“I'm really proud of our program! When children join the K class, we're this beautiful bridge between preschool and 1st grade with a lot of play as well as academics. We try to do a real true 50/50. The kids learn from their natural curiosity, their natural wish to learn. They are so ready for play, and learning through play, so we try to follow their lead.” ~Brandy Brune, Kindergarten Teacher
A Close-Knit Community Where Kindergartners Thrive
Foothills' Kindergarten class is a full-day program that engages curious learners who are five and six years old. Foothills helps K students develop lifelong skills through a balanced schedule with play-based learning and more formal instruction in subjects like literacy and math. Kindergartners become a close-knit community and learn how to care for each other, ask for what they need, form lasting friendships, and develop a strong love of learning as engaged students.
Kindergartners Receive Loving Care and Attention
At Foothills, Kindergarten is a small stand-alone class with two teachers, and K students also spend time weekly with specialist teachers for Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Spanish, Music, and PE. Our Kindergarten teachers are warm and welcoming and take the time to get to know our students as unique individuals, allowing each student to grow to their maximum potential. As experienced teachers who love what they do, our Kindergarten teachers inspire students to care for themselves and their classmates, solve problems peacefully, and enjoy themselves as they learn to read, write, do math, and try new things.
Examples of Project Based Learning
The Kindergarten Program at Foothills follows children's interests as they work with their teachers to create meaningful Project Based Learning (PBL) units that matter to our students. Recent examples of projects include: creating an amazing class recipe book where each student carefully wrote clear directions for how to make their favorite meal; organizing a toy drive for a museum that fixes broken toys and collecting toys from the entire school; and making toys for animals at the Idaho Humane Society so that the kittens, dogs, and bunnies felt less alone.
A Foothills Kindergarten Experience Includes
- A welcoming, creative, and safe learning environment
- Encouragement for children to share their voices and questions
- Meaningful collaborative work that engages the larger school community
- Frequent outdoor experiences and lots of time to run and play outside
- Regular check-ins with families
- Working closely with teachers to develop academic skills as well as interpersonal skills
- Mastery of Kindergarten expectations for skills, subject content, and thought processes
Foothills Kindergartners Develop
- Increased independence, joy, and confidence
- Often advanced skills in literacy, math, science, Spanish, music, and art
- Strong social and emotional skills and an ability to get along well with others
- Comfort in speaking and performing in front of audiences
- Meaningful friendships with classmates and lasting relationships with teachers
- Confidence to be themselves and take risks
- An advanced ability to think for themselves
- A sense of belonging as an important member of a PreK-9th grade school community