Our Junior Kindergarten (JK) program is a unique program created specifically for the older 4 and 5 year old. In JK we emphasize Kindergarten readiness. Basic math and literacy skills are incorporated into the monthly themes. The written word is highlighted through songs, poems, nursery rhymes, stories, and class books. This year marks the introduction of journaling, and as the year progresses, journaling changes from child-dictated sentences to child-written sentences. Our JK children are also introduced to and encouraged to use inventive spelling. Mathematics too is intertwined in the theme content. As with all Golden Pond classrooms, our JK rooms are set up in a center-based fashion, with each room having work tables, plus a dramatic play area, a block building area, a sensory table (for exploratory science), a library area, a listening center, and an art/writing center.
There are 2 JK options – morning (8:10-11:10am) and extended day (8:10am-1:10pm). Stay & Play 7:30am-6:00pm can also be added in conjunction with the morning JK program. Along with enjoying the activities above, JK Extended Day students have lunch together each day and share an additional recess in the afternoon. JK Extended Day students also engage in theme related projects specially designed to further expand and develop literacy and social skills.