that each child is treated as an individual with individual needs that will be met through their learning environment using developmentally appropriate practice (DAP). St. Joseph Early Education Program is a place where the child will feel loved and secure while learning through discovery and play. At St. Joseph, we appreciate each child’s self-image and learning style.
St. Joseph Preschool and Pre-K (Ages 2-5)
Please call or email our Early Education Director, MaryPat Hertz if you have any questions.
(406) 549-7648 or marypat.hertz@mcsmt.org
MaryPat Hertz comes to St. Joseph Early Education Program with over 28 years of experience in the field of early childhood education. In 2009 she graduated from The University of Montana Western with a BS in Early Education. MaryPat has always had a passion for early childhood and always dreamed of being a teacher. She began her career volunteering in her son’s Head Start classroom. MaryPat brings impressive credentials as an administrator and a trainer. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, especially her new grandbaby.
Sharon Kost comes to us with 30 years childcare/preschool experience along with ongoing continual training. She believes God placed her in the Saint Joseph Early Ed Program because children are her passion. As she teaches all the Littles placed in her care; she is amazed and also learns so much from them. God has blessed Sharon with a wonderful family; her husband Willie, two grown children, and one grandson. They are the loves of her life. In her spare time, Sharon enjoys exploring Montana’s great outdoors. Her hobbies include hiking, fishing, bowling, and reading. She loves to interact with everyone; playing games is a must at all gatherings. Sharon believes we are placed here on earth to be God’s arms and legs. Her lifelong motto is, “Kindness Starts With Me.
Roxy Post comes to St. Joseph Early Education Program with over 40 years of preschool experience. Roxy has always had a love for working with children and she enjoys working at St. Joe’s because our early education program is all about the kids. Roxy has a daughter, two grandsons and a great granddaughter who just turned 2. Roxy has been with her honey for 45 years and feels that God has truly blessed her life. In her spare time, Roxy enjoys spending time with her family and her cats.
Say hello to Susan Osendorf, aka “Nana,” or “Nana Sue.” After retiring from teaching in the public school for 34 years, Nana moved to Montana to be closer to her daughter, Corinne and grandson, CJ. Nana comes in at least once a week to do a special project, cook something special for a snack or just give the other teachers some extra planning time. In her “spare” time, Nana plays with CJ, walks her dog Moose or relaxes with her husband, Dan at their home in Huson. Nana also has a son, Seth, aka “Santa,” who lives in California, but visits often.
Meet Cindy Hinricher, a native Montanan, mother of four, and grandmother of six. Cindy spent many years volunteering in local schools that her children attended and teaching in local churches in the Kid’s ministry. Her passion and love of children has brought her to St. Joseph’s as a teacher’s aide in the preschool classroom. Much of her free time is spent with her children and grandchildren and her little
dog, Bailey.
Meet Suzannah Richardi, although this is her first job working in a preschool setting, she has many years experience working as a nanny and also a big sister to two younger siblings. Working with children is her passion and Suzannah will soon be starting her college journey into early education. Suzannah was born and raised in Camden, Maine until two years ago when she decided to move to Montana. Suzannah loves to spend time reading and outside with her boyfriend and cat Mia.
