PK4 School Academics
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Parents of children entering PreK-4 are expected to attend a “Meet and Greet Day” as a way to become acquainted with the learning environment of St. Catherine of Siena School.
Incoming students must be 4 years old by September 30.
Children accepted into the Early Childhood program should display the following developmentally appropriate skills/behaviors:- Completely potty trained by the first day of school
- Follows 1-2 step directions
- Respond to instruction by the teacher
- Recognize that biting and hitting are not tolerated
Throughout the school year, your child will have exciting well-planned learning opportunities to develop social skills, fine and gross motor skills, reading and math readiness skills, and letter/sound recognition. The student will also have opportunities to develop eye hand coordination, auditory, visual, and critical thinking skills as well as a love for learning.
Religion
Through Bible stories, songs, daily prayers, attending prayer services throughout the year, children gain an understanding of God’s love for all and their Catholic faith.
Language Arts- Oral- Students will expand their vocabulary by using new words based on experiences, conversations, songs, stories, and games.
- Written- Students write by building fine motor skills through a variety of media.
- Reading Readiness- Students will learn to appreciate fiction and non-fiction literature and discover the joy of reading through viewing, listening to, and creating class books.
Math
Each child will develop math readiness skills such as number recognition, counting, sorting, and classifying. Students will count and learn to associate a concept with a symbol.
Science
The children are encouraged to explore new things, ideas, and the world around them. Exploration occurs through the use of light tables and many sensory bins.
Social and Emotional
The children are taught strategies to help get along with others, be polite, fair, take turns, and follow rules. This includes sharing with others – toys, games, snacks, and experiences. Children are taught to use good manners while eating and working with others inside and outside of the classroom. As students develop, they are encouraged to plan what he or she will do next, to make decisions, and sometimes have to accept the consequences of those decisions.
Enrichment- Physical Education: Students attend PE twice a week where they develop their large and small motor skills. They also learn about fitness and the importance of fair play.
- Music: Students attend music class once a week where they are introduced to a variety of songs using motor skills and movement.
- Drama/Movement: Students attend drama and movement class once a week where students are introduced to a variety of engaging activities that include singing, dancing, hand eye coordination, etc. that often coincide with their academics as well as religious and secular holidays.
- Library: Students attend Library once a week where they listen to stories, and watch videos which emphasize all types of literature.
- Art projects are incorporated into all disciplines to promote creativity and foster learning through hands-on activities.