Junior Kindergarten

Students must be at least age 4 by September 1

Five days a week, (8:25 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.), with option for after-school or enrichment courses

Special subjects include: secondary language (French, Spanish, or Mandarin Chinese), art, music (using the Kodály method), greenhouse, movement, and library

• Letter of the Week program with introduction to letter-sound correspondence and letter recognition
• Planned time each day for exploration of classroom materials to foster play skills and communication
• Cooking projects related to the Letter of the Week in the classroom microkitchens
• S.T.A.R. (Share, Tell, Ask, Respond) program to promote interest in learning about one another, to reinforce the importance of making social connections, and as an introduction to speaking in front of a group, asking questions, and answering questions

Lunch in the cafeteria

Field trips include the Discovery Room at the American Museum of Natural History and the Central Park Zoo

Thematic units include the Rainforest, the solar system, and family cultures and traditions. Celebration of diversity through the family cultural unit, which allows the class to explore the traditions and origins of each child’s family, culminating in a feast with foods from around the world.