Kindergarten
Play is the work of preschool children; imitation is their special talent and natural way of learning. The kindergarten teacher creates an environment where natural beauty and reverence for life abound, bringing warmth, security and cooperation to the child's world of constructive fantasy and imagination.
The teacher participates in practical and artistic activities which the children imitate--baking, painting, drawing, modelling and handcrafts in a weekly rhythm--coloring the work with seasonal moods and festival celebrations.
The children wholeheartedly reenact these guided activities in their free, creative play. With joy and devotion they express wonder for life and enthusiasm for work, building a strong bridge to later academic learning:
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Songs and nursery rhymes cultivate intimacy with language building literacy skills;
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Listening to stories, watching puppet shows and dramatic play strengthen the power of memory and imagination;
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Counting games and rhythmic activities build a solid foundation for arithmetic and number skills;
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Work activities develop coordination and the ability to concentrate;
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Outdoor activities, including play and hiking, encourage healthy physical development and an appreciation of nature and seasonal changes.
Here the young child's imagination is nourished and allowed to unfold, leading to an inner vitality out of which grows the capacity not only for dynamic and original thinking but also for creative and effective adult life.
Children who reach four years nine months by the start of school in the fall may enroll in the five-day kindergarten program.
Early Kindergarten
The Early Kindergarten program is designed for children aged three years six months to four years nine months by September entry into school. Classes are held three days per week for four hours each day. This introduction provides a gentle transition into the full five-day kindergarten program.
