Kindergarten is a critical time in each child’s development. Here at Kiwi each child is encouraged to develop at his or her own pace. Our main goal is to develop confident, independent, life-long learners. Our kindergarten classroom is a place where students feel safe, secure and respected by each other and by their teachers. Students are well prepared to enter 1st Grade in their home school district or private school.
The kindergarten curriculum is thematically based. Each weekly theme incorporates all academic areas including: hands-on math and science, art, literacy (including individualized reading using reading strategies, writing and phonics), social studies and music and movement. One alphabet letter is introduced per week. Activities include brainstorming lists of words that begin with that letter (sound and letter discrimination and recognition), handwriting instruction (Handwriting Without Tears program), cooking/snack, letter puppets, mini-books and homework.
During the school year, the kindergarten class may take trips to the Mahopac Falls Fire Department, the Carmel Police Department, a local dentist, Thunder Ridge for pumpkin picking and other fall activities, Teatown Lake Reservation’s Native American Village, the Andrus Planetarium at the Hudson River Museum, SUNY Purchase for a puppet show, Stepping Stones Children’s Museum and Bear Mountain Park and Zoo.
Reading assessment is done by our certified teacher using the DRA 2 (Developmental Reading Assessment) program. Assessments of basic academic and social skills are done three times per year and progress reports are sent home following these assessments.
One of the most unique features of our school is our “backyard”, which is Camp Kiwi. We take full advantage of the extensive grounds and activities available to us. The children are given the opportunity to participate in swimming, boating, mini-golf and other camp-like activities that Kiwi is famous for. We also take the children through our wilderness trail that includes tire swings, rope bridges and a zipline.
Please call for an appointment to see all this in action!
Kindergarten Images
