Kindergarten
Our kindergarten program provides a warm, nurturing, and engaging introduction to elementary school. Led by an experienced classroom teacher and supported by a full-time instructional aide, students learn in a caring environment where they feel known, supported, and encouraged to grow.
Through a balance of structured instruction, hands-on exploration, and play-based learning, children build strong foundations in literacy, mathematics, social-emotional development, and faith formation. Small-group instruction and thematic, cross-curricular learning help students develop confidence, curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning.
Kindergarten Curriculum
Religion
Kindergarten students build a strong foundation of faith using the Augustine Institute’s Word of Life and Open Light Virtue Series. Through age-appropriate lessons, daily prayer, and monthly school Masses, students grow in their understanding of Catholic faith, virtue, and community.
Math
Using the Houghton Mifflin Go Math curriculum, kindergarten students will learn numbers to 100, beginning addition and subtraction, shapes, measuring, sorting/classifying, money, and time. Regular opportunities for hands-on learning, using manipulative math tools, and solving real-world problems make the curriculum come alive for our youngest students.
Language Arts
Kindergarten students build foundational literacy skills through the Scott Foresman Reading Program, Step Up to Writing by Voyager Sopris Learning, and Handwriting Without Tears. Through a multisensory approach, students develop phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing, sentence structure, and handwriting skills. Instruction is tailored to support each student’s individual learning needs and progress.
Science
Our lower grades science program inspires curiosity through hands-on, thematic lessons. In kindergarten, our science specialist uses the Amplify Science curriculum from UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science, along with books, models, demonstrations, and other visual resources. Students explore age-appropriate topics while developing observation, inquiry, and early scientific thinking skills.
Art
The children attend a weekly art class taught by our lower grades art instructor, where they explore through a variety of media.
Motor Skills/P.E.
Twice weekly, the kindergarten class attends P.E. with our Physical Education teacher. The curriculum explores all body awareness activities involved in developing large muscle development and self-confidence.
Music
The kindergarten students attend music class twice weekly. They learn music by creating, performing, and responding. The goal of the kindergarten music curriculum is to foster a love of music and build the self-confidence that comes from the development of skills and performance.
Technology
Technology is integrated to various degrees in all subjects in kindergarten. iPads are the primary technology tool that the class uses.
Spanish
Kindergarten students enjoy two Spanish classes each week with our lower grades Spanish teacher. Using Vista Higher Learning’s Listos curriculum, students build foundational vocabulary through songs, games, numbers, and engaging activities.
Library
Students in kindergarten visit the library weekly, where they learn how to use the library, check out books at their accelerated reading level, and to cultivate a lifelong love of reading.
Social Studies
Our social studies program helps students understand their community and the world around them. In kindergarten, students use McGraw Hill’s Impact: California Social Studies to explore age-appropriate topics while developing skills in cooperation, citizenship, and community awareness.