Our Programs

Over time, we’ve designed and adapted programs to meet the high standards of today’s world of education. As a proud holder of an MSDE-certified Private Nursery School number and an MSDE Office of Child Care registration, ADLAC is committed to quality at every level. By providing a supportive, nurturing environment, we ensure that each child receives exactly what they need to thrive.

A Dean's List Academy
(PreK3 and PreK4)

✨ The Academy at ADLAC, A Day Designed for Discovery ✨

At A Dean’s List Academy & Care (ADLAC), we craft every day with intention, joy, and a deep respect for how young children learn. Our program is thoughtfully aligned with the Maryland Early Learning Standards (MELS) and fully compliant with COMAR regulations, ensuring your child’s experience nurtures the whole child: mind, body, and spirit.

From circle time to purposeful play, every moment at The Academy is an opportunity to activate your child’s natural desire to learn. With “Knowledge is Power” as our guiding motto, we prepare children to thrive not only in school but in life, developing the curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking skills they’ll need to soar in the 21st century.

📅 Sample Day Schedule ( Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)

🕘 9:00 AM — Arrival & Morning Greeting

Warm welcomes, self-help skills (coat, cubby), emotional check-ins
Domain focus: Social & Emotional Development / Approaches to Learning

🕤 9:15 AM — Morning Meeting & Intentional Circle Time

Group song, daily schedule, introduction of theme-based concepts
Domain focus: Language & Literacy / Social & Emotional Development

🕙 9:30 AM — Purposeful Learning Centers

Rotating small-group and independent activities:
- Book corner (Language & Literacy)
- STEAM table (Early Cognition & STEAM)
- Dramatic play (Social & Emotional Development / Approaches to Learning)
- Sensory bin (Physical Development)
- Art studio (Fine Motor / Creativity)

🕥 10:30 AM — Snack & Socialization

Healthy snack with peer conversations and self-help practice
Domain focus: Physical Well-Being / Social & Emotional Development

🕚 10:50 AM — Outdoor Exploration & Gross Motor Play

Free play, obstacle courses, nature walks
Domain focus: Physical Well-Being / Approaches to Learning / STEAM inquiry

🕛 11:30 AM — Small Group Instruction

Teacher-facilitated learning: alphabet, math games, inquiry projects
Domain focus: Language & Literacy / Early Cognition / Approaches to Learning

🕧 12:00 PM — Lunch & Community Time

Nutritious meal, social conversation, self-help routines
Domain focus: Physical Well-Being / Social & Emotional Development

🕐 12:30 PM — Rest & Relaxation

COMAR-compliant quiet rest period with soft music/books
Domain focus: Physical Well-Being / Social-Emotional Development

🕝 2:00 PM — Afternoon Enrichment Activities

Music and movement, art projects, gardening, cultural exploration
Domain focus: STEAM / Physical Development / Language & Literacy

🕒 2:45 PM — Closing Circle & Reflections

Share highlights from the day, review tomorrow’s plans
Domain focus: Social & Emotional Development / Language & Literacy

🕓 3:00 PM — Dismissal & Family Connections

Individual goodbyes, updates for families, transition to pickup
Domain focus: Social & Emotional Development

A Dean's List Care
(ages 3+)

✨ The Care Program at ADLAC, Before/After/Sat Care with Purpose ✨

At A Dean’s List Academy & Care (ADLAC), every part of the day is an opportunity for growth. Our Before and After Care program is intentionally designed to provide a nurturing, engaging environment that complements The Academy’s core day.

We know that children thrive when they feel safe, supported, and seen even during extended hours. That’s why our before and after care offers not just supervision, but enriching experiences aligned with the Maryland Early Learning Standards (MELS) and fully compliant with COMAR requirements.

Here, learning is joyful and child-driven: fostering creativity, curiosity, social connections, and essential life skills because at ADLAC, Knowledge is Power from sunup to sundown.

📅 Sample Before Care Schedule (Mon-Fri 5:30 AM – 9:00 AM)

🕠 5:30 AM — Early Arrival & Quiet Choice Time

Cozy, calm environment with books, puzzles, soft music
Domain focus: Language & Literacy / Social & Emotional Development / Approaches to Learning

🕖 7:00 AM — Breakfast & Conversation

COMAR-compliant nutritious meal, encouraging independence and peer interaction
Domain focus: Physical Well-Being / Social & Emotional Development

🕢 7:30 AM — Morning Movement & Mindfulness

Gentle stretching, yoga, indoor gross motor play
Domain focus: Physical Well-Being / Approaches to Learning

🕗 8:00 AM — Exploratory Activities & Open Centers

Art, dramatic play, table games, literacy corner
Domain focus: Language & Literacy / Social & Emotional Development / STEAM / Approaches to Learning

🕤 8:45 AM — Transition to Academy Day Prep

Self-help skills: toileting, washing hands, gathering belongings
Domain focus: Physical Well-Being / Social & Emotional Development

📅 Sample After Care Schedule (Mon-Fri 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM)

