Today most children entering
kindergarten have had at least two years of pre-school experience. They have
already acquired the cognitive skills and socialization experiences to prepare
them for a full day program.
At
Our teachers assess each child's
ability and uniquely adapt the program to their learning style. Our mission is
to ensure each child has a positive learning experience which strengthens self
esteem.
The full-day kindergarten curriculum
is based on whole language, the phonics Reading
Reflex, the Big Math
for Little Kids and The Chicago Math programs. There is also a strong science and
social studies component as well as special teachers for Spanish, music and
movement.
Children are instructed in an individual as well as a group basis. Each
child is enriched and encouraged according to his/her own particular development
by very experienced and accomplished teachers.
Students are taken on field trips
which are woven into the curriculum and also visited in class by topic
“experts”, which often include interested parents.
Mathematics
We
use the Big Math for Little Kids and The University of Chicago programs.
They are a manipulative, “hands-on” approach to learning.
Children participate in sorting, graphing, estimating and patterning
activities. They learn to tell time to the hour and half-hour, learn
place value, counting to 100 by 1’s, 5’s, and 10’s, and
addition and subtraction facts to ten. They also learn to count, add and
subtract using money.
As
children interact with peers they learn ways of responding, reacting and
behaving in social situations. We help kindergarten children learn how others
respond and react to their social behaviors and help them adopt behaviors that
appear to them to meet the expectations of others.
Science
Here at
St.
Movement
Class
Our
movement program works with kindergartners on a weekly basis and teaches them
skipping, dance movements, tumbling and additional skills that enable children
to develop large-muscle coordination. The extra large parachute is loved
by all kindergartners.
Spanish
Our
Spanish program is based on iViva El Espanol! which is a complete Spanish
language development program. The children learn Spanish through songs,
puppets, and pictures. Young children are fascinated by learning to
listen and speak in another language.
Art
We encourage an appreciation of art and
artistic expression through a variety of materials. We respect
individuality in children’s art work. Our Young Artist Series by Amy Driscoll helps
children get to know the world’s greatest artists. Our
kindergartners learn about the artist, the tools and materials he uses to
create his art and then will use the same tools and materials to create their
own works of art. Our Parents and Painters program develops
kindergartners’ appreciation of art by parents visiting the classroom to
share knowledge of their favorite artists.
Music
Our music program teaches our kindergartners
music through a hands on approach using many rhythm instruments. The music and
kindergarten teachers work together with the children to learn songs that are
related to particular subject areas that they are learning about and that are
developmentally appropriate to this age group. Parents, teachers and
pre-school children look forward to the kindergarten’s Christmas
Sing-along in December, which is always an especially exciting event.
Social
Studies
Our curriculum centers on the child and
family, national and cultural holidays, the calendar, Native Americans,
history– then and now, community helpers and countries of interest.
Appreciation of people and cultures is encouraged. Maps, globes, child made
passports and imaginary trips enable kindergartners to plan and experience
exciting explorations. Our field trips include an annual visit to a
pumpkin farm, pet shop, planetarium and other interesting places.
Lunch
Kindergartners
eat lunch between 11:30am and 12:30pm in their own classroom, supervised by a
classroom assistant. The children generally eat during the first part of
the hour and then play outside or in the Parish Hall with other kindergarten
classes. Kindergartners also have a light morning and afternoon snack,
which is provided by the school. There is a rest time each afternoon.
Report Cards and
Conferences
Conferences
between parents and teachers are scheduled in the fall and spring, and frequent
communication occurs throughout the year as parents and teachers work with one
another to provide each kindergartner with the best education possible.
Child-friendly report cards are sent home in February and June.
An enriching experience . . .
FULL DAY
KINDERGARTEN CLASSES
Available
5 sessions per week
9:00 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.
For registration information contact the office of
The Day School (908)233-5417
Kindergarten:
_______________________
414
Phone: (908) 233-5417
Fax: (908) 232-9723