Specials

Spanish

Hola Amigos!

Spanish has been a wonderful addition to the Good Shepherd program. All students in Pre-K 4s, Transitional classes and Kindergarten have weekly lessons. Time with each group varies from 15 minutes with the younger students (Pre-K 4s) to 45 minutes with the oldest (Kindergarten). Since many students at this age are beginning to learn their letters and sounds, Spanish is taught through music, pictures, books and conversation. The students learn how to say their colors, days of the week, months of the year, animals, and so much more. Towards the end of each year, the students are introduced to some of the cultural aspects of our Spanish neighbors and their Indian decedents.  In addition, each year the Transitional and Kindergarten classes participate in the Cinco de Mayo celebration.  These classes demonstrate all that they have learned for their parents and the entire student body at Good Shepherd.  As an extra bonus, the Kindergarten class performs a children’s play in Spanish. It is absolutely amazing to see how much they have learned in just a year!

 Spanish with Mary Vicinanza, Teacher

“I have art classes with the Kindergarten and Traditional Kindergarten every other week.  I try to choose an artist that the children can relate to. After viewing some of the artists work, the class attempts to create the style or subject matter that we talked about.  Each week a different medium is used, sometimes paper is torn or cut, paint is brushed on smoothly or with lots of texture.  I encourage the use of reusable items, such as, leaves, wood pieces, cardboard, and bottle tops. The projects and processes that are chosen are done so that the student can feel success in its completion, and excitement in its creation.  Along with studying a particular artist, other art lessons are taught, like, printing, monochromatic color schemes, and wire or clay sculpture.  Art expression can be therapeutic, it can give an outlet for inner feelings, be a stress reliever or just be for fun.  I believe it should always be for fun!  After every art class, one of my favorite things to do is to let each student express, explain, or just brag about their masterpiece.”

Bev Wheeler, Director, MDO and Art Instructor

 

KEEP

Kids Extended Enrichment Program

We enhance and enrich our morning programs through our social studies and science-based themes.  We learn units on Space, The Environments, Countries Across the World, and The Human Body. Each unit lasts from 1-2 months long.  We learn through books, songs, finger plays, drama, experiments and short movies.

Our favorite unit are the countries and continents we study. From the USA to Mexico, France, Autralia, Africa and China! We perform a "KEEP Around the World" in the Spring every year. The children dress in native costumes, sing songs from the countries we've "traveled". They get a passport to fill out and go to all the classrooms at Good Shepherd. In each room a country is represented. The kids artwork is displayed and there are snacks from each country to enjoy.  It really is a lot of fun!

KEEP with Yvette Estopinal, Teacher