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For the youngest child at St. Mary's, Pre-Kindergarten is a place to start to make new friends as she separates from the security of home and enters the exciting world of school. This adventure takes her through many familiar and some not-so-familiar units of study, such as pets, dinosaurs, animals in the woods, and outer space.
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Junior Kindergarten is another step into the world of learning. Reading readiness continues with the introduction of phonics. By putting sounds together and beginning to see that the written word has meaning, children develop a love of reading. Number recognition, identifying basic shapes, learning math terms, counting, and measuring are all a part of the Junior Kindergarten math program. There are three classes of approximately 20 students each, and there are two certified teachers for each class. Classes meet five days per week from 8:00 a.m. until 12 noon.
In Senior Kindergarten, the children put it all together. Reading readiness is more exciting as they learn about thought patterns and sentence structure. They also use "inventive" spelling to begin to sound out words as they write stories in their journals. They also learn about authors and illustrators. Hands-on activities open up a whole new world of math. Several field trips are taken throughout the year such as to the Crafts Fair, the Pink Palace Museum, and the Children's Museum. There are three classes, each with two certified teachers and approximately 20 students.
Opportunities to learn in kindergarten at St. Mary's are provided through play. In a child-centered environment, play can be physical, imaginative, creative, problem-solving, exciting, pondering, and emotional.
The developmental goal for kindergarten students is a nurtured child with wholesome self-esteem, a child who feels safe, ready, and eager to learn about the world she lives in. Placement in the kindergarten program is based on developmental readiness.
Curriculum from Pre-K through SK
- Math
- Language Arts and Reading
- Science
- Social Studies
Special Subjects
- Physical Education/Rhythmics
- Foreign Language - Spanish
- Art
- Computer
- Library
- Music
- Bible (JK & SK)
- Science Lab (SK)