Kindergarten
Kindergarten Teacher: Ms. Clarke
EMAIL: k_clarke@sttheresaschool.org
PHONE: 510-547-3146
HOURS: afternoons by appointment.
WHAT IS A ST. THERESA KINDERGARTEN?
The Kindergarten classroom at St. Theresa School is a place where you will find children practicing how to become active learners. They are learning how to be part of a school community, both socially and academically. Through a variety of individual and group activities the Kindergarteners are well on their way to becoming readers, counters, builders, painters, explorers, and social butterflies!
What might look like "just play" is actually serious learning in our Kindergarten. Children are allowed to explore their learning environment and stretch their imaginations while having the security of a structured, well-planned, and predictable daily schedule of activities. We dance our way through the alphabet each morning with our "Letter Aerobics", investigate nature through science activities inside and outside the classroom, illustrate and track our class-made books, pray, and learn how to be good friends in our Kindergarten family. And those are just a few things you'll see in any given week.
The Kindergarteners learn the social and academic skills necessary for their transition into the higher grades at a pace that is supportive of their developmental stage. The year they spend with me serves to give them a "taste" of the school student learning expectations: becoming a young person of faith, an active and creative learner, a well-rounded individual, and a contributing citizen both inside and outside of our school. The classroom is "center-based", which allows children to work at their own comfort level in a variety of subject areas. Whereas one child may feel like spending 30 minutes building a city out of wooden blocks for our Social Studies unit on neighborhoods, another child may prefer to move around from one center to the next every 15 minutes. By the end of the week, however, each child has had an opportunity to enjoy every center activity and work with a variety of modalities and individuals.
We use a staggered schedule with each class attending school for 5 hours. There is a 3 hour overlap of both classes in the middle of the day. We generally accept 34 children. The first session (Blue Birds) of the staggered program will run from
8:10 - 1:20, the second session (Red Robins) will run from 10:15-3:15. The 34 children will all be together for the "overlap" from 10:15-1:15. On Minimum Days there is no overlap. The Blue Birds attend school from 8:10-10:10 and the Red Robins attend school from 10:10-12:10. There is a slightly altered Wednesday schedule with the children dismissing one hour earlier than usual. There will always be at least one teacher with the class at all times. Occasionally the two groups are split during their overlap session for small group instruction.
We model Christian behavior through our actions and words while bringing the joy of God's love into the hearts and minds of our school's newest members. Their presence, and the presence and involvement of their family, is our greatest joy.
St. Theresa School is committed to embracing each of you through such outreach programs as "Buddy Families", Open House, as well as Parish picnics and events.
Come and take a look during our Open House on Sunday, January 29th. I think you'll like what you see!
Mrs. Clarke
Kindergarten teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
Student Projects | |
| Kindergarten Photos | A View of What We Did In Class This Year |
August , 2011
August 2011 - New Parent Info.
Dear Kinder Parents,Please remember to join me on Sunday, August 21st, from 11:15-12:00 for our kindergarten "Meet & Greet". We will meet at the school play structure after the children's Mass. It will be a chance for the new parents and kindergarteners to meet and mingle before school starts. I look forward to seeing you then!
The first day of school is Tuesday, August 23rd. We will be on a minimum day schedule. Blue Birds will meet me in front of the school for morning assembly at 8:10 and dismiss at 10:10. The Red Robins will meet me in front of the school at 10:10 and dismiss at 12:10. All kinders should have a snack on the first day of school.
Wednesday, August 24th, is an altered schedule with children dismissing an hour earlier than the regular daily schedule. Thursday and Friday are regularly scheduled days. Kinders should have a snack and full lunch on all days except minimum days. Please refer to the schedule given out at our May Kinder Info Night for details about our kindergarten daily schedule. I will also have copies at our Meet and Greet to pass out.
Thank you,
Miss Clarke
2011/12 School Year
1 48-count box of crayons
1 8 or 10 pack "wide" markers
2 large erasers
1 pair child size scissors
2 large glue sticks (non gel)
2 small bottles elmer glue
2 family size boxes of tissues
1 backpack (standard size)
2 plastic coated folders with bottom pockets - no pictures
(11 1/2 x 9 7/16 in. Example: "Mead" Brights portfolio)
1 binder (1 in. width only)
1 container of baby/sanitizing wipes
1 beach towel for rest time
Please label the following items in permanent marker:
1. All sweatshirts and jackets
2. Binder and folders (top right hand side)
3. Scissors
4. beach towel
5. Backpack
6. Lunch box
All other materials will be used as community property and should not be labeled.