Setting Up Young Learners for Success
Our Junior Kindergarten program provides a supportive, five full-days per week learning experience that aligns with the K-12 school calendar, offering students a head start with additional time to grow socially, and emotionally, and academically. Junior Kindergarten students participate in specials such as art, music, physical education, and library, providing a well-rounded experience from the start.
Is Junior Kindergarten Right for Your Child?
Junior Kindergarten can be a great fit if your child:
- Struggles with letter recognition, phonics, or listening skills
- Has difficulty focusing or managing emotions
- Shows signs of delayed speech, language, or motor skills
- Is socially or emotionally less mature than their peers
- Has a summer or late summer birthday and may be younger than their classmates
- Finds it hard to separate from caregivers
- Needs additional support in developing self-control
How Junior Kindergarten Differs from Preschool
While building on preschool foundations, Junior Kindergarten emphasizes:
- Skill Assessments – Introduction to FAST assessments to measure mastery and guide learning.
- Teacher-Led Instruction – Increased direct instruction during circle time and structured lessons.
- Academic Focus – Pre-reading, writing, math, and critical thinking skills are introduced.
Our Junior Kindergarten program gives young learners an extra year to build critical skills, providing:
- Additional Time for Growth – Students have more time to develop focus, independence, and emotional regulation, setting them up for future academic success.
- Individualized Support – With a low teacher-to-student ratio, teachers can provide personalized attention to each child’s strengths and needs.
- Kindergarten Readiness – Students gain classroom experience, develop friendships, and build pre-academic skills, reducing the potential stress of starting Kindergarten unprepared.
- Skill Development – Focus on foundational skills that support a smooth transition to Kindergarten, paving the way for a happy and successful start to formal education.
Throughout the year, students work on essential skills that contribute to their overall growth, including:
- Turn-taking and cooperation
- Problem-solving and developing friendships
- Emotional regulation and appropriate school behavior
- Following multi-step directions and understanding routines
- Attention span and self-regulation
- Effective communication and perspective-taking
Junior Kindergarten lessons are designed to be:
- Playful and hands-on
- Engaging with games, songs, stories, and movement
- Tailored to individual learning needs
- Focused on developing critical foundational skills
The Junior Kindergarten curriculum provides a strong foundation in:
- English Language Arts
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
- Fine Motor Development
- STEM Activities
Our Junior Kindergarten program is a stepping stone for young learners, ensuring they enter Kindergarten with the confidence, skills, and readiness to succeed.