Program Overview
Our Extended-Day (full-day Kindergarten) program is Certified Group 1 under the BC Ministry of Education.
Extended-Day responds to the needs of the growing child who is capable of sustained concentration and focus on work related to their individual interests. Students develop their leadership and mentorship skills while having opportunities to immerse themselves in large projects and group presentations.
Our extended-day students enjoy learning in a mixed-aged (3-6) setting in the morning before eating lunch, playing, and attending their kindergarten session in the afternoons. The main areas of the extended-day program are consistent with student’s morning sessions with an additional focus on group work:
The Montessori Environment
- The Prepared Environment: Materials which invite activity and exploration.
- Practical Life: The skills of daily living.
- Sensorial: Exploring the world through the senses.
Academic Foundations
- Mathematics: Explored with concrete materials, understood through abstraction.
- Language: From spoken word to reading, writing and creative expression.
- Cultural Subjects: Broadly-based and cross-disciplinary.
Creative and Cultural Expression
- Art, Music: Fully integrated into the curriculum.
- French: The fundamentals of expression and comprehension.
- Indigenous Connections: Integrated throughout the program.
Community Connections
- Community Building: Class meetings, mentorship, collaborative learning.
- Working Outdoors: Caring for the natural environment.
French is taught as a second language at the preschool level. French is introduced thematically through vocabulary enrichment, songs and interactive language activities.
Outdoor education is integrated into the student’s day and includes gardening, explorations of local flora and fauna, outdoor games, and motor skill development.