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How do you know your child is ready for school? What should you look for in a Preschool program? Find out this and more through this simple, easy-to-read guide for parents.

Early Childhood Program Ages 3 – Kindergarten

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Early Childhood Program comprehensive tuition and fees
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Program of Study Guide
Junior Kindergarten-3: Three or five, half-day sessions per week (1:00 dismissal) 
​Children must be age three by the start of school and fully potty trained.
Junior Kindergarten-4: Five half- or full-day sessions per week (1:00 or 2:50 dismissal)
Junior Kindergarten-5: Five full-day sessions (2:50 dismissal)
Kindergarten: Five full-day sessions per week (2:50 dismissal)

Gardening. Nature Walks. Cooking. Later that morning, music, Spanish, counting—don’t forget recess, twice—and a nap never hurt. North Cross began as a school in the basement of a house because one mother wanted a place for her precocious preschooler to flourish when the public schools said she was too young to enroll. Recognizing the potential in young minds and then fostering and developing those minds and bodies, is our founding strength—one we have perfected over seven decades. 
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Storytime with Senior Buddies
2020 Senior Buddy Story Time
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Snow day at school
Is your child not quite ready for kindergarten?
North Cross School is excited to announce the recent addition of the Junior Kindergarten-5 section to its Early Childhood Program. This class is designed for students who may be of age for Kindergarten but who would benefit from an extra year to transition into a Kindergarten setting. This small class (about 10 students) provides students with a differentiated experience and learning objectives tailored to their specific needs. Focus will be on the consolidation of basic language and mathematical skills, oral speaking and communication skills, and problem-solving skills. Students will also benefit from larger group interactions involving the JK-4 classes during recess and special areas. The students will explore cross-curricular monthly themes and travel on at least two field trips. Additionally, there is a strong emphasis on character education, which provides students with extra time and support to develop social awareness and self-confidence. These students are guided and encouraged to become leaders and positive role models among their peers. 

Watch an EdWeek video on the benefits and reservations of holding off on your child's Kindergarten enrollment an extra year. Luckily, because our Lower School class sizes are so small, the drawbacks brought up in the EdWeek video don't play themselves out at North Cross where children receive individualized, challenging instruction from their teachers.

The Teachers

The ‘More’
Sometimes to teach young children, you have to become one, too. Our Early Childhood Program teachers are not afraid to get their hands dirty, whether it is through making cookies, carving a pumpkin, finger painting—you name it, they're game. With all the fun they have, you may forget that they have a job to do. But, they don't. The faculty in the Lower School, at all levels, have the freedom to explore with their students—whether it's coding in Kindergarten or collecting leaves on a nature hike—our teachers develop programs geared to individual strengths, and nurture their social behaviors so that each student grows to respect and appreciate the world around them. 
At this age, recess is about the most important thing to a child, but North Cross manages to include a few other activities during the day as well. Spanish instruction in the classroom happens every day. Children learn through songs, dances, and games, gathering the vocabulary they’ll need as they move forward. Music meets twice per week, focusing on percussion and group singing. Field trips illustrate topics introduced in class—from zoos to theatre. Each week students go to the library for stories and lessons. Our Lower-School counselor also uses stories to foster sharing, kindness and using words to describe feelings. In Junior Kindergarten-4 and -5, students form a special connection with a senior in the Upper School. Their "senior buddy" will come to the classroom multiple times during the year to take part in special activities such as the Halloween Parade, Easter Egg Hunt, and ultimately, seniors receive their Fat Pencils—a symbol of 12 years or more enrolled at the school—from their young charges. ​

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For students who are half-day, North Cross offers an after-school enrichment program called Opening Doors. Classes are offered all three trimesters, meet different days once per week, and include: Gymnastics, Soccer, Bricks4Kidz, and Dance. Cost for each class varies but each costs around $100 per trimester. Download our course overview for more information. The Lower School also offers Extended Day options. Download details and a price guide.
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Sample Day:

Junior Kindergarten-3
7:40     Arrival
8:20     Spanish/Rug Time
8:40    (group switch) Rug Time/Spanish
9:00     Montessori Activities
9:30     Bathroom/Snack
9:50     Recess
10:30  Arts & Crafts/Music & Movement
11:00  (group switch) Music/Arts & Crafts
11:30  Recess
12:00  Lunch (in classroom)
12:25  Free Play/Clean-up
12:50  End-of-Day Meeting & Song
1:00     Dismissal

Junior Kindergarten-4
7:40     Arrival
8:00     Circle Time
8:20     Language Arts
9:10     Recess
9:30     Spanish/Language Arts
10:30  Lunch
11:15  Recess
11:40  Math
12:15  Montessori/Coding
1:00     Rest
1:50     Snack
2:00     Developmental Centers
2:50     Dismissal

Kindergarten (Age 5)
7:30     Morning Work/Centers
8:15     Circle Time
8:30     Reading/Word Study
9:30     Break
10:00  Math
10:45  Lunch
11:40  Spanish
12:10  Spanish/Music/Library or Guidance
12:40  P.E.
1:45     Snack
2:10     Recess
2:50     Dismissal