Pre-Kindergarten
(Age 4 by September 1st)
Mission
To provide a secure environment that fosters a positive self-image by helping each child develop age appropriate social and cognitive skills through multi-sensory learning experiences.
Why We’re Special
- Harcourt Trophies Language Program
- Math groups using the Math Their Way Program
- Emerging Reading/Phonemic Awareness/Fine Motor Skills
- Handwriting Without Tears
- Hands-on Science & Social Studies Units
- 1:15 teacher/student ratio
- 3 parent/teacher conferences per year
- Spanish
- Marvelous Music
- Art Adventures
- P.E. / Health
- Library's special stories
- Computer lab classes
- British Curriculum equivalent
Watch our ‘Fabulous Fours and Fives’ become fantastic readers and incredible mathematicians, counting to 100, counting by 10's, patterning, adding and subtracting. We love to cook scrumptious recipes, and not only do we learn about the color chart, we are introduced to Monet , Manet, and more.
Curriculum
The program for four-year-olds stresses the elements of the Brigance Diagnostic Inventory of Early Development and also introduces the concrete subjects of reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies, and the Boehm concepts (directional and positional vocabulary). Classes are structured for a 1:15 student/teacher ratio but are scaled down to smaller groups for the morning rotation of Math/Language Arts/Boehm. In addition, Pre-K students enjoy the same enrichment classes as the elementary students: art, computer, library, music, physical education and Spanish.
Language Arts
Phonics, blending, and reading are taught on an individual basis. Written lowercase letters are emphasized. Literature is based on the “letter of the week.”
Math
Number concepts, problem solving, graphing, critical thinking, and computation are stressed. Students develop skills through the use of manipulatives, regular practice, and practical application. Geo Safari discriminatory games and computer games are examples of enrichment activities.
Social Studies
Students are introduced to the seven continents, and there is a major focus on appreciating different cultures, especially those represented in our classrooms.
Science
Students study trees, flowers, fruit, plants, and animal habitats. Animal families are classified into mammals, insects, and birds. Hands-on experiments are conducted with magnets, aspects of color, properties of oil and water, and others. There is also an introduction to the solar system, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
Boehm
Boehm consists of 26 basic parts that teach children to comprehend directions and explanations and develop an understanding of the world around them. Examples include the concepts of near and far and above and below.
Music
Music instruction revolves around the seasons and holidays. Students also participate in the annual school musical.
Art
Students exercise fine-motor skills and eye-hand coordination by learning to draw lines and shapes, by using scissors, and by working with crayons, markers, paint, and glue. In addition, they reinforce knowledge of colors by mixing paints.
Spanish
There is a continuation of basic counting, colors, parts of the body, salutations, and knowledge of Spanish-speaking cultures.
Physical Education
Students are introduced to the idea of fitness including informal exposure to the basic elements of physical education.
School Hours
Arrival 8:15-8:30 a.m. with class beginning promptly at 8:30 a.m.
Students not attending Afternoon Enrichment are escorted to the Memorial drive-thru for 12:00 p.m. pick up.
Afternoon Enrichment students are to be picked up at the Memorial drive-thru between 2:30–2:45 p.m.
Highlights of The Year
- Witnessing so many first-time readers is thrilling
- Watching the transformation from math as play to math as numbers and computation
- Sharing our different cultures
- Annual field trips, usually to a play in the fall and a ranch in the spring
- Opening Act for the annual spring musical
- Buckaroo Breakfast with Dad and/or Granddad
- Mother’s Day Tea
- Enjoying interesting speakers
