Pre-K Program

Philosophy of the Program-

     St. Joseph's Pre-K is a program designed for four year olds to develop, grow and share in early learning, as full members of our K-8, Catholic School. Our Pre-K program celebrates the Christ-like nature of every child and supports as well as envelopes, each new family into membership of the St. Joseph's School Community. As members of our community, students will engage in learning, which prepares them for transition into our full-day kindergarten program. St. Joseph's Pre-K will nurture and support the whole-child through age-appropriate integrated curriculum and child-centered educational experiences.

Classroom Location-

    The class room is located on the first floor of the school. It located next door to the kindergarten classroom.

Security and Arrival/Drop off will take place at 8 AM in the classroom

    All outside doors of the school remain locked during the day. A surveillance camera is positioned at the front door entrance . Upon ringing the doorbell, the front door is remotely unlocked by the school secretary. Vistors are required to sign in when they report to the office. The classroom is equipped with a telephone, walkie-talkie two entrance/exits with locking doors for security. All Students must be signed in and out of the classroom facility when leaving with a parent/guardian. The emergency exit is located just outside of the classroom space.

Curriculum Support Staff

     Students will participate in Library, Art, Gym, and music classes with the current support personal on the staff.

Snacks

     The school, will not provide snacks but will make available the opportunity to purchase milk for the snacks time. Since so many children have particular food preferences as well as allergies, it will be required for parents to pack and send in an appropriate snack.

Uniforms

    Students are required to wear the St. Joseph's School gym uniform and or modified school uniform. Girls will have a single piece navy jumper with polo shirts and boys navy pants with polo shirt. The uniform will provide students with a comfortable and practical set of apparel that helps them to feel they are great part of the Pre-K School. The uniform also consists of a navy pair of sweat pants or shorts and a St. Joseph's tee-shirt and/or sweat shirt with sneakers. Uniforms can be ordered through J.B. Edwards Uniform Company, Roslindale, MA 02131. The Uniform Company can be contacted at (617)323-8832 for credit card orders. May 27th from 1-3pm the uniform company will be on hand for sizing and ordering.

Typical Schedule/Program/Curriculum Setting

    The classroom will be equipped with many choices and learning centers for free-play that will employ a child -centered approach. These choices will include manipulatives, books, props for dress up and creative play and materials for art and paper and pencil tasks.

The Curriculum

    The curriculum is built on  and includes experiences and a variety of teachings strategies that support help towards the educational development of the whole-child based on the theory of multiple intelligence's as follows;

• Linguistic Intelligence Experiences
• Musical Intelligence
• Artistic/Spatial Intelligence
• Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
• Mathematical/Scientific Intelligences
• Intra personal Intelligences
• Interpersonal Intelligences
• Naturalistic Intelligences

Cooperative Learning and Gaming Strategies

     Students are encouraged  to work together at tables with partners of their choice. Gaming strategies will also be employed and will include sorting, matching, observing, classifying and turn over activities.

Spiritual/Religious Exploration

     This will include discovery in the form of Old Testament themes and stories of the family, emotions, animals and nature. Seasonal Religious holiday projects will infuse the student with understandings about God and goodness. Daily prayer and involvement in school-wide gatherings and liturgy will be included.

Physical Education

     Students will take part in a physical education class with the phys education teacher. Skills will be taught to help them stretch, learn and know about their bodies. In addition to early learning skills in Physical Education Class students will learn songs with movement and dance. Physical play with balls and other materials on hand like the parachute will be a part of their physical discovery.

Language Arts

     Oral Language is a very important component of the Pre-K Program. The teacher will engage students with the use of curriculum materials, puppets, stories and themes in an effort to build early language skills necessary for reading and math. Activities using eye/hand coordination will include the use of scissors, glue, manipulatives, crayons, paint to support expression and oral language development.

Child-Centered Free Play

    Play is an essential form of learning by which a child works on new ideas, puts them into practice, to adapt socially and to understand emotions. Recess, in addition to classroom centers and free-play offers opportunities for relationship building and social/emotional development.

Discipline

    Teachers will use positive and effective behavioral techniques to help children change and learn about their behavior as well as what acceptable behavior looks like. The student/teacher/parent roles will be based on a relationship built on trust and respect. Teachers will be models of respect for students. Explaining things to develop understanding will be key of component of positive discipline. At times students may respond  well to a time-out or quiet  moment  to regain self-control to re-engage in classroom activities. A positive parent/teacher relationship is a necessary component in the overall process.

Assessment and Parents Conferences

    Teachers will keep a running record of students progress and will frequently documents as well as gather data that describes student growth. The most popular form of the record will include a portfolio of student"s works samples. Student"s assessment will be used to inform teacher instruction and curriculum planning as well as reporting progress to parents. A modified open-ended report will be written to coincide with each marking periods K-8. Formal conferences will take place a year and informally as necessary.

A Typical Half-Day Schedule Will Include the Following:

• Circle Time for Oral Expression, Language Arts Development and Math Instruction
• Free Play and Learning Centers/Students Choice
• Snack Time and Prayer
• Participation in Part with the K-8 Supplement Classes/Teaching Staff. which includes technology, art, music, and gym class.
• Projects and Product Work based on a Seasonal Themes, Animals, and Symbols

Afternoons will include the following:

    Lunch in the cafeteria and recess with grades K and 1, rest time, small motor table activities, depending on size of afternoon grouping there will be individual and specialized instruction as well as specials which include gym, art, music, physical education etc...........