Early School
We grow happy children! The life of every Early School student is a very busy one. It's a time of exploration and discovery. Our Early School program is designed to expand the knowledge and curiosity of our students and to lay the foundation for a lifetime love of learning.
Early School consists of four different classes:
- The Cottage for 2.5 - 3.5-year old students
- Pre-Kindergarten for students turning 3.5 years old by August 20, 2024
- Early Kindergarten for students who are turning 4.5 by August 20, 2024
- Kindergarten for students turning 5 by September 30, 2024
As a Friends School, Early School is a whole child approach to each child’s intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual growth. The Early School program allows students to actively explore their environment. Classroom materials and experiences are designed to help children acquire visual and auditory skills, develop independence and self-discipline, and increase physical dexterity.
The VBFS Early School encourages students to learn how to cooperate in a group, take responsibility for themselves, and try new activities. Early school students learn through art projects, singing, dramatic play, yoga, STEAM, cooking, outdoor activities, and so much more. We also develop early literacy skills through the letter of the week, reading with them and exploring books on their own, journaling with a focus on phonetic awareness. Math skills are shaped through hands on manipulations that focus on identifying patterns, developing number sense, counting, and problem solving. The Pre-K and Early Kindergarten programs will explore these concepts using separate levels of the Creative Curriculum Program. The Kindergarten will continue the literacy program using the SuperKids Reading Program. Foundational mathematics at the Kindergarten level is built through concepts using Singapore Math.
