Class Activities
The morning and afternoon classes follow a familiar routine, which incorporates free play and directed activities, arts and crafts projects, music and movement, outdoor and playground time, circle time (including opportunities for show and tell), and snack time.
In addition to the daily class structure, students are exposed to monthly and seasonal themes and activities. Classes also have occasional field trips or special guests to augment learning.
At the beginning of the preschool year, teachers work on bringing a harmonious atmosphere in the classroom, supporting students experiencing separation anxiety, teaching problem-solving and respect for one another (sharing, taking turns, cleaning after oneself, etc.), and following routines. This is done through a cooperative play environment while acknowledging every child’s individual development.
As the preschool year moves on, teachers continue to help students develop social and emotional skills while also encouraging students to learn through exploration and complete some fun “work,” focusing on fine motor skills and activities that will develop pre-math, pre-reading, pre-writing, and logic. Sometimes the work is done individually, and sometimes groups of children engage in projects together. These activities are adjusted to each child’s age and individual developmental level.
Active Play
Pomme d’Api recognizes the need for children to engage in physically active play, both inside and outside. This helps children develop their gross motor skills, grow in a healthy way, and connect with their bodies as they grow. Including indoor and outdoor playtime, children are provided with 30 to 60 minutes of active play in each class.
Because classroom space is limited, Pomme d’Api has a two-pronged policy for ensuring physical activity for children during class hours. Inside the classroom we have sensory play materials available for children, such as a water table, and physical activities such as stretching or dancing are incorporated into classroom routines. Outside the classroom Pomme d’Api has a playground with age-appropriate equipment that allows children to climb, run, crawl, and dig to ensure their physical and emotional health and development. Outside time is incorporated into every class, weather permitting.
preparation for kindergarten
Regularly attending preschool is a great way to prepare your child for kindergarten by getting them used to playing and learning in a structured setting with a larger group of peers. We recommend that child spend more time at Pomme d’Api in the second year if your child attended only 2 days a week in their first year. Increased time at the preschool will allow the teachers to work in a targeted manner with your child to prepare them for their elementary school start, both socially and through play-based academic learning.
Students who graduate from Pomme d’Api attend Anglophone or Francophone schools in the public or private sector, as well as a variety of immersion programs. Attending Pomme d’Api does not give your child priority registration at any one elementary school, but if your child is enrolling in a French immersion program or a Francophone school, their experience and exposure to French at Pomme d’Api will give them a head start when transitioning to elementary school programs.
