Curriculum
All e.p.i.c. School
classes reflect active learning and joy in discovery. Professional
growth and collegial work among teachers translate into an invigorating
and proactive curriculum for our students.
Click on a link:
Pre-Kindergarten
Goals and Curriculum
Junior
and Senior Kindergarten Goals and Curriculum
At e.p.i.c. School, we
look forward each year to a kaleidoscope of annual traditions that are
designed to spark our students’ curiosity, imagination, enthusiasm and
enhance their academic learning. Our traditions teach,
entertain, and foster friendships between younger and older students.
Many
of these traditions, such as the annual Halloween Play and Graduation
are brought to life with the help of generous and creative parents and
dedicated teachers and staff. Hand in hand with the children, these
traditions help us all to view the world through the eyes of a child.
Below, please find a some photo collages of a few of the
traditional events that happen throughout the year. Events are listed
in approximate chronological order.
Pre-Kindergarten Goals and Curriculum
e.p.i.c. School's
Pre-Kindergarten year is vitally important for:
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establishing confidence
in social relationships |
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introducing the
concept of "school" |
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building a solid foundation
for future learning |
e.p.i.c. School's Pre-Kindergarten programme
provides a secure structure for learning the social skills needed for
successful peer relationships as well as for learning basic concepts
and skills. Learning is allowed to 'happen' in a natural way. Children
are guided to discovery at their own pace.
Personal and Social Development
Children, ages three to four, are ready to develop co-operative play
skills. e.p.i.c. School's Pre-Kindergarten programme offers opportunities:
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to play
with peers in a stimulating environment |
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to negotiate
the direction of play with peers in a supportive environment |
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to join
with peers in developing imaginative play in a creative environment |
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to participate
in school circle routines which are familiar and comfortable, but
which also teach concepts and broaden knowledge |
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to learn
new skills by observing and imitating peers as well as by direct
instruction |
e.p.i.c. School's Pre-Kindergarten programme
is designed to give children opportunities to discover the skills and
behaviours necessary for a successful school experience. e.p.i.c. School's
environment is positive, supportive and non-judgmental. The children
are encouraged to take risks in learning and to explore opportunities.
Large Motor
e.p.i.c. School's fabulous gym
programme provides a sensory-stimulating environment designed to
develop your child's "I CAN" attitude, along with their physical and
emotional health.
In addition to the weekly gym class, e.p.i.c. School's Pre-Kindergarten programme offers daily opportunities
for exercise and activity. Music and movement classes focus on large
muscle movements to music and towards making the music experience fun.
Fine Motor
Fine motor skills develop steadily between three and four years of age.
e.p.i.c. School's Pre-Kindergarten programme augments this development
by providing many opportunities for the practice of fine motor skills.
Fine motor goals are built into daily activities and progress is monitored
and encouraged.
Cognitive Skill
Development
Within the overall structure of e.p.i.c. School's Pre-Kindergarten programme,
individual developmental needs are paramount. Strategies and games to
teach concepts are varied for each child so that each achieves success.
Examples of goals for the year are:
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To recognize printed
name of self and classmates |
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To count objects
accurately by rote |
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To know the value
of numbers 1 to 10 |
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To learn the days
of the week |
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To learn opposites
such as heavy, light, big, little, etc. |
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To categorize objects |
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To sequence events |
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To develop reasoning
and problem solving skills |
Communication
During the Pre-Kindergarten year, children rapidly develop their communication
skills. By age four, they are often able to follow 3 step directions,
tell about experiences and events in sequence, comment, negotiate with
peers and answer questions appropriately and on topic. e.p.i.c. School's
Pre-Kindergarten programme provides opportunities for encouraging and
promoting the development of these skills.
French
e.p.i.c. School's Pre-Kindergarten classes are introduced to the French
language through songs, games and stories.
Science and Discovery
The Pre-Kindergarten class science and discovery program promotes curiosity
and inquiry through sensory activities and fun experiments.
