Kindergarten

In Kindergarten, our core subjects are Math, Reading, Spelling, Religion, and Science. Our students also have weekly classes in Art, Computer, Library, Music, and PE.

Students in Kindergarten Grade are graded using the following scale:

Satisfactory Plus (S+)
Satisfactory (S)
Satisfactory Minus (S-)
Needs Improvement (N)
Unsatisfactory (U)

Kindergarten at Saint Peter Catholic School has two homeroom classes, each with a lead teacher and an assistant. We have a maximum of 25 students in each class, creating a student-teacher ratio of 12.5:1. Mrs. Bailey Eason is assisted by Mrs. Robin Edmison, and Ms. Leslie Bardwell is assisted by Mrs. Liz Baker.

“While in Kindergarten, your child will have the opportunity to participate in large and small group activities, self-directed center time activities, art projects, science experiments, and music/movement activities. We believe that children learn in their own way and at their own pace. We offer a variety of learning experiences to enable each child to success, and to make school and enjoyable experience.”
– Mrs. Eason & Ms. Bardwell

Kindergarten Entrance Assessments

Our Kindergarten, like all area Kindergartens, is academic and developmental. It is a “learn to read grade”. The first 30 days are spent reviewing the alphabet and their sounds. After that, the focus is really on learning how to read. When entering Kindergarten, we do strive for our students to be able to:

Recognize shapes
Write their first and last name
Know 22+ out of 26 capital letters
Know 22+ out of 26 lowercase letters
Know 22+ out of 26 letter sounds
Recognize numbers 1-10

How you can help your child to prepare for their entrance assessment:

Read with your child daily
Encourage them to write their name
Practice letter and number recognition, both formally and informally
- Formal examples: flash cards, alphabet or number Bingo games
- Informal example: when you see a STOP sign, as your child what the first letter is.

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Math

Students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade learn math using Savvas Experience Math. Kindergarten skills include:

Identifying and sequencing numbers to 100
Counting objects in sets and sorting sets
Copying and extending patterns
Measuring length of objects and comparing length
Identifying coins

Our faculty researched multiple math programs and
selected Savvas Experience Math for the program's ability to deepen understanding of math concepts, develop real world applications and connections, and develop math vocabulary. The faculty was particularly impressed with how the program spiraled through each grade level and prepared them for advanced Mathematics in middle school and beyond.

Read more about Savvas Experience Math here.

Handwriting is a daily part of Kindergarten, including being able to print their first and last names correctly, along with numbers. Weekly journal entries also help students to write to a topic, and creating a journal helps track their growth in handwriting skills through the year.

Reading & Writing

Kindergarten begins with “ABC Bootcamp,” a research-based, classroom-proven 26-day program to introduce children to all 26 letters and sounds. This allows students to begin manipulating letters and sounds to make words. Following the boot camp, the focus turns to word families.

Students are also taught high frequency words (sometimes called sight words) to help students read more fluently and with greater comprehension. Parents are provided with a list of the high frequency words that will be learned each quarter so they may encourage memorization at home.

Students are assigned to reading groups with children in a comparable reading level. These groups meet daily. Guided reading groups help support readers develop strategies to better process and comprehend the text they are reading. The goal of guided reading is to build independent readers and develop fluency while using books appropriate for their reading level.

Religion

Celebrating our faith is integrated into everything we do at Saint Peter Catholic School. Students in Kindergarten will participate in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program.

On Fridays, we have an all-school Mass at Saint Peter Catholic Church. Students sit with their prayer partners. Kindergartners are paired with sixth grade students.

Children are also encouraged to bring a canned good to school each Friday. The cans are donated to the St. Vincent DePaul Society Food Pantry at Saint Peter Catholic Church.

Social Development & Work Habits

Kindergarten is an important time for social development and setting expectations for the education journey for years to come. Our social development and work habit goals include:

Playing and working well with others
Following classroom rules
Respecting the property of others
Demonstrating self-control
Listens attentively and follows directions
Completes work independently, neatly and promptly
Avoids excess talking

Behavior

Each child has a behavior calendar in his/her folder to help parents see how their child’s day was at school. Every child starts the day with a green smiley face. Most children remain on “green” all day and will be rewarded with a treat on Friday for choosing to stay on “green” all week. Should your child make poor choices, they will receive a verbal warning. If the inappropriate behavior continues, he/she earns a yellow dot on the calendar and will change his/her card from green to yellow on the classroom behavior chart. This serves as a visual reminder to make better choices. Additional misbehavior leads to a red dot. While it does not happen often, an earned red dot is considered a serious matter. Any color change will result in a phone call or note home.

Beyond the Classroom

Students in Kindergarten have outdoor recess each morning and afternoon. Physical activity is so important! We also supplement learning through special projects and field trips.

We also have several celebrations through the year, including a Happy Birthday Jesus Party, Valentine's Day Party, and End of the Year Party. We do not have a Halloween Party because of our school's massive and fabulous Halloween Carnival.

Kindergarten students get to participate in what we call NUT Days (No Uniform Today) each month during the year. Students also get to have an extra NUT Day during their birthday month.

Other activities the students get to enjoy include service projects, the Scholastic Book Fair in the fall and spring, Grandparents and Special Friends Day, Catholic Schools Week, Pastor's Day Prayer Service and Breakfast, Spirit Week in February and Field Day in May.