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Curriculum
The Early Childhood Center contains a carefully prepared environment
in which children are encouraged to explore and develop their natural
creativity and curiosity. The curriculum is designed to promote
growth through active hands-on learning with a balance of play
and discovery and self-initiated and teacher-initiated activities.
Skills such as language development, beginning math concepts,
gross and fine motor control, visual and auditory discrimination,
and decision-making are emphasized. The children have many opportunities
for self-expression through conversation, art, manipulative and
socio-dramatic play, and dictation and writing experiences. The
program also provides ample time for outdoor play with activities
that promote the development of basic physical skills. These include
agility, balance, strength, and coordination.
The Early Childhood program is enhanced by regular opportunities
for Spanish, science, and computer experiences. The children visit
the school library and may check-out books weekly. Our program
has been created to reflect the lives of our children, families,
staff, and community. Students are provided with positive experiences
that explore the similarities and differences in people and cultures.
These activities help children learn to live happily and cooperatively
in our diverse world.
Music is an integral ingredient in our curriculum. The classroom
teachers use music throughout the day to teach and reinforce skills
and concepts as well as to ease transitions. Each class also meets
with our EC music teacher, Mrs.Claudia McIvor twice each week.
The music curriculum includes four major components of singing,
rhythm, creative movement and music interpretation.
Alpha Class
Pictures
We now have two Alpha classes, housed in a building which contains
two classrooms and their very own exploratorium. There are 17 children
in each Alpha Class. Alpha students must be three years old by
September 1 of the school year in which they enter this program.
Junior Kindergarten Class
Pictures
In the fall of 2001, we were able to answer the call of the community
and add an additonal Junior Kindergarten class. There are now three
Junior Kindergarten classes, each with 18 children and a lead and
an assistant teacher. They are found in the Early Childhood Center
which contains a large exploratorium in addition to the Director's
office, the three classrooms and a large porch. Children in the
Junior Kindergarten must be four years old by September 1 of the
school year in which they enter this program.
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