Description:

Can your child sit in a circle for storytime? Line up for lunch? Take turns talking to the teacher? This half-day, drop-off program is for 5- and 6-year-olds who will be starting school in the fall. Whether your child will be heading off to kindergarten or first grade in a public school, private school, or homeschool co-op setting, there are some fundamental "school readiness" skills they should be prepared for. If your child missed a year of preschool, pre-K, kindergarten, or has just had a long, unstructured summer, consider giving him a head start with a Bridge to School program. Children will work in a small group with an experienced early elementary educator and reading specialist to get ready to go to school!

This fun, activity-based program will incorporate key social skills and introduce school readiness so young children arrive more prepared and better adjusted in the fall. Academic basics such as the ABCs, days of the week, colors, shapes, and number sense with simple counting will be included and serve as an introduction to students who have never covered the topics before and a refresher for those who haven't done them in a while. Students will practice spelling and recognizing their names- even if they are not yet reading- and will learn their parents'/guardians' names in case of an emergency away from home.

In this program, children will get ready for school by practicing classroom routines, transitions between activities, sitting for activities, and lining up. Through games and activities, they will also practice key childhood skills such as sharing, taking turns, and entering play with others. Each day will include some simple structure such as a daily arrival song/greeting, morning "meeting" with the teacher to review the plan for the day, snack time, story time, and closing/goodbyes. Children will also complete daiky crafts and simple worksheets related to the week's theme and the day's featured topic.

The theme for the first week of Bridge to School is "Furry Tales", and the second week is "Backyard Safari." Children are welcome to take one week or both weeks of Bridge to School. Children can be dropped-off for this program (different than Compass's school-year policies for 55 minute classes.) There is a $10.00 material fee for class consumables due payable to the teacher on the first day of camp.