2025-2026 Class Choices
Preschool Morning Classes
• Two Day Class, Monday and Friday mornings, 8:40 – 11:30
• Two Day Class, Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 8:40 – 11:30
• Three Day Class, Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, 8:40 – 11:30
• Three Day Class, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, 8:40 – 11:30
• Five Day Class, Monday through Friday mornings, 8:40 – 11:30
Preschool Afternoon Classes
• Three Day Class, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, 12:40 – 3:30
• Five Year Old Class, Monday through Friday afternoons, 12:40 - 3:30
Kindergarten
Monday through Friday, with three days 8:40 – noon, and two days 8:40 – 2:00 in the first semester; adding a third longer day in the second semester.
The daily schedule of Kindergarten provides a balance of teacher directed, small group, large group, and individual free choice activities. The Kindergarten Math Curriculum follows the Mathematics Their Way program, along with a variety of other activities which will take the children from the exploration level, through the concrete stages, and, as they are ready, approaching the abstract level of math. Language Activities will be woven throughout the entire program, incorporating Science of Reading methodology such as phonics, key words, sight words, journaling, phonetic spelling, dictations, book making, etc. “The Masters Made Easy”, created by Sudie Holshouser, exposes the children to many artists as well as various styles of art. The program also includes every aspect that is offered in the preschool programs at The Acorn: dramatic play, creative art, manipulatives, large and fine motor skills, blocks, nature, cooking, etc.
First Grade
First grade classes are scheduled from 8:30 to 3:30, Monday through Friday. The first month of school, in August, dismissal will be at 1pm every day. The regular schedule will begin in September. First grade teachers will greet their class from 8:30 to 8:40am at Walden Pond every morning and 3:30 pickup is at The Acorn playground.
We added a First Grade for the 2025-2026 school year. The daily schedule of First Grade provides a balance of teacher directed, small group, large group, and individual free choice activities. The First Grade Curriculum Subjects include, English, Language Arts following the “Science of Reading” methodology, Math following the Mathematics Their Way program, Social Studies, S.T.E.A.M - Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math and Project Based Learning - Incorporating all areas of curriculum into projects. Specials include Spanish, art and music twice a week, and a variety of other enrichment opportunities.
Extended Day “Lunch Bunch” Options
• Wednesdays 11:30 – 2:00 (offered as an extension to the 3 day MWF, 3 day TWT, and 5 day M-F morning classes after school)
• Thursdays 11:10 – 12:40 (offered as an extension to the afternoon 3 day TWT pm and 5 year classes before school)
Bridge Class Option:
A new option was added as a trial for the 2025-2026 school year, for parents to enroll their child in a primary class (one of the morning or afternoon 3-day classes or 5-day classes) and a “Bridge” class (either the 3-Day Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday am or pm class).
Children enrolled in the “Bridge” class have lunch and a rest period during this transition from morning to afternoon. Lunch and rest period will be from 11:15-12:45pm.
Ratios:
A class of twenty children has four teachers, while a class of twelve has two teachers. Four of our preschool classes have mixed age groups of three and four-year-olds that are balanced by age and gender. Five other classes are age-specific: First Grade, Kindergarten, a five-year-old class, and two two-day classes for three-year-olds.