Creative
e.p.i.c. School's Pre-Kindergarten programme uses themes to link
various school activities together into a common experience. e.p.i.c.
School's Pre-Kindergarten programme encourages creativity and imagination.
Problem solving skills depend on a flexible and creative thinking process.
Open-ended activities are planned to allow exploration of possibilities
and which encourage imagination. Discovery and experience are important
goals and the process is more important than the product.
The music and movement classes have
an important creative component. The children are encouraged to respond
to music in imaginative ways and to act out simple scenarios freely
and expressively. Creating simple rhythms and drawing to music encourage
creative responses to music.
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Junior and Senior Kindergarten
Goals and Curriculum
e.p.i.c. School's Kindergarten builds on a foundation of understanding.
The curriculum focuses on children's curiosity about the world around
them, balancing an innovative approach along with the exploration and
teaching of foundational skills while offering a wide range of experiences.
Teachers draw on the best education practices of the past, made stronger
by recent advances in research and pedagogy. Resource rich classrooms
ensure that each student grows in areas of strength and interest, and
undertakes tasks that are challenging.
e.p.i.c. School Junior and Senior Kindergarten provides:
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a programme in which the children are encouraged
to be active participants in their learning
|
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a balance of social, creative, physical and intellectual
learning experiences
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challenging learning opportunities
that provide a solid foundation for lifelong learning. |
e.p.i.c. School's Kindergarten curriculum includes: language arts,
social studies, science, mathematics, visual arts, French as a second
language, physical education and music. The subjects are integrated
through unifying themes to help children develop a greater understanding
of the world they live in.
Personal and Social Development
Across the year, the children work and play together. Being part of
a group provides a wonderful opportunity for students to develop self-awareness
and interpersonal (social) skills. Through group experiences, the children
learn about themselves and others. Sharing, cooperating, planning, being
responsible, leading, following, deciding on and following rules are
emphasized.
Large Motor Development
e.p.i.c. School's fabulous gym
programme provides a sensory-stimulating environment designed to
develop your child's "I CAN" attitude, along with their physical and
emotional health. In addition to the weekly gym class, students
participate in winter skating, physical activities using our fabulous
green space or large gym, and cooperative games woven into the classroom
programme.
Fine Motor Development
e.p.i.c. School's Kindergarten programme supports the development of
fine motor skills by providing many opportunities for practice. Cutting
with scissors, sewing, buttoning, manipulating small objects such as
beads and Lego pieces, as well as the use of crayons, markers, paintbrushes
and pencils encourage the development of small muscle control.
Language Arts
Kindergartners are offered an enriched language based curriculum that
includes a reading program based on scientifically supported research
to teach emergent and early literacy
skills. Speaking, listening, reading, and writing are featured in a
challenging and creative programme in which language is used as a conduit
for problem solving and communication.
Mathematics and Science
e.p.i.c. School Kindergarten employs the use of materials that give
children firsthand experiences with number, patterning, measurement,
sorting and classifying, graphing, geometry and coin recognition. As
natural experimenters who like to try things out for themselves, the
children have experiences hypothesizing and predicting, posing questions,
investigating and inventing.
French
Listening and speaking skills are introduced through natural interactions.
Students are exposed to variations in intonation, volume, stress, pitch
and the melody of speech, through rhymes, songs, games, stories and
activities. The e.p.i.c. programme builds on the children's interest
and ability in acquiring and using the language.
Visual Arts and Music
Students are provided with a myriad of opportunities to express themselves
with paper, crayons, markers, clay, paint, glue and collage materials.
They also learn skill techniques such as weaving and to experiment with
materials that encourage the use of imagination.
Music is incorporated into the daily programme as children practice
creating and repeating beats and rhythms, identifying and having exposure
to a variety of instruments, tone matching, and participating in unison
singing. Children are exposed to a variety of musical styles, e.g. classical,
folk and jazz.
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