EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM-
RELIGION: The teaching of God's love and care for us is not limited to religion class. We read Bible stories, and learn about creation, the gift of our 5 senses, baptism, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and how god loves us and how we can show love to others. We have prayers daily.
READING READINESS: We concentrate on letter recognition, both capital and lower case, and the sounds these letters make. This phonetic approach is aided by the use of "Letter People" who come "visit" our class and help us to remember the letter sounds. We learn to recognize the beginning sounds of words, rhyming sounds, a number of sight words, and eventually sound out words and begin simple reading. Our text is literature based with concepts being introduced through age appropriate stories.
HANDWRITING: We use the D'Nealian form of handwriting to first practice the capital letters and later the lower case letters. We begin by writing our names correctly. Eventually we will copy words and short sentences from the chalkboard.
MATH CONCEPTS: We cover areas of shape, size, position, order, patterns, more and less, measurement, time, counting, number recognition, addition and subtraction. We also learn to write the numbers correctly and play math games on the computer.
SCIENCE: Our text covers the 5 senses and we concentrate on that the first half of the year. We also do units on other areas including animals, plants, weather, seasons, dinosaurs, butterflies, etc. We attend presentations by speakers invited to our school that cover a wide range of scientific topics.
MUSIC: Once a week Kindergarten has a music class with Mrs. Primeau, our choir director and music teacher.
ART: Art class is usually a weekly activity. We sometimes do projects that tie in with what we are currently learning.
LIBRARY: Once a week our class has library time with a volunteer parent. They are read a book and then may check a library book out for the week.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: On nice days we go outside onto the playground. During bad weather we can exercise or dance to videos, tapes, or records or do other movement activities indoors. There have also been after school sports that the children may join at Kindergarten age.
COMPUTER CLASS: Although we use a computer in the classroom daily, we also offer formal computer classes to our students.
DISCIPLINE
I use a positive approach to discipline, which encourages self-direction and self-esteem. I have found much success with rewarding good behavior and letting it be known that I will not tolerate behavior where a child could harm himself, others, or property. Any serious misbehavior that continues will be brought to the attention of the parent. I find that generally children of this age area eager to please their teacher if they know what is expected of them. I try to promote an environment that is loving and forgiving and encourage these traits in my students.
DRESS CODE: Kindergarten is expected to follow the school dress code but they do not need to bring gym shoes.
PARTIES: Birthdays are exciting events and Kindergarteners may bring a treat to share with their classmates on their birthday. Please don't send invitations to be passed out in class if the whole class is not invited to the party. This will save on hurt feelings.
We have classroom parties at Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day. You will be informed in advance and may be asked to help provide treats, etc.
FIELD TRIPS: We usually go to the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts to see a play twice a year. We also take an outdoor field trip in the fall and spring. Parents are asked to drive and you will be notified in advance.
OUR KINDERGARTEN DAY
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8:30
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8:50
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Self chosen Play activities and computer time |
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8:50
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9:00
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Attendance, calendar, devotions |
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9:00
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9:20
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Religion class (chapel with the rest of the school on Wednesdays) |
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9:20
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10:00
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Language Arts |
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Reading readiness |
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Handwriting |
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10:00
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10:30
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Bathroom break and snack time |
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Physical activity |
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10:30
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10:45
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Story time and/or Show and Tell |
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10:45
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11:15
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Science or theme activity |
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11:15
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11:35
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Science or theme activity |
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11:35
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11:45
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Clean up, prayer, dismissal of morning friends |
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11:45
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12:00
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Bathroom break |
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12:00
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12:20
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Lunch (bring your own or buy hot lunch) |
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12:20
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1:00
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Recess (when the weather is nice we will be outside with the 1st and 2nd grade class) |
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1:00
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1:45
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Bathroom break and rest time (each child will have their own cot in the quiet area of the church narthex) |
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1:45
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2:00
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Story time |
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2:00
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2:30
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Review or game based on a morning activity |
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2:30
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3:15
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Enrichment activity (may include activities, such as art, cooking or baking a snack once a week, structured physical activity, story writing and illustrating, drama, educational videos, learning centers, extra computer time, seasonal activities) |
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3:15
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3:30
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Clean up, bus riders leave, prayer and dismissal of our all day friends |
Included in the morning will be weekly classes of Art, Music with Mrs. Primeau, Computer and Library.
Our classroom door will not be open until 8:15 a.m. and any student not picked up by 3:40 p.m. will be
taken to Peace Plus, our after school care program. Morning friends will meet their parents at 11:45 a.m.
All day friends will be dismissed to their parents' cars from the church porch with the rest of the school at
3:30.
GETTING READY
All students are given a screening test for Kindergarten readiness. Scores range from 1 to 100 and we request a score of 75 or above. There is a possibility of a re-test for scores between 70 and 75 to be taken at a later date. Test results are given the same day and after that you may enroll.
HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD TO GET OFF TO A GOOD START IN KINDERGARTEN?
HAVE YOUR CHILD:
- Practice writing their name with only the first letter capital
- Write numbers 1 to 10
- Count while pointing to objects
- Say the alphabet one letter at a time
- Use scissors and glue
- Hold pencil and crayons with the correct grasp
- Practice using buttons, zippers, etc.
- Give two or three step directions for them to follow without constantly repeating it for them
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
- A large glue stick or several small ones
- A box of crayons - 24 is enough
- A paint shirt - any oversized shirt will do
- Scissors - round tipped Fiskars are safe and make cutting easier
- Plastic school box or shoe box to keep supplies in with your name on it
- Elmer's School Glue
- Large box of tissues
- 2 or 3 regular pencils - sharpened
- School bag or backpack - please send this every day
- Your child may bring a juice box every day or sign up to have a daily carton of milk through our school milk program
Dear Lord,
We ask your blessing on each of us as we work, learn and grow during the school year. Grant us guidance and wisdom as, together, we teach these little ones your ways.
Amen