K-Prep Program
The Road to Big Kid School
Our K-Prep Program serves children ages 4 to 6, with early entry at 3 available for children who are academically advanced and meet our readiness thresholds. This is the final stretch before kindergarten. Children take on longer teacher-led lessons, higher academic expectations, and more rigorous assessment, all while learning through play rather than worksheets. Every K-Prep child moves directly into Kindergarten.
Curriculum Areas
K-Prep builds on the Experience Preschool Curriculum with deeper, more advanced lessons and activities suited to children approaching kindergarten. Children take part in Kindergarten Club, a weekly gathering that begins six months before graduation, where they learn specific kindergarten expectations through games built for the purpose. The week of graduation, we turn the classroom into a pretend kindergarten, complete with sample worksheets, morning meetings, and cafeteria-style meals, giving children a full preview before the real thing.
Goals for K-Prep
Curiosity and Exploration: We give waddlers structured and open-ended opportunities to explore through group art, pretend play, and guided activities that build on what they learned as infants.
Excitement for Learning
We keep curiosity and engagement at the center of every lesson, so children carry genuine enthusiasm for school into kindergarten.
Self-Regulation and Learning Stamina
We build the ability to sit through longer teacher-led lessons and manage body and attention through structured practice.
Healthy Body
We support continued physical growth and coordination through active play, indoors and outdoors.
Cooperative Relationships
We strengthen sharing, collaboration, and respect for others as children prepare for a larger, more independent classroom community.
Family, Culture, and Community
We grow appreciation for culture and the arts through family involvement and shared experiences across our diverse school community.
Successful Transition to Kindergarten
We screen each child for any additional support needs so families and future teachers have a clear picture going in, and we celebrate every child's readiness at our K-Prep graduation ceremony each June.
K-Prep Skills Through Play
Language and Literacy
Children work on letter identification and writing their first and last name, building the early reading foundation kindergarten expects.
Math and Reasoning
Children count to 100, sort and classify objects, and begin exploring addition and subtraction.
Independence and Self-Help
Children practice opening and closing their own backpack and lunch containers, and putting on and removing jackets without help.
Organization
Children learn to organize their own materials and belongings, a skill kindergarten classrooms expect on day one.
Social and Emotional Learning
Children build the self-regulation and stamina to sit through longer teacher-led lessons, alongside continued growth in friendship and cooperation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ages for kids in K-Prep?
Our K-Prep Program is for children ages 4 to 6. Children who are academically advanced and meet our readiness thresholds may enter as early as 3. New students may join at 4.
What curriculum do you use?
We use The Experience Preschool Curriculum, with more advanced lessons and activities built for children approaching kindergarten.
What is your teacher to child ratio?
K-Prep classrooms have up to 18 children with a 10 to 1 ratio.
What does a typical day in the K-Prep Room look like?
6:30-9 Arrival and Center Time
9-9:30 Breakfast
9:30-12 Circle Time, Outdoor Play, and Center Time
12-1 Lunch
1-3 Nap Time
3-3:30 - Afternoon Snack
3:30-6 Outdoor Play, Center Time and Dismissal
What is Kindergarten Club?
Starting six months before graduation, children meet once a week to learn specific kindergarten expectations through fun, purposeful games. The week of graduation, the classroom becomes a pretend kindergarten, with sample worksheets, morning meetings, and cafeteria-style meals.
Are there enrichment opportunities?
Yes! K-Prep children take part in soccer, animal encounters, fossils, gardening, field trips, visiting the book fair, water play, and Kindergarten Club, offered seasonally throughout the year.
How do you screen for extra support needs?
We screen every K-Prep child for any additional support needs before they move on to public school, so families and future teachers have a clear picture going into kindergarten.
What is the graduation ceremony?
Each June, K-Prep holds a graduation ceremony for children moving into Kindergarten. This is one of the largest events of the year, featuring videos, decorations, caps, gowns, gifts and much more!
After K-Prep, where does my child go?
Every K-Prep child moves directly into Kindergarten.
Can my child stay through the summer before going to public school? Yes! Your child’s enrollment is active until the business day prior to their first day of Kindergarten.
Do you offer before and after school care?
It is dependent on availability.
