Primary Division

Setting Building Blocks for Learning

Grades K(4) & K(5)

We embrace a philosophy and approach that recognizes that each child comes to us with unique backgrounds, dreams, and goals, and that it is our responsibility to provide a nurturing environment that helps each student be successful. What distinguishes St. John’s is that we provide a safe and nurturing environment in which each child is encouraged to take risks, to stretch their thinking, and challenge themselves to their fullest potential.

Ana Ibanez, Head of Primary Division

Primary Division is the beginning of the St. John’s experience. The program is built upon the belief that young children develop curiosity and love for learning when they explore at their own pace and experience success at their developmental level. Our children experience joy and delight as they grow and develop in a nurturing environment in which experiential interactions with materials, ideas, and other people are emphasized.

Program Goal

The goal of the Primary program is to help children learn about language, develop intellectual concepts, build social relationships and understandings, strengthen physical skills, and foster independence. Play-based learning is one way this is done. Other major ways children learn in the Primary Division include: active, hands-on learning; teacher-directed and self-directed learning; whole group, small group, and individual experiences, and learning centers.

Enrichment

Whole child education is fostered through instruction in the Fine Arts and many enrichment classes such as Physical Education, Music, Innovation, Art, Library, Science, Divinity, and Spanish. Learning is supported by age and developmentally appropriate and supervised used of educational technology that includes: ClearTouch Interactive Displays, Apple TV, Projectors, and iPad-based ‘one-to-one’ learning.

Lessons with Purpose

A purposeful curriculum nurtures growth in all areas of childhood development: cognitive, physical, personal-social, creative, and spiritual. A supportive and caring peer group and school setting mean each child’s pattern of development is nurtured. By placing emphasis on the building blocks of phonics, handwriting, and mathematics, the program ensures that students matriculate to the Lower Division as prepared, proficient readers, writers, and mathematical problem solvers.

Parent Participation

Parents are key partners, and parent participation is an integral part of the program. Periodically scheduled parent events and meetings provide parents of our youngest students the opportunity to form connections and establish relationships both with the faculty and each other. Teachers welcome ongoing communication with parents, and the latter are also encouraged to become active in the many volunteer opportunities.

Primary Division Experience

At the Primary Division at St. John’s, teachers are dedicated to preparing our youngest students to be citizens and leaders of tomorrow. As education and, indeed, child-rearing, has changed, teaching has changed as well. However, we hold fast to core values of respect, kindness, a love of learning, and an understanding that we are all children of God.

The focus of the early childhood program is on developing the whole child. Our experienced teachers understand the needs and talents of four-and five-year-olds and have crafted a curriculum and structured daily routine to play to their distinctive strengths. Laying a strong foundation in preparation for the exciting and challenging program students will experience in the Lower and Middle Division is key. So is nurturing the social and emotional skills each child needs to succeed in the classroom and in life.

Curriculum

Early emphasis on the building blocks of phonics and mathematics means every St. John’s student leaves the Primary Division reading independently and in command of basic math facts. We also recognize the importance of educating the whole child and offer instruction in the fine arts, as well as enrichment classes such as P.E., computer, library, science, divinity, character education, and Spanish.

Homework

Starting in K(5), students bring home a reader twice a week to read aloud at home for practice. On Wednesdays, all workbooks go home with K(5) students, so parents can review their work and see their progress. From the beginning, we teach students the value of structured after-school academic work, which helps them become used to the idea that learning does not end at the end of the school day. Parents, too, benefit from getting this behind-the-scenes view of their child’s growth.

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