Our kindergarten program, known in the French system as Grande Section, is the final and crucial year of our early years program (Maternelle). This stage serves as the bridge between play-based learning and the formal academic structure of elementary school.
Building Essential Academic Fluency
In Grande Section, we solidify the foundational skills developed in preschool, preparing students for success in the dual-curriculum environment that begins in kindergarten and goes to grade 12.
- Curiosity and Readiness: Learning continues to be driven by activities that foster curiosity and social-emotional development, but with an increased focus on developing formal literacy and numeracy skills within the French curriculum.
- Language Reinforcement: The primary language of instruction remains French, ensuring students achieve strong proficiency necessary for primary school. English instruction of one hour per day continues to be integrated daily to ensure balanced linguistic development.
Focused Learning Environment
The structure of the kindergarten year allows for focused instruction while maintaining a supportive atmosphere.
- Class Sizes: We maintain three kindergarten classes, each to a maximum of 19 students.
- Experienced Educators: Every class is led by a certified French teacher, accompanied by an educator dedicated to students and preparing them for the greater academic demands of the elementary years. This focused class size allows teachers to give significant individual attention supporting each individual learning style.