Kindergarten Program

Our Philosophy

Our Kindergarten philosophy is to provide a loving and caring environment that enhances the spiritual, cognitive, social, emotional and physical development of every child through active participation. Learning is a process that each child masters at his or her own developmental pace. It is our goal to work with you to provide your child with a love for learning.

Our Kindergarten Curriculum

The following is a list of concepts that will be covered in the various curricular areas:

• Language Arts - Alphabet identification, letter sounds, rhyming words, understanding print, introduction to basic sight words, blending phonemes, pre-reading activities, and listening comprehension

• Mathematics - Number recognition, number formation, rote counting, one to one correspondence, patterning, sorting, classifying, addition, subtraction, time, money, charting, and graphing

• Religion - The love of God our Father, God's love for each of us, God's creation of our world, God's gifts to us, liturgical seasons, lives of saints, and various prayers

• Science - Landforms, space, dinosaurs, water, plants, seasons, weather, nutrition, and senses

• Social Studies - Communities and helpers, holidays, our world, our community, presidents, and following rules

• Physical Education - Large and small muscle development, sportsmanship, and age appropriate games

Kindergarten Readiness

Going to Kindergarten is a big step for children and their parents. The following list gives examples of basic skills that have been recognized as contributing to success in school. If your child cannot do every item on the list, it does NOT mean that he or she is not ready for Kindergarten. Every child who is five years of age by September 1 may enter Kindergarten.

Personal Skills:

• Identifies and prints first name

• Tells first/last name

• Provides personal information about self

• Uses bathroom independently

• Identifies body parts

Social Skills:

• Shows interest in school activities

• Understands and follows spoken directions

• Separates easily form parents

• Cooperates, shares, and take turns

• Sits/listens attentively for 5-6 minutes

• Follows simple 1-2 step directions

Fine Motor Skills:

• Holds a pencil firmly enough to write

• Uses scissors

• Interested in coloring activities

Gross Motor Skills:

• Catches/bounces a ball

• Can hop on 1 foot

Number Sense

• Identifies numbers 1-10

• Names shapes

• Understands concept of "one" and more than "one"

Literacy Skills:

• Shows an interest in books

• Identifies letters in alphabet

• Retells a simple story

• Hears and makes rhymes

Memory:

• Sings a simple song

• Says/sings alphabet

• Identifies colors

How Parents Can Help

As a parent you can do a great deal to help the Kindergarten teacher understand your child. You will have an opportunity to meet your child's teacher at Seton Parents Night in early September and discuss progress at Parent Teacher Conferences in November and again in March. If at any time you have questions about your child's progress and/or adjustment to school, feel free to request a conference.

Please let the teacher know if your child has any upsetting experiences outside of school or is under emotional strain. As a result, behavior difficulties may occur. By notifying the school, you will enable the teacher to help meet your child's needs with added patience and understanding.

The following is a list of several things you can do at home to help your child have a happier, safer and more productive school year:

Teach your child to:

• Say their name, address, phone number, and birth date

• Put on coat, hat, mittens, shoes, and boots

• Tie their shoes

• Use restroom appropriately

• Respect authority - teacher, principal, playground and cafeteria monitors

• Respect other children

• Be cautious of strangers

Help your child learn in these ways:

• Provide your child with a variety of interesting books, materials, and experiences

• Read daily with your child

• Engage your child in conversation

• Talk each day about what your child learned in school

• Show the value of school by encouraging regular, punctual attendance

• Develop a sense of responsibility through the assignment of realistic tasks at home

• Provide play time with friends outside of school

Our goal is to provide a balanced program where all children are provided an opportunity to develop at their own rate by observing, doing, discovering, listening, sharing, and creating. Emphasis is placed on understanding what is expected, making choices, and solving problems throughout the school year and accepting responsibility for their actions.

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