Foothills begins our students on the right track by making perfect placements within the early years of the school experience. Placements are recommended depending on a child’s developmental age and readiness testing for the school setting and curriculum. Our highly qualified staff works with each family to tailor and craft the perfect classroom experience enabling each child to develop positive attitudes towards learning and experience maximum growth that year.
Our staff builds each child’s confidence in learning, sharing, and speaking. We teach problem-solving skills and create a safe place to learn how school works. Children are placed and paced perfectly through these early years with the continued use of readiness testing, progress reporting, and in partnership with the family’s goals for their child’s education.
Half-day kindergarten runs from 8:15-12:30 Monday through Friday or as arranged. Some parents choose this half-day program because:
Foothills half-day program is still a full kindergarten experience because the bulk of kindergarten skills and content teaching is completed before lunch when the child’s attention span is at maximum levels. Foothills kindergarten program is child-centered, thematically integrated and geared towards these young learners. Daily language and math activities provide a rich environment for building emergent reading and mathematic skills.
For more research on half-day vs. full-day kindergarten see www.naspcenter.org/assessment/kindergarten
Full day kindergarten runs from 8:15-3:30 Monday-Thursday, and ends at 12:30 on Friday. Some parents choose this full day program because:
The kindergarten program continues in the afternoon with lunch recess and quiet time. Children then participate in a variety of experiences that extend and enrich the skills and content being taught in the morning session. Students explore a variety of learning centers and free choice activities, enjoy extra outside recess, have the opportunity for more individualized instruction.
While first grade shares space and time with kindergarten, students experience a step-up in expectations both academically and socially. The first grade students become role models for how school works and help to create a close learning community. The multi-grade experience allows students to learn at their “just right” level by accessing skills and content they can review and improve on, or show mastery by helping another classmate.
Science and social studies are integreated thematically in the primary program along with the core skills of reading (with phonics), writing and math (with manipulatives). Art, drama, and music are used throughout the curriculum to enhance the learning experience. Our first grade students also have the opportunity to begin learning more about music in our strings (violin and cello) program. Twice a week they participate in a strings class with our music teacher.
The perfect placements program runs from 8:00-3:15 Monday-Thursday, and until 12:15 on Friday. Half-day kindergarten dismisses at 12:30 each day. Here is a typical schedule: Coming Soon
Because it is our mission to provide an excellent school program in which children are able “To increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man;” we have chosen to use only high-quality curriculae that meet or exceed the NAD Education Standards and state standards.
Daily praise songs, curriculum music integration, music class with our Music Teacher.
Feld trips provide experiential learning and are integrated into the curriculum to support learning objectives, for example: local wetlands and habitat trips, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, local water agency, Bale Grist Mill, Aquarium of the Bay
Examples include children singing songs and spending time with the residents at the local retirement home, making cross-age connections.
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