Welcome to Kindy Early Years started at Aquinas in 2014 with a single Kindergarten class of 24 boys. As the boys have journeyed through their schooling so too has the Early Years programme grown. This year, our inaugural Kindy students are the Year 3 cohort, officially completing the K-3 Early Years programme at Aquinas College. Early Years Learning Coordinator Nicole Monzu says the Junior School, now a Kindergarten to Year 6 (K-6) campus, supports the Early Years boys from Kindergarten to Year 3 and provides developmentally appropriate learning in a play-based setting.
“Red t-shirted boys can be seen skipping to and from school each day eager and excited to be part of such a special community,” Mrs Monzu says.
“This year has seen another cohort of three and four-year olds take their first steps into the Kindergarten class. Developing a sense of belonging is paramount and the boys have been learning to play with their new friends and become familiar with an environment that provides them with opportunities to discover more about themselves and each other,” she says. Mrs Monzu says as students learn by engaging with the materials and the intentional learning opportunities presented to them, they develop in both confidence and ability. “Dressing up, getting messy and acting out their favourite stories are everyday occurrences that add to the joy of early childhood.”
Jesus and what he means to them. They explore the presence of God in their lives through wonder at creation, singing, painting, drawing and retelling Bible stories. Some of the traditional rituals such as making the Sign of the Cross are modified to be more developmentally appropriate. Students say; “Jesus be in my head, Jesus be in my heart and Jesus watch over my shoulders,” to commence and conclude each day.
Values
Faith is an integral value modelled and practiced daily in classroom activities. Godly play and daily reflections provide opportunities for Early Years students to engage in their understanding of
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