Kindy & Pre-primary
 

Children experience a friendly, positive and flexible learning environment with the emphasis on small class sizes.

Our high quality Early Childhood Program is built on spontaneous play and guided play supported by the teacher to develop security, identity, belonging and a sense of power.

Our environment is based on what the teacher knows about children's growth, development and learning.

Children develop faster during the first five years than at any other stage of their lives. In these critical early years, they are not only establishing the basic foundations for physical, cognitive, social and emotional development, but also are forming beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour patterns that influence how they view themselves and the world in which they live. Making good decisions about children's healthy growth and development considers their brain development, special needs and interests, as well as their cultural and social backgrounds.

The transition to primary school is gentle, smooth and cohesive.

Teacher's Philosophy

It is of utmost importance to form a trusting, respectful and caring relationship with each child.

To capitalize on children's interests, because that is what motivates learning. Appropriate Practise:

  1. To establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment.
  2. To advance physical and intellectual competence. Provide a variety of activities that promote growth in each of these areas.
  3. To support social and emotional development and to provide positive guidance.
  4. To establish positive and productive relationships with families.
  5. To ensure a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participants' needs. Planning, organizing, record keeping, communication and working as a team member.
  6. To maintain a commitment to professionalism. Knowledge of early childhood theories and practice, promoting quality and lifelong learning.

Virtues and Values are building blocks to a happy and successful life. They teach respect and loe for our world.

The Rainbow Catcher program is taught to make sure Virtues and Values stay alive to guide the children in times of change and uncertainty.

How Do Children Learn?

Children's learning is a result of active participation, with guidance and support from the teachers.

Children need to explore, experiment, discover, improvise, innovate, create, question, construct and discuss.

Educational experts and Early Childhood specialist has shown that play is learning.

Preschoolers are interested in trying new tasks, assuming responsibility for themselves and materials, playing with others and discovering what they can do with the help of adults. They also pretend play as one way to make choices and decisions that increase their sense of autonomy, competence, and master social and cultural world in which they live. (Erikson)

Children have an increased ability to think symbolically and conceptually about objects and people outside their immediate environment, which is evident through children's increasing use of language and imaginative play. (Piaget) Children are rich in potential, strong, powerful, competent, and most of all connected to adults and other children. They have and interactive, constructivist view of learning, intensive relationships among all participants and a spirit of cooperation. (Reggio Emilia) Play ensures that young children hae opportunities to make personal sense of new experiences.

What will Children Learn?

Virtues & Values - is taught using the Rainbow Catcher Program. The twenty animal Mollycools teach children to be Loving, helpful, cooperative, courageous, enthusiastic, friendly, persistent, peaceful, healthy, confident, united, trusting, forgiving, gentle, sharing, responsible, respectful, creative, truthful and kind.

Social - children are generally happy, curious, compliant, imaginative and pleased with their own ability to plan and complete projects, which are primarily carried out in imaginative play.

Emotional - they experience an expanding range of emotions and learn how to express these emotions in socially acceptable ways. Fear and anxiety are common emotions during these years.

Science - daily life experiences, energy and me, features of plants and animals, features and uses of familiar materials.

Literacy - using fantasy and imaginative play as natural modes of thinking.

Reading, Speaking & Listening, Viewing and Writing opportunities are provided.

Mathematics - classification of objects by shape, size, weight or colour. Patterns, Opposites, Measurement and Space.

Health - learn basic health concepts and develop attitudes related to nutrition, safety & personal hygiene.

Physical - to develop enjoyable lifelong, positive habits of fitness.

  1. Body Management skills - rolling, twisting, swinging, stretching and balancing on one foot.
  2. Locomotion skills - walking, skipping, hopping, jumping and landing, leaping, dodging, crawling, climbing and sliding.
  3. Object Control Skills - involve hand-eye or foot-eye coordination in manipulation of such objects as balls, hoops, jump ropes, bats, throwing and catching, bouncing and rolling.

Visual Arts - develop the ability to express ideas and feelings using a variety of art materials. Exposure to local artists.

Music - Singing, playing instruments, creating music, responding and understanding music.

French - Greetings, songs, games, body parts and counting.