Preschool - Year 1

The Combined Morning Preschool Program serves children who are between the ages of 2.4 - 4.4 in September. Children are divided into two age groups learning side by side: Year 1 (ages 2.4 – 3.4) and Year 2 (ages 3.5 – 4.4).

The Year 1 program guides children and families through first experiences in a group setting: establishing trust with new caregivers and a sense of the school-home connection. Teachers work closely with children and families to get to know each child’s style and strengths, and create an individualized phase-in plan. The transition to school provides an opportunity for children to learn to identify and accept feelings and build a toolbox of emotional resilience, and achieve a sense of confidence around addressing challenge.

The Combined Morning Preschool Program aims to combine the benefits of both mixed-age curriculum and age-specific learning. Year 1 and 2 children spend some of each morning together. During these times, Year 2 students are invited to act as mentors and experts, while Year 1 students “research” aspects of the school experience by observing and partnering with their more mature peers.

About half of each day is divided into age-specific small groups. Year 1 enjoys music and movement, followed by some curriculum activities designed to gradually stretch young children’s early physical and sensory explorations towards more concept-based learning.

For each age group, an emphasis on problem-solving – from mastering separation, through negotiating shared materials and ideas, to tackling building projects and big questions about the world – forms the common backbone of the Morning Class curriculum.