St Thomas the Apostle School

Welcome to Kindergarten
Admissions

OUR ENVIRONMENT

Learn by doing

Curriculum

Kindergarten Curriculum

Religion:  The kindergarten religion program recognizes that young children have a natural desire to learn about God.  The textbook, God Loves Us, integrates Scripture and Church Doctrine to help children relate the richness of our Catholic faith to their everyday lives.
Language Arts:  The elements of the kindergarten language arts program are:  reading, writing, phonics, phonemic awareness, speaking, listening, literature, and handwriting.  These are all taught by using several methods, including, whole group, small group, and individual instruction, as well as learning stations and technology.
Math:  Kindergarteners use materials from Envision Math (Scott Foresman), focusing on basic number sense, early geometry, counting, measurement, number recognition, as well as adding and subtracting to ten.   Students will be given opportunities for a combination of pencil and paper activities, manipulation exploration, hands on experiences, learning stations, and technology that will make abstract concepts concrete and understandable.
Social Studies and Science:   Recognizing the importance of real world, hands-on experiences as an essential tool for learning, both science and social studies curriculum are based on Scholastic’s Lets Find Out magazines.  They offer many subjects for students to explore in depth that go along with things that are currently happening or pertinent to them.
A Word

From Mrs. Di Cecco

This is my tenth year as a teacher with St. Thomas the Apostle School. My first three years here were teaching our preschoolers and I am very excited to be teaching kindergarten for a seventh year! I have been in Early Childhood Education for 13 years, coming to teaching young children after 20 years in consulting. I received my Master’s of Teaching in Elementary Education from North Park University.

I am a long-time resident of Crystal Lake with my husband, children, and our family dog. My oldest daughter is finishing her doctorate at UNC Chapel Hill, my son graduated from the University of Iowa and is working locally, and our younger daughter is starting at San Diego State University this fall. St. Thomas the Apostle is our home parish.

I know first-hand how quickly these school years pass and intend to help create an environment for your child to learn and grow. I strive to create a welcoming classroom providing hands-on activities to spark creativity and curiosity, centered on our amazing God. I look forward to getting to know each child as the unique gift God has created and to partnering with you in your child’s education. 

If you need to reach me for any reason, feel free to email me. 

jdicecco@stthomascl.org

– Mrs. Di Cecco