Toddler Program | Primary and Extended Day Programs | Lower and Upper Elementary Programs |
Middle School Program | Frequently Asked Questions
Primary Class Schedules:
Monday through Friday
9:00 - 11:30 AM or
12:30 - 3:00 PM or
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Extended Day Class Schedules:
Monday through Friday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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The Primary Program is for children 3 to 6 years of age (the pre-school/kindergarten years). It is either a half-day program, with both morning and afternoon sections available meeting five days per week, or 5 full days. In the third year, kindergarten age children can choose to stay for an "extended day" (see below).
A key principal of the Primary Program (indeed, of all our programs) is the multi-age classroom. We know that children progress at different rates in different areas. In a mixed-age group children can often find a peer for each of several different activities. Also, the younger children have role models in the older children, and the older children acquire an additional confidence by being the classroom "elders". For them, teaching a younger child is an excellent way to consolidate one’s own learning.
The Primary classroom is adapted to the development needs of each child, providing a variety of choices that engage the child’s natural curiosity and intellect. Activities emphasize the process of discovery, enabling each child to explore the world through multi-sensory materials. The Primary Curriculum includes the following areas:
- Practical Life focuses on daily living activities that help develop a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem.
- Sensorial materials encourage children to use their five senses to develop classification and discrimination skills.
- Science & Geography create opportunities to explore and develop concrete foundations for understanding the world.
- Mathematics provides a hand-on approach to number concepts, quantity and operations.
- Language is designed to give children a firm grounding in perceptual-motor, pre-reading, and pre-writing readiness skills.
- Art & Music develop the child’s creativity and sense of beauty through expressive use of materials and activities.
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Designed for children who are at least 5 years of age by September 30, the Extended Day Program provides a bridge to the elementary years. Children in this program spend half of their day in the multi-age Primary Program class and the other half in a dedicated Extended Day class, which consists exclusively of 5 and 6 years olds. Extended Day and Primary Program teachers communicate regularly to discuss the student's progress and coordinate classroom expectations and activities.
Designed for children who are ready for a longer school day, Extended Day provides a smooth transition to first grade. Working in a variety of group and individual activities, children are introduced to assigned tasks, learn to assume increasing responsibility for their work through daily and weekly work plans. Specialist instructors teach Spanish, art and music, computer sciences, and physical education.
The Primary Program has a student to teacher ratio of 10 to 1; the Extended Day Program, a ratio of 12 to 1.
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