Kindergarten

5-years-old by Sept. 1st

Poko Loko offers a full or part-time Kindergarten program. Ratios are great, one teacher for no more than twenty students. All meals are provided including breakfast, lunch and two nutritious snacks. Our Kindergarten program is designed to prepare our students for a smooth transition into elementary school. Because our small class size allows for a lot of individual attention, we are confident that your child will be able to master our course without difficulty. Curriculum textbooks will include mathematics, reading and phonics. Our teachers will constantly reinforce and teach both school skills and social skills that will be needed for elementary school. Monthly field trips as well as special musical and artistic performances are also included in our kindergarten program.

Our Space

Wheeling Playground #1
Wheeling Playground #2
Wheeling Playground #3
Wheeling Playground #4
Wheeling Kindergarten #1
Wheeling Kindergarten #2
Wheeling Kindergarten #3
Wheeling Kindergarten #4
Wheeling Kindergarten #5

Information

Our ratio for five-year-olds is one teacher per twenty children, although generally the class has fewer children than this.
Periodically throughout the year children will move up to an older room. The children are usually eager for this move because they are going to a new room that is stimulating and exciting. Their curriculum is getting more challenging, and they will be encouraged to learn and try new things. To help with this change, Poko Loko will let the child visit the new room before she moves. Parents will also be informed of this move.
Our children take their naps on cots. Each child has his own cot with a blanket and sheet that is washed at least once a week.
Our Kindergarten class follows a stimulating and well organized program every morning from 9:00 a.m. until 11:40 a.m. The children also create an art project every day. In the afternoon, there is structured play during which the children can choose what they would like to do. During the day the children eat breakfast, two snacks, and lunch together, and they all nap at the same time.
Every month the parents receive the curriculum that their child’s class is following. The curriculum includes the special subjects the children are learning about and any special projects they will complete as well as our special songs, books, and activities.
Poko Loko provides cereal plus another whole grain or protein option along with fruit and milk that will be served from 6:30 a.m.–8:30 a.m. for breakfast. The children are fed a snack at about 9:00 a.m. and then again after naptime. Snacks may include fresh fruit, yogurt, cheese and crackers, etc., and milk or juice. Children are served a hot, nutritious, delicious lunch every day. Parents may take a copy of our monthly menu to see what we are serving. Please let your child’s teacher know if there is anything your child cannot have.
Please leave a weather-appropriate outfit at the center in case we have to change your child for any reason. If your child has a special blanket that comforts him at naptime, please feel free to leave that with us also. Please label your child’s clothes and special articles with his name.

Communication

Communication with parents is very important to Poko Loko as we strongly believe in building and maintaining healthy parent-teacher relationships. Therefore, we encourage both to share concerns, problems, information, and anecdotes verbally on an as needed basis. Our teachers and directors are always available to help out in any way possible. Kindergarteners will receive three report cards a year to show their progress and parent-teacher conferences will be offered to discuss your child’s development in a more formal, in depth manner.