Kindergarten at Wichita Collegiate

Kindergarten instruction includes Saxon Phonics. The study of mathematics is supported with Everyday Math in kindergarten and will be utilized for the first time in pre-kindergarten in the Fall of 2010. All ages use Handwriting Without Tears curriculum materials. In addition, faculty and staff work together to support each child’s emotional and social development within the framework of the Conscious Discipline program.

Built into the Collegiate Early Childhood curriculum are activities which complement and extend the more formal aspects of instruction. Music, Physical Education, and Library are an integral part of our program. These enhancement classes are taught by experts in the field.

Kindergarteners participate in an introductory class of piano instruction as part of their music education one day a week. The piano lab is equipped with 16 Clavinovas for piano instruction as well as after school classes.

Our enhancement teachers provide many special activities for our community. All early childhood children perform a music program at Thanksgiving and kindergarteners create and perform an original musical production in April.

Other special events include the All-School Picnic, Dad’s Day, Mom’s Day, Grandparents Day, Pioneer Day, Read and Romp Day, Young Author’s Conference, Earth Day and Field Day. These special events are well-loved traditions at WCS and become lasting family memories. Visits to museums, zoos, nature trails and theatre productions, as well as guest speakers enrich the day-to-day lessons of the classrooms.

Our student body is made of approximately 260 children between the ages of 2 and 6 years old. Two year olds enroll part-time and all other ages have options for full or half-day classes. Morning and afternoon preschool classes are in session for three hours, 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. The half day kindergarten class starts at 8:15 a.m. and ends at noon to allow more instructional time. Full day classes run from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. All four year old children attend school 5 days a week. Grade placement is determined by the child’s chronological age, developmental age and teacher recommendation. New preschool children are given the Denver II Developmental Test and kindergarteners are given the Gesell Developmental Observation.

Extra Curricular Activities

Extra-curricular activities are offered after school through our Fine Arts Academy. The primary focus is to provide rich experiences which supplement the students’ regular academic program at times and places which are convenient for the parents. These classes are fee based. The course offerings include areas of instrumental music, vocal music, visual arts, drama, dance, foreign languages, sports, and karate.

Community Service

A strong component of our character education is the emphasis on developing empathy and building community. We strive to provide opportunities for our children to work cooperatively together, to help others and to contribute to a healthy school community. We also support local charities through the collection of food, clothing, money and other goods. Extended Day Our extended day program,

Kids Club

Kids Club provides consistent quality care for our children from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m. to noon and 3:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Kids Club is also open most days when school is not in session, such as; parent-teacher conferences, winter break and spring break.