Our Junior Kindergarten Program

During Inquiry time, students work with their peers through structured play, learning important social skills such as listening, speaking, sharing, and cooperating. They ask questions to further their knowledge and build confidence to share their ideas and thoughts. Students learn concepts from subject areas through music and movement, songs and stories, play and planned lessons.

Daily art time is structured to connect with the inquiry discussions from circle time. The activities are open-ended, and students are invited to try a variety of materials and tools. Students develop hand-eye coordination, creativity, and imagination while learning pre-writing, social, and linguistic skills.

Lunch and snack times are designed to encourage conversation, while students learn about nutrition and appropriate eating habits; develop awareness of their own appetites, likes, and dislikes; and practice self-help and responsibility during cleanup.

Junior Kindergarten students play outside twice a day, regardless of the weather. Outdoor play has a positive impact on the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical well-being of our early learners: the more they move, the more their brains grow and develop! This is a time for open-ended exploration and to enhance the development of their senses.

A healthy, hot lunch is provided to all Junior Kindergarten students. The daily lunch program includes a soup, a hot entrée or sandwich, a dessert, and a beverage. Our chefs at SAGE cook everything from scratch, and the menu is as creative as it is fresh and healthy!

Learning centre time is a chance for students to make their own choices freely. Choices include water and sand activities, drama, creative art, paints, discovery, books, puzzles and more.

Clean-up time is designed to encourage students to become responsible for their own space, ensuring it is kept organized and tidy.

There are plenty of books to choose from in the Junior Kindergarten classroom; books and readings of all types – fiction, non-fiction, plays, and songs – are available and reflect the current unit of inquiry. Stories are read during transitional times throughout the day or when a child or small group requests it. Students visit the library every week for story time with our teacher-librarian, and students are encouraged to take home books to share with their families.