JK and SK
Thornhill Nursery School & Kindergarten
Our
JK & SK Programs
We provide a five-day JK/SK program, half or full days, for children who are ages 4 or 5 by Dec. 31. The child-to-teacher ratio in the JK and SK classes is 8:1. The JK and SK program are based on a five-day curriculum.
The Kindergarten students bring their own snacks/lunch as per Ministry of Education guidelines.
Kindergarten Programs
Morning Programs
4 or 5 days
Morning Day Sessions
9:00 to 12:00
Full Day Programs
3, 4 or 5 days
Full Day Program
9:00 to 3:00
Optional (Additional Fee)
Extended care offered a.m. ( 7:30 to 9 a.m.) and/or (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
The JK and SK programs are very enriched, exposing the children to reading, writing, math and French. Fine motor development is a key component of these programs, and the children learn to write their first and last names using both uppercase and lowercase letters. A new sight word is introduced each week, together with an alphabet letter that is the basis of many activities in the classroom. Every child reads a book weekly with the teacher on a one-to-one basis, and ongoing assessment allows individual monitoring and guidance of progress in this area.
We also offer Handwriting Without Tears, a proven success in making legible and fluent handwriting an easy and automatic skill for students. The HWT teaching method is successful because it follows a developmental teaching sequence. We teach easy letters first, beginning with uppercase, and then teaching letters in groups of similar stroke sequence. When students master easier skills, they are better prepared to learn more difficult groups—those prone to reversals or having diagonal lines. As a result, children gain mastery and confidence more quickly, and can focus on the content of their work rather than the mechanics of letter formation. The HWT teaching order results in writing that is fluid, legible and automatic.
If you have any questions about our Kindergarten program please contact us
Time is also provided for the children to socialize with their peers through arts and crafts, music, drama, block and sensory play, and outdoor play activities.
Age-appropriate field trips via school bus are part of the JK and SK programs. There is usually one trip in the fall and one in the spring. The field trips are arranged to enhance our curriculum themes. These trips may include: pumpkin patches, apple orchards, farms, theatres and educational centres.
Another exciting unit for the JK students is “The Lifecycle of the Butterfly”. The children get to see the development of the caterpillar as it grows, spins a chrysalis and hatches into a butterfly. The SK students have the opportunity to incubate chick eggs and watch them hatch. Both of these units introduce the children to the wonders of nature.
