Jr. PreK and PreKindergarten Program
Ages: Children who turn 4 by December 31 of the academic school year
Hours: Monday - Friday, 6:30am - 6:00pm
Options: Half Day or Full Day
Our PreKindergarten Program is designed with the 4-year-old child in mind and heart.
Learning takes place through active exploration, hands-on experiences, and purposeful play. Because play is the foundation of learning, it provides the surest path to developing self-confidence, independence, problem-solving skills, and a lifelong love of learning.
Through weekly and monthly themes, children explore concepts that are meaningful to their world while building the academic, social, emotional, and self-help skills needed for future success.
Literacy and Kindergarten Readiness
Our PreKindergarten Program provides the strong literacy foundation needed to prepare children for Kindergarten. In our print-rich classroom environment, children participate in meaningful opportunities to see how reading and writing are used every day.
Children listen to, read, and dictate stories; use charts and visual supports; engage in large and small group discussions; and experiment with writing through drawing, copying, letter formation, and daily journals. These experiences help develop pre-reading, early literacy, communication, and critical thinking skills.
Circle Time and Daily Learning
Each day begins with Circle Time, creating a sense of unity and connectedness within our School Family. Children participate in calendar activities, responsibility assignments, weather observations, the hundreds chart, letter recognition activities, Share and Tell, music, movement, and discussions centered around weekly and monthly themes.
Themes may include letters of the week, character development concepts, seasonal topics, and other engaging areas of study that encourage curiosity and exploration.
Choice Time and Discovery Centers
During Choice Time, children choose among a variety of learning centers including:
- Sensory Play
- Blocks
- Puzzles and Games
- Math Manipulatives
- Reading
- Writing
- Art Creations
- Dramatic Play
- Science and Investigation
These child-centered learning experiences encourage independence, creativity, concentration, decision-making, problem-solving, and collaboration while allowing children to learn through hands-on exploration.
Character and Social Emotional Development
Teaching morals and values is an important part of life at The Academy. Monthly character development themes focus on concepts such as patience, honesty, gratitude, generosity, positive attitude, love, caring, respect, tolerance, responsibility, fairness, and determination.
Children also participate in the Second Step program, which promotes social and emotional development. Through daily interactions and guided activities, children develop courtesy, cooperation, empathy, sharing, negotiation, compromise, respect for others, and positive conflict-resolution skills.
Enrichment Opportunities
Children enjoy a variety of enrichment experiences including:
- Daily music and movement activities
- Weekly Spanish instruction
- Bi-weekly Music Enrichment classes
- Environmental education focused on reducing, reusing, and recycling
- Yoga for balance, coordination, body awareness, concentration, and self-regulation
These experiences support the development of the whole child while encouraging curiosity, creativity, and a positive sense of well-being.
The "All About Me" Project
Four-year-olds naturally focus on discovering who they are and how they fit into the world around them. One of the highlights of our program is the creation of an "All About Me" Book.
Beginning in September and completed in May, this special project allows children to express themselves through stories, photographs, drawings, and personal reflections. The completed book is presented to families during Graduation Ceremonies and serves as a meaningful celebration of each child's growth, self-awareness, and family connections.
Building Confidence for the Future
Above all else, the PreKindergarten Program provides experiences designed to develop each child's self-esteem, independence, responsibility, and positive feelings toward learning. Children are encouraged to explore, create, make choices, solve problems, and gain confidence as they prepare for the transition to Kindergarten.
*Toilet Training Requirement: Teachers are happy to provide bathroom assistance as needed; however, children enrolled in the PreKindergarten Program must be toilet trained and out of diapers or pull-ups.
