Kindergarten Parents Page

Below are some questions frequently asked by current, incoming and prospective Whittier parents with kindergarten students. If you have more questions, please contact our kindergarten teachers teachers Briney Ferry and Maurie Marcil, or our principal, Lauren Hoyt.

• What is included in the kindergarten school day?
• What does reading and writing look like in Kindergarten?
• What does math look like in Kindergarten?
• What is the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB-PYP)?
• What does IB-PYP look like in Kindergarten?
• How is the IB-PYP aligned with the Boulder Valley School District curriculum?
• Is your child ready for kindergarten?
• How can you help your child with school?
• What is kindergarten enrichment or K-Care?
• How can I volunteer in the classroom?
• What school supplies to I need to buy?
• Does Whittier have before and after school day care?

What is included in the kindergarten school day?

Mikayla Frederich, Olivia Liquori, Mahayla Rose

Whittier provides half-day sessions of kindergarten five days a week. We offer either morning or afternoon sessions. The day can be extended at the school through the supplemental kindergarten enrichment program offered by the Boulder Valley School District (see more information on K-Care below). We will spend the first few weeks of school establishing routines. We have activity periods where children make their own choices among a rich selection of materials. We also learn through whole group discussions, small group literacy and math instruction, IB units of inquiry, singing, drama, and outdoor play. We have a 15 minutes snack/recess time for the morning and afternoon classes. Children have physical education, music, and art instruction each week.

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What does reading and writing look like in Kindergarten?

Literacy is integrated throughout the day. We have a 30 minute literacy time each day. During this time the English as a Second Language students get specialized instruction while the rest of the students work on their reading skills are a whole group or in small groups. Kindergarteners have writing instruction 2-3 times a week with a lesson and independent writing. Once a week, all students participate in a 30 minute phonemic awareness lesson.

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What does math look like in Kindergarten?

Math is also integrated into our day, especially during the opening activities with the calendar and schedule. There is a whole group focus lesson at the beginning of the week and the the children have follow up activities to do throughout the week. We are using the Investigations curriculum.

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What is the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB-PYP)?

For more information about the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program, please visit the International Baccalaureate Organization's website as well as the Whittier website's page about the IB-PYP.

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What does IB-PYP look like in Kindergarten?

Doon Wook Lee

Nothing is too small or too large for the enthusiastic curiosity of five year olds. At Whittier they will learn how to ask questions and make inquiries, explore and research inquiries, and explain the information they discovered. Kindergarten students at Whittier will be involved in 6 IB Units of Inquiry.

Kindergarten students at Whittier will also be introduced to the idea of taking action about something they've learned. This could be as simple as a thank you note to a visitor or as complex as a poster telling people how to take care of their senses. The kindergarteners will also attend school wide assemblies where they might be asked to share and demonstrate things they've learned.

Kindergarten students at Whittier will also learn some Spanish vocabulary as well as songs. For more information about Whittier's French program please visit our web page on Spanish at Whittier.

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How is the IB-PYP aligned with the Boulder Valley School District curriculum?

The content of the IB Units of Inquiry comes from the district curriculum. The difference is the manner is which they are taught. The IB curriculum uses inquiry methodology to teach students about new content. Students are encouraged to ask questions, search for information about their questions, and share their findings. At kindergarten, this is often done as a whole group at the beginning of the year and as the students progress they are given more and more independence in their inquiries.

Here is a list of ways the IB-PYP and the BVSD curriculum align. IB-PYP and BVSD

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Is your child ready for kindergarten?

Aysha Foote

We recognize that children develop at their own pace. Student assessments take place in September to determine individual strengths and needs. Here are some skills that kindergartners should be working on or familiar with to be ready for kindergarten. If your child doesn't have all of these skills, don't worry. We'll be working on them during the school year, too.

Kindergarten Skills

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How can you help your child with school?

There are many things parents can do to help their children in kindergarten. Here is a list of suggestions for you to consider.

Parents Helping Their Child At School

Parents can also help their children by reading to them every night.

Guide for Reading to Kindergarteners

Here is a guide to healthy school habits for your kindergartener.

Healthy School Habits

Here is a guide to your kindergarteners physical development. If your child has physical limitations, please let us know so that we can accommodate his/her needs.

Physical Development

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What is kindergarten enrichment or K-Care?

The Boulder Valley School District partners with Community Schools to offer a half-day optional, fee-based childcare program (K-CARE) in addition to the half-day kindergarten program. K-CARE is available in elementary schools for kindergartners needing care for the rest of the school day. K-CARE compliments the school programs and is consistent with the guidelines of a developmentally appropriate curriculum. K-CARE provides full time (five half days per week) and limited part time care opposite the kindergarten portion of the school day depending on the options available at individual schools.
Lunch may be purchased through the school lunch program or brought from home. Check with the school to determine the options. If you are interested in this service, you can sign-up at the school office.

Kindergarten Care

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How can I volunteer in the classroom?

We value parent volunteers in the classroom. Volunteer opportunities are posted during the kindergarten social in August and at the "Find Your Desk" night. You can always contact the teacher if you'd like to help. Classroom volunteers usually don't get started for a couple of weeks as the schedule takes a while to get settled.

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What school supplies to I need to buy?

We ask the students to bring specific supplies to school listed on the kindergarten supply list. If you need help purchasing supplies, please contact the Whittier office.

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Does Whittier have before and after school day care?

Whittier students can apply to the YMCA before and after school daycare program. The YMCA daycare takes place on the Whittier campus Monday through Friday. For an application, please contact the Whittier office at (303) 442-2282 or the YMCA offices at (303) 442-2278.

YMCA of Boulder Valley

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