Senior Kindergarten is offered as a full day program, as well as an afternoon half day program. The full day program is from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm. The half day class runs from 1:00-3:30 pm.
CIRCLE TIME Circles are learning experiences in which the children listen to and discuss a variety of topics. During circles, the children are able to learn about the world around them. Circle time also provides opportunities for the children to strengthen their receptive and expressive language skills, as well as to enhance their pro-social skills. Library time is a large part of circle time, teaching children reading basics. At this age, children are encouraged to take books home from the library. Teachers use a variety of materials on a daily basis such as books, felt stories, children creating stories, calendar and active games.
CREATIVE The children are provided with a variety of materials and media with which they can create unique masterpieces. Through creative art activities the children can enhance creativity and imagination, develop aesthetic awareness, develop a sense of pride and accomplishment, participate in activities which require the following of directions, and explore and manipulate a variety of creative materials, such as paint, fabric and wood. A large part of our creative program is musically bas ed as children learn through music. Three times a week children are visited by our music specialists for a variety of musical programming that encourages singing, dancing and active play.
SENSORY & COGNITIVE The children are encouraged to make use of their five senses through daily activities. Sensory activities provide the opportunity for the children to develop creative expression without the constraints of an end product, and enhance language skills through exposure to a variety of textures. Cognitive activities help develop various aspects of letter and number concepts. The activities provide opportunities for letter and number recognition, math readiness, (one to one correspondence, matching, counting) phonics, language development and memory skill enhancement.
JOLLY PHONICS Our Jolly Phonics program is a step by step approach to beginning reading and writing. We introduce the concepts of Jolly Phonics at the Nursery level and build upon the learning each year to Senior Kindergarten. The children are now learning the sounds that create our everyday language. The premise of the Jolly Phonics program is letter identification using sounds and actions. The children will not be learning the “ABCs” in order. Instead, they are introduced to different letter groupings, in conjunction with our printing program. Once the children become familiar with each letter and it’s sound, they can then transfer that knowledge to sight reading words with these letter sounds. A variety of new words pertaining to the letter being taught will be continually reinforced. Our goal throughout the program is to enhance the student’s phonetic understanding of letter and sound formation. This will enable the children to meet the challenge of unfamiliar words and ensure their success as future readers.
HANDWRITING WITHOUT TEARS Handwriting Without Tears is a simple, developmentally-based curriculum for writing readiness, both printing and cursive. The multi-sensory lessons are appropriate for all learning styles - visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic. The unique materials and appealing workbooks eliminate problems with letter formation, reversal, legibility, sentence spacing and cursive connections. Teachers, parents and children find the program enjoyable and the results very satisfying.
POTTERY During this weekly program, the children explore the clay, which enables them to use their imagination and build their pottery skills, and the projects are often theme-based. Once the children have explored the clay on its' own, materials such as clay tools, pipe cleaners, straws, and slip are introduced. They will explore clay techniques, such as slab, coil and pinch, and combinations of these skills. The program promotes the development of fine motor skills, in a fun and imaginative way.
DRAMA The children enjoy the time they spend in the Drama Room. It enables them to develop communication skills with their friends and children from other classes. Time spent in the Drama Room also promotes and enhances imaginative skills, and a sense of trust and belonging with the teachers from the other classrooms. As a part of the Senior Kindergarten program students are involved in putting together a drama performance for their graduation. The full day class rehearses and performs in a stage production of The Wizard Of Oz, while half day students perform It's A Small World.
LANGUAGE Students are taught Hebrew language basics as part of the introduction to their Jewish education. Basic language skills are learned through an enjoyable weekly session that includes, stories, puppetry, music and drama. New for 2010! Our French program introduces children to the basics of conversational French through a hands-on, interactive programs that features the use of puppets, stories and role-playing.
SCIENCE Children are natural scientists, they are curious and love to question. Materials and activities at the science table encourage the children to explore, experiment and problem solve. They also reinforce or challenge previous experiences and explore new experiences.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY The children enjoy weekly sessions with Dash Sports, our inclusive, integrated sports program, teaching individual and team game skills. A 6 session off-site gymnastics program develops flexibility and coordination. Children also experience daily physical activity on our playground and outdoor facility, even partaking in seasonal activities such as sledding. Per Ministry guidelines, a minimum of 20-30 minutes each day is spent on physical activity.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY New for 2010! The SK program is the first at Hillcrest to experience the use of Smart Board Technology in the classroom. Smart Boards are used to enhance the curriculum with a variety of interactive and educational activities while integrating use of the internet and software developed for this specific age group. As well, Hillcrest's Imagination Station has two iMac computers which are integrated into lessons with support of appropriate software and internet-based education tools.
