Why the Name Change?

Last year there was the Young 5's program, why has the name changed to Developmental Kindergarten?

The title "Developmental Kindergarten" is a better reflection of what we offer as an option for families with children who are beyond preschool, but not quite ready for full time Kindergarten. Traditionally, Young 5 and Kindergarten programs have a strict age limit for children who can participate. At Saint Patrick School, we want to work with the child, parents and teacher (Mrs. Walsh) to determine a placement based on readiness. Each child learns and matures at different rates, which results in a range of ages that may be ready for one program or another. A 4 year-old may be ready for Developmental Kindergarten while others the same age may need more time in preschool.

The Developmental Program (DK) serves as an "in-between" for children who aren't ready for five full days a week. DK attends Tuesday and Thursday, full day, and learns in the same classroom with the full-time Kindergartners. They participate in similar religious, academic and social activities that are just scaled down to fit the needs of each child.

Our intention is that the name change will better reflect the philosophy for offering Developmental Kindergarten in our school.