🕒 3:00 PM — Arrival from Academy & Afternoon Snack

Nutritious snack, social conversation, self-care routines
Domain focus: Physical Well-Being / Social & Emotional Development

🕞 3:30 PM — Outdoor Play & Gross Motor Exploration

Playground time, nature walks, games
Domain focus: Physical Well-Being / Approaches to Learning / STEAM inquiry

🕔 5:00 PM — Enrichment Activity Blocks

Rotating opportunities: art projects, music and movement, cooking, cooperative games, storytelling
Domain focus: Language & Literacy / STEAM / Approaches to Learning / Social & Emotional Development

🕕 6:00 PM — Independent Choice & Quiet Time

Relaxing end-of-day atmosphere: reading, puzzles, journaling, drawing
Domain focus: Language & Literacy / Approaches to Learning / Social & Emotional Development

🕖 7:00 PM — Family Pickup & Daily Highlights

Warm farewells with personal updates for families
Domain focus: Social & Emotional Development

📅 Sample Saturday Care Schedule (11:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

🕚 11:00 AM — Arrival & Choice Time

Warm welcomes, independent play choices (books, blocks, art)
Domain focus: Social & Emotional Development / Approaches to Learning / Language & Literacy

🕦 11:30 AM — Creative Expression Block

Open-ended art, sensory play, dramatic play setups
Domain focus: Fine Motor Development / Creativity / Approaches to Learning / Social & Emotional Development

🕛 12:00 PM — Lunch & Community Conversation

Nutritious lunch, promoting independence and social interaction
Domain focus: Physical Well-Being / Social & Emotional Development

🕐 1:00 PM — Outdoor Play & Gross Motor Activities

Playground time, nature walks, cooperative games
Domain focus: Physical Well-Being / Approaches to Learning / STEAM inquiry

🕝 2:30 PM — Rest & Relaxation

Quiet time with books, soft music, and cozy spaces for rest or calm play
Domain focus: Physical Well-Being / Social & Emotional Development / Language & Literacy

🕒 3:00 PM — Enrichment & Exploration Stations

Rotating activities: STEAM provocations, music & movement, puzzles, cooking experiences
Domain focus: Early Cognition / STEAM / Language & Literacy / Social & Emotional Development

🕔 4:15 PM — Group Reflection & Closing Circle

Sharing highlights from the day, mindfulness exercise, farewell songs
Domain focus: Social & Emotional Development / Language & Literacy

🕕 5:00 PM — Dismissal & Family Connections

Smooth transitions home, updates for parents
Domain focus: Social & Emotional Development

Our Curriculum Is Aligned To
The Maryland Early Learning Standards

💖 At ADLAC, we believe that knowledge begins with knowing yourself and understanding others. We help children build the powerful skills of empathy, confidence, and emotional resilience, preparing them to thrive in every relationship and community. We address the following standards in this domain:

Forming secure relationships with adults and peers
Identifying, expressing, and managing emotions
Demonstrating empathy and understanding others’ emotions
Engaging in cooperative play and navigating social interactions

🌱 We nurture the superpower of curiosity at ADLAC. By fostering initiative, focus, and joyful exploration, we empower children to become self-directed learners who approach every challenge as an opportunity to grow. We address the following standards in this domain:

Initiative and curiosity (exploration and self-directed learning)
Executive functioning (attention, impulse control, working memory, cognitive flexibility)
Learning through play (imagination, creativity, sustained engagement)

📚 At ADLAC, we know that language is the key to unlocking the world. Through rich conversations, storytelling, and literacy play, we empower children to communicate, imagine, and discover, because knowledge is power when words come alive! We address the following standards in this domain:

Initiative and curiosity (exploration and self-directed learning)
Executive functioning (attention, impulse control, working memory, cognitive flexibility)
Learning through play (imagination, creativity, sustained engagement)

🔬 Critical thinking is a child’s superpower. Our STEAM-rich curriculum fuels curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity, empowering children at ADLAC to think deeply, question boldly, and embrace discovery as a joyful adventure. We address the following standards in this domain:

Mathematical thinking (counting, sorting, measuring, patterns, shapes)
Scientific inquiry (asking questions, cause and effect, observation, exploration of nature)
Engineering thinking (problem-solving, using tools, constructing)
The arts (visual arts, music, movement, dramatic play)

💪At ADLAC, we honor movement as a powerful form of learning. From big body play to fine motor exploration, we help children strengthen their bodies alongside their minds because healthy habits fuel lifelong learning.We address the following standards in this domain:

Gross motor development (walking, climbing, balancing, dancing)
Fine motor development (grasping, manipulating tools, writing readiness)
Perception and sensory integration (exploring the environment with all senses)
Health, nutrition, and self-care routines (washing hands, dressing, healthy eating)

Our Programs

A Dean's List Academy (PreK3 and PreK4)

A Dean's List Care (ages 3+)

Our Curriculum Is Aligned To The Maryland Early Learning Standards

A Dean's List Academy
(PreK3 and PreK4)

A Dean's List Care
(ages 3+)

Our Curriculum Is Aligned To
The Maryland Early Learning Standards