Kindergarten in many ways is the most important year in a child's life. Children will develop a love for learning, inquisitiveness about their environment and a sense of fair play. Students work on age appropriate academics wile learning to get along, share, and be a good friend. The kindergarten classroom is rich with sights, sounds, and things to touch and manipulate. Kindergarten is the foundation upon which all future education is built. A kindergarten filled with a variety of learning activities will help the child grow socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually.

The information following will acquaint you with the kindergarten program. If you still have questions, please call St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic School (794-7266) or stop in and visit us at 1322 33rd Street.

Kindergarten Session

Full-Day 8:00 am - 2:45 pm

The full day program reinforces the basis skills through the use of teacher created thematic units. These units allow for hands-on experiences, cooperative learning, the use of manipulatives, journal writing, creative dramatics, music, motor skills, and fun learning. Culminating each thematic unit is a short prayer service.

Reading

Children are prepared for reading with the introduction of critical early skills: 1) Phonemic awareness,  2) Teaching the sounds of the alphabet, 3) High-frequency words, 4) reading strategies, 5) Helping children write the letter-sound relationships they know by using them in words, sentences, messages, and their own stories, 6) Comprehension skills, 7) Concepts of print, 8) Writing, 9) Listening/speaking/viewing.

Religion

Religion is a vital part of the Catholic School Kindergarten Program. The teaching of Catechism is woven into the kindergarten day to meet the unique learning and faith development needs of kindergarten children. A balance among Doctrine, Scripture, and the Liturgical Year is provided. The core teachings of the Catholic Church, Bible Stories and the celebration of the seasons and special days of the church year are included in the religion program.

Science

Science increases children's awareness of and the ability to observe their environment. Using their senses, children experience the natural world through experimentation, observation, and discovery about their bodies, plants, animals, environment, weather, seasons, and space.

Art

Art is a channel for creative expression. The children are exposed to many forms of art media. Art is essential for the development of fine motor skills that are a prerequisite for writing, reading and math concepts. The art curriculum promotes art appreciation and aesthetic experiences.

Center Time

The classroom is divided into different areas of "centers" and children choose what they want to do each day. This time gives children the freedom to learn and discover wile playing. Centers include: art, math, science, blocks and building, rice and water, writing and listening, and reading.

Health and Safety

Basic principles of health and safety are integrated into the kindergarten curriculum.

Math

Throughout the year children participate in a wide variety of math activities. Concepts and skills are introduced during a formal whole group lesson and practiced through hands-on experiences, discussions, and exploration. Concepts and skills include: counting (1's, 5's, 10's), addition and subtraction stories, problem solving, shapes, time, money, measurement, fractions, graphing, reproducing designs, and patterning.

Physical Education

Physical education curriculum content for the kindergarten falls into give categories:

BODY MANAGEMENT: Referring to the physical control of the body-moving at different levels, speeds. forward, backward, and sideways.

MANIPULATION SKILLS: Handling an object with the hands or feet, tossing, catching, and rolling.

STUNTS/TUMBLING: Activities on the balance beam, vault and tumbling mats for developing strength, coordination, balance, agility, courage, self-confidence and initiative.

RHYTHMS: Galloping, stretching, bending, and jumping to music, freely expressing themselves.

FITNESS: Activities to develop muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular strength and endurance, flexibility and agility.

In Physical Education we also work on social behavior: knowing how to interact, share, rebound from disappointment, accept success, lead and follow.

Music

Music education in Kindergarten develops basic musical knowledge through singing games, rhythmic songs and action songs. Experience of beat, rhythm, high/low, loud/soft, fast/slow and the development of inner hearing crate a strong foundation for conscious concepts in first grade. Love of music, confidence in singing, playing small percussion instruments reinforce the total learning of each child.

Spanish

Spanish includes: counting to 31, colors, days of the week, body parts, family members, and cultural activities. Song, rhyme, motion and art activities reinforce vocabulary.