14
LAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL
In September, the Lower School welcomed a new
class of even younger students as part of its new
early kindergarten pilot program. The curriculum will
serve “young 5” students, or students who will turn
five-years-old during the 2014-2015 school year.
Head of Lower School Andy Surber is very excited
about the program and the opportunities it promises
to both current families and those within the greater
Santa Barbara area.
“We’ve had many families approach the school
looking for a more comprehensive educational
approach for their four-year-old children,” Andy says.
“They feel their children are ready for kindergarten
learning, but they are not eligible due to cut-off
dates.”
Indeed, with the state of California placing
stricter age requirements for kindergarten entry,
pre-kindergarten programs are becoming increasingly
popular. They allow students to gain an additional
year of foundational learning while experiencing
the social benefits of learning in a classroom
environment.
“By having the option for students to join our
community in early kindergarten, it allows them to
make an even smoother transition to kindergarten
and beyond,” Andy says. “With an intentionally small
class size, and instruction from a lead teacher (Cori
Cress) and full-time assistant (Mara Balak), we are
able to meet students’ needs—both academically
and socially—in a very nurturing and caring
environment.”
As part of the pilot, our youngest students
will follow a similar structure to Laguna’s popular
kindergarten program, with homeroom and specialist
offerings complete with unique themes. They will also
enjoy core elements of art, music, physical education,
science, Spanish, library and technology.
This year’s class will be limited to approximately
10 students to allow for meaningful interaction
between the teachers and the class. The typical
path for students after early kindergarten will be
kindergarten placement, although a child who has
made exceptional progress may be considered for
first grade.
For more information, contact Head of Lower
School Andy Surber.
Laguna launches full day Early Kindergarten Program
OUR YOUNGEST
STUDENTS ARE
GETTING ...
YOUNGER!
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