Three-Year-Old Class (3K)
The goal of our 3K program is to ensure each child’s beginning of school experience is full of joy and purpose, by inspiring a lifelong love of learning. Igniting a passion for knowledge will ensure children reach their full academic potential. We believe children learn best in an environment that promotes curiosity, confidence, exploration, creativity, discovery, and engagement within a positive school culture. Our focus on the whole child and promoting key foundational skills are the building blocks for school success in the first year of school and beyond. Understanding and focusing on the uniqueness of every child, we provide meaningful lessons for a variety of learning styles and adapt to meet the child at their developmental level. Structure goal driven “play” and hands-on learning incorporates STEM, fine motor development, phonemic awareness, science, literacy, math concepts, and social studies to build early fundamental base knowledge with our youngest scholars. Character development with a focus on kindness, respect, responsibility, and classroom/school community is a focus in 3K and the extension of WCDS mission to promote excellence in all areas of self.
Four-Year-Old Class (4K)
Four year olds are inquisitive, energetic, and are eager to learn! The 4K classroom provides a hands-on learning environment combined with an emphasis on literacy and is promoted through inquiry-based learning techniques. Our focus is to develop the whole child: social/emotional, cognitive development, literacy, language, math, science, social studies, and the arts. The classroom is organized into centers such as: the construction center, dramatic play, art station, a discovery center and a literacy center.
By providing instruction through hand-on learning, we are creating a life time love of learning at a very young age.
Pre-Kindergarten Class (Pre-K)
Come learn, grow and have fun in our transitional/kindergarten PreK Class! This is a wonderful program for older four-year old's and young five-year old's that are not quite developmentally ready for a traditional kindergarten setting. The curriculum was designed to help students develop a strong foundation for future school success. With increasing demands and structure in K, some parents are aware that their child may not be ready for the traditional K program. Thus, PreK is “the gift of time”! PreK’s philosophy is that educational development is not a race but an exciting journey that lasts a lifetime.
No two flowers bloom in exactly the same way and neither do children! Class size is small in PreK so each child has the advantage of individualized attention and instruction. Learning involves hands-on and manipulative activities that allow children to learn through experimentation and exploration and encourage development of higher-order thinking skills. A well-based systematic phonics component is built into instruction. The children are exposed to whole language and phonics methods of reading readiness skills. Spanish, Kindermusik, Music, Library and Physical Education supplement the curriculum. Field trips are taken to enrich and supplement student learning such as the pumpkin patch and strawberry farm.
Kindermusik
From grades 3K through Kindergarten, WCDS students benefit from having Kindermusik, a music and movement program, integrated into their regular music curriculum. Kindermusik enhances the child’s learning experience at school, and its curriculum focuses on nurturing the following skills in the whole child: cognitive, physical, social emotional and language. Additionally, our Kindermusik teacher is not only fully certified, she has attained a master’s degree in Orff-Schulwerk.
Before and After School Care
Before and after school care is available for Wayne Country Day School students, ages three through six. Our childcare may be used on a regular schedule for working parents or on a drop-in basis for those parents who require service occasionally.
Children may be dropped off at 7:00 AM, and must be picked up no later than 5:30 PM.
Year Round Program
Our school offers a limited number of places in the Year Round program for dual-working parents. With the exception of six days from August through May, and the first two weeks in July, two levels of Year Round -- 3K, 4K and PreK -- are offered to those families who require a Year Round school year.