Early Childhood Division Overview

Welcome to our ECD. This division educates our youngest students, 3 years old through Kindergarten. This division houses 3 levels or grades: ECI, ECII, and Kindergarten. Students must be 3 years old by September 1 and fully toilet trained to enter our ECI. Both full and half-day programs are available to parents.

This division educates all students with an appropriate mix of developmental activities and experiences and academic challenges. The scope and sequence of our curriculum for The Independence School begins here. Thus, the move from a day care or childcare setting to a school environment is made as children enter this division.

All of our academic time, teaching of our curriculum, is done in a three-hour portion of the full day classes. The remainder of the day is for enrichment, extended peer interaction, and a broadened exploration of current topics as well as lunch and a rest period. Field trips are taken to enhance our curriculum and units of study. Museum and nature programs come to our school through outreach programs. The students participate in assemblies and community meetings. Our community meetings bring together all ECD students and faculty to celebrate friendship, learn about respect, and discuss important topics such as the American Flag and its meaning. Children are taken outdoors daily to exercise and develop their gross motor skills. Our multi-purpose room is also used for large motor activity. Teachers give students an opportunity for both organized games and free play. We believe both are equally important.

The ECD celebrates special events as a division and by level. Children and parents are asked to participate in a variety of ways. Students are encouraged to dress a part for such events. Everyone partakes in the festivities.

Parent volunteers are encouraged once the children have acclimated to the school environment. Parents can donate their time in the classroom, as cooking helpers, book parents, or by volunteering for a larger event. Parents are kept informed through newsletters, which are sent home twice a month from the classroom teacher. The ECD Head also keeps parents abreast of information through memos and a monthly school newsletter is sent home.