Kindergarten

A Joyful Kindergarten Year with More Possibilities for Your Child’s Future

At Our Lady of Grace, Kindergarten is a year of wonder, growth, confidence, and joy. It is a year when children begin to see themselves as readers, writers, mathematicians, friends, helpers, leaders, and beloved children of God.

Our Kindergarten program is unique because we view each child as an individual. We do not believe that every child’s path should be determined by a single date on the calendar. Children grow at different times, in different ways, and with different gifts. At Our Lady of Grace, each child is known, loved, encouraged, and guided with care.

In recent years, Connecticut changed the public school Kindergarten entry requirement. Children must now turn 5 on or before September 1 of the Kindergarten year to be eligible for public school Kindergarten. This change created a gap year for many children with fall birthdays who, in the past, would have been able to begin Kindergarten.

At Our Lady of Grace, we are able to serve families in a more personal way.

We welcome children who meet the September 1 age requirement, and we also welcome children who turn 5 later in the calendar year and are ready for a rich, joyful, full Kindergarten experience.

Rather than separating children into different tracks, we offer one strong Kindergarten program.

This allows families to keep more options open for the future.

After completing Kindergarten at Our Lady of Grace, families may work with their child’s next school to determine the best placement for the following year. For some children, the next step may be First Grade. For others, the next step may be another year of Kindergarten. In either case, your child will have received the gift of a full Kindergarten year at Our Lady of Grace, surrounded by faith, love, excellent instruction, and the confidence that comes from being truly known.

A Full Kindergarten Curriculum in a Loving Catholic Setting

Kindergarten at Our Lady of Grace is a complete academic program rooted in joy, faith, and personal attention.

Children are introduced to the full Kindergarten curriculum through reading, writing, phonics, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, languages, prayer, play, and hands-on discovery. Each day is designed to help children grow not only in knowledge, but also in confidence, kindness, independence, and love of learning.

Our classrooms are warm, vibrant, and nurturing. Guided by the Sisters and our teachers, children are encouraged to ask questions, try new things, build friendships, solve problems, use their imaginations, and discover the beauty of learning.

Parents often tell us that the presence of the Sisters is what makes Our Lady of Grace so special. Kindergarten here is not only preparation for the next school year. It is a formative year in the life of a child, filled with tenderness, structure, prayer, encouragement, and joy.

What Children Experience in Kindergarten

Literacy & Language

Children grow as readers, writers, listeners, and speakers through phonics, storytelling, journaling, small-group instruction, classroom conversation, and meaningful daily practice. They begin to recognize the joy of words, stories, ideas, and self-expression.

Mathematics

Our math curriculum helps children build number sense, pattern recognition, measurement skills, problem-solving ability, early operations, and mathematical confidence. Through hands-on activities, children learn that math is not only important, but also engaging and fun.

Science & Social Studies

Children explore the world around them through observation, discussion, experiments, projects, nature study, and classroom discovery. They learn about seasons, communities, creation, responsibility, and the many ways people live, work, help, and care for one another.

Arts & Creative Expression

Music, singing, movement, drama, storytelling, drawing, painting, and creative projects give children the opportunity to express themselves and share their gifts. Kindergarten is a year when imagination flourishes.

Languages

Exposure to Italian and Spanish introduces children to new words, cultures, sounds, and traditions. This early language experience helps children grow in curiosity and appreciation for the wider world.

Faith & Virtue Formation

Daily prayer, chapel visits, classroom faith lessons, and the loving example of the Sisters help children grow spiritually. They learn that God is present in their daily lives and that kindness, gratitude, patience, honesty, and love are part of who they are called to become.

Social & Emotional Growth

Kindergarten is a year of remarkable personal growth. Children learn how to share, cooperate, lead, listen, take responsibility, solve problems, care for others, and become good friends. In our small and nurturing environment, each child has room to grow in confidence and maturity.

Physical Development & Play

Outdoor play, movement, structured activities, and daily opportunities for active learning help children develop coordination, stamina, confidence, and healthy habits. At Our Lady of Grace, we honor the joy of childhood while preparing children for what comes next.

One Kindergarten Program, More Future Options

Families choose Our Lady of Grace because they want a Kindergarten year that is both academically strong and deeply personal.

For children who meet the September 1 age requirement, our program provides a strong foundation for First Grade readiness.

For children with fall birthdays who do not meet the public school cutoff, our program offers something very special: the opportunity to experience a full Kindergarten year in a nurturing private school setting while keeping future placement options open.

At the end of the year, your child’s next step can be determined thoughtfully, in partnership with the school your family selects for the following year. Some children may be ready to pursue First Grade. Others may benefit from another Kindergarten year. Either path can be a beautiful and successful next step.

What matters most is that your child has had a joyful, meaningful, faith-filled Kindergarten year, one that strengthens the mind, the spirit, and the heart.

Why Families Choose Kindergarten at Our Lady of Grace

• Families choose Our Lady of Grace because they want their child to be seen as a whole person.

• They want a school where academics matter, but so do kindness, confidence, faith, friendship, and joy.

•  They want teachers who know their child personally.

• They want the loving presence of the Sisters.

• They want a place where their child can grow at the right pace, with the right support, in an environment filled with warmth and purpose.

Our Kindergarten program offers:

•  A complete Kindergarten curriculum

•  A small, nurturing classroom environment

• Individual attention for each child

• A joyful Catholic foundation

• Strong preparation for the next school step

• Faith and virtue formation

• Social and emotional growth

• Opportunities for leadership, creativity, and independence

• Flexibility for families navigating the changing Kindergarten age requirements

 A Beautiful Beginning

 Kindergarten at Our Lady of Grace is not simply about where a child goes next. It is about who a child becomes.

It is a year to grow in confidence.
A year to discover the joy of learning.
A year to make friends.
A year to pray, sing, create, explore, and wonder.
A year to be known and loved.

Whether your child’s next step is Kindergarten or First Grade, Our Lady of Grace provides a beautiful beginning and a strong foundation for the future.

At Our Lady of Grace, Kindergarten is a celebration of childhood, a foundation for learning, and a joyful step forward in faith, confidence, and grace.