KINDERGARTEN
Beginning Kindergarten is a huge rite of passage for you and your child, and we are so excited to begin your child’s educational journey with you. Explore our Catholic Kindergarten program at St. Peter Catholic School in Greenville, NC!
WHAT TO EXPECT IN
KINDERGARTEN AT SPCS
Learning to read, developing social-emotional skills, being in “big school” for the first time — we know that kindergarten is such a big transition for our little learners, and we feel privileged to begin their academic journey with them!
Kindergarten at Saint Peter Catholic School has two homeroom classes, each with a lead teacher and an assistant. We have a maximum of 25 students in each class, creating a student-teacher ratio of 12.5:1. That way your child has all the benefits of individualized attention while also learning to work in groups — and make lots of friends!
“While in Kindergarten, your child will have the opportunity to participate in large and small group activities, self-directed center time activities, art projects, science experiments, and music/movement activities. We believe that children learn in their own way and at their own pace. We offer a variety of learning experiences to enable each child to success, and to make school an enjoyable experience.”
– Mrs. Eason & Mrs. Bardwell
KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM
PAIRING ACADEMICS
AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Our Kindergarten, like all area Kindergartens, is academic and developmental. It is a “learn to read grade.” The first 30 days are spent reviewing the alphabet and their sounds. After that, the focus is really on learning how to read.
In Kindergarten, our core subjects are Math, Reading, Spelling, Religion, and Science. Our students also have weekly classes in Art, Computer, Library, Music, and PE.
KINDERGARTEN READING AND WRITING
Kindergarten begins with “ABC Bootcamp,” a research-based, classroom-proven 26-day program to introduce children to all 26 letters and sounds. This allows students to begin manipulating letters and sounds to make words. Following the boot camp, the focus turns to word families.
Students are also taught high frequency words (sometimes called sight words) to help students read more fluently and with greater comprehension. Parents are provided with a list of the high frequency words that will be learned each quarter so they may encourage memorization at home. You can also access the list here.
Students are assigned to reading groups with children in a comparable reading level. These groups meet daily. Guided reading groups help support readers develop strategies to better process and comprehend the text they are reading. The goal of guided reading is to build independent readers and develop fluency while using books appropriate for their reading level.
Handwriting is a daily part of Kindergarten, including being able to print their first and last names correctly, along with numbers. Weekly journal entries also help students to write to a topic, and creating a journal helps track their growth in handwriting skills through the year.
KINDERGARTEN MATH
Students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade learn math using Savvas Experience Math. Kindergarten math skills include:
- Add and subtract fluently to 5
- Identifying and sequencing numbers to 100
- Counting objects in sets and sorting sets
- Copying and extending patterns
- Measuring length of objects and comparing length
- Identifying coins
KINDERGARTEN RELIGION
Celebrating our faith is integrated into everything we do at Saint Peter Catholic School. Students in Kindergarten participate in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, a Montessori-type approach to religious education.
We have a weekly all-school Mass at Saint Peter Catholic Church. Students sit with their prayer partners — kindergartners are paired with sixth grade students.
Children are also encouraged to bring a canned good to school each Friday. The cans are donated to the St. Vincent DePaul Society Food Pantry at Saint Peter Catholic Church.
KINDERGARTEN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND WORK HABITS
Kindergarten is an important time for social development and setting expectations for the education journey for years to come. Our social development and work habit goals include:
- Playing and working well with others
- Following classroom rules
- Respecting the property of others
- Demonstrating self-control
- Listens attentively and follows directions
- Completes work independently, neatly and promptly
- Avoids excess talking
Each child has a behavior calendar in his/her folder to help parents see how their child’s day was at school. Every child starts the day with a green smiley face. Most children remain on “green” all day and will be rewarded with a treat on Friday for choosing to stay on “green” all week. Should your child make poor choices, they will receive a verbal warning. If the inappropriate behavior continues, he/she earns a yellow dot on the calendar and will change his/her card from green to yellow on the classroom behavior chart. This serves as a visual reminder to make better choices. Additional misbehavior leads to a red dot. While it does not happen often, an earned red dot is considered a serious matter. Any color change will result in a phone call or note home.
KINDERGARTEN ENTRANCE ASSESSMENT
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CONTACT US!
For questions about admissions, please contact our Admissions Office at admissions@spcsnc.net
