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Perfect Placements, Grades K, 1 & 2

Learning focus

Foothills begins our students on the right track by making perfect placements within the early years of the school experience. Placements are recommended depending on a child’s developmental age and readiness testing for the school setting and curriculum. Our highly qualified staff works with each family to tailor and craft the perfect classroom experience enabling each child to develop positive attitudes towards learning and experience maximum growth that year.

Our staff  builds each child’s confidence in learning, sharing, and speaking. We teach problem-solving skills and create a safe place to learn how school works. Children are placed and paced perfectly through these early years with the continued use of readiness testing, progress reporting, and in partnership with the family’s goals for their child’s education.

Half day kindergarten

Half-day kindergarten runs from 8:15-12:30 Monday through Friday or as arranged. Some parents choose this half-day program because:

  • it is developmentally appropriate for their child,
  • better match for shorter attention spans of typical 5-year-olds
  • a parent works part-time, but still wants their children to be home with them,
  • it allows a homeschool student opportunities to socialize with their peers

Foothills half-day program is still a full kindergarten experience because the bulk of kindergarten skills and content teaching is completed before lunch when the child’s attention span is at maximum levels. Foothills kindergarten program is child-centered, thematically integrated and geared towards these young learners. Daily language and math activities provide a rich environment for building emergent reading and mathematic skills.

For more research on half-day vs. full-day kindergarten see www.naspcenter.org/assessment/kindergarten

Full day kindergarten        

Full day kindergarten runs from 8:15-3:30 Monday-Thursday, and ends at 12:30 on Friday. Some parents choose this full day program because:

  • it is developmentlly appropriate for their child
  • their child attended preschool and is ready for more challenge
  • they want a more relaxed school day with enriching experiences
  • they want their children to benefit from both whole group and even more individualized instruction opportunities in the afternoon
  • children have more time for free exploration and learning through play
  • children have more opportunites to learn and practice social skills through positive reinformcement in the school setting
  • parents need a safe place for their child to grow while they are working

The kindergarten program continues in the afternoon with lunch recess and quiet time. Children then participate in a variety of experiences that extend and enrich the skills and content being taught in the morning session. Students explore a variety of learning centers and free choice activities, enjoy extra outside recess, have the opportunity for more individualized instruction.

First grade  

While first grade shares space and time with kindergarten, students experience a step-up in expectations both academically and socially. The first grade students become role models for how school works and help to create a close learning community. The multi-grade experience allows students to learn at their “just right” level by accessing skills and content they can review and improve on, or show mastery by helping another classmate.

Science and social studies are integreated thematically in the primary program along with the core skills of reading (with phonics), writing and math (with manipulatives). Art, drama, and music are used throughout the curriculum to enhance the learning experience. Our first grade students also have the opportunity to begin learning more about music in our strings (violin and cello) program. Twice a week they participate in a strings class with our music teacher.

Daily schedule             

The perfect placements program runs from 8:00-3:15 Monday-Thursday, and until 12:15 on Friday. Half-day kindergarten dismisses at 12:30 each day. Here is a typical schedule: Coming Soon                          

Curriculae                

Because it is our mission to provide an excellent school program in which children are able “To increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man;” we have chosen to use only high-quality curriculae that meet or exceed the NAD Education Standards and state standards.

Kindergarten:
  • Stepping Stones Kindergarten Program by Kendall Hunt Publishers
First Grade:
  • Religion/Bible: Encounter Bible, North American Division of SDA
  • Mathematics: Go Math, Houghton Mifflin
  • Reading/Phonics: Saxon Phonics, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • Reading/Writing: Pathways, Kendall Hunt Publishers
  • Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears
  • Technology: Keyboarding without Tears
  • Physical Education: Spark Physical Education
  • Science: By Design Science, Kendall Hunt Publishers
  • Social Studies: Newtworks Social Studies, McGraw-Hill
  • Art: ArtsAttack

Music       

Daily praise songs, curriculum music integration, twice-a-week strings class

Field trips 

Feld trips provide experiential learning and are integrated into the curriculum to support learning objectives, for example: local wetlands and habitat trips, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, local water agency, Bale Grist Mill, Aquarium of the Bay

Service learning

Examples include children singing songs and spending time with the residents at the local retirement home, making cross-age connections.

 

 

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