Kindergarten Inspirational Afternoons and 5th Day Programs

What is Inspirational Afternoons?

Cornerstone offers a class for kindergartners called Inspirational Afternoons. Our activities are based on the ideas of Charlotte Mason, a Victorian-era educator. Cornerstone implements aspects of her educational philosophy throughout its curriculum. Miss Mason believed that mornings should be for academic studies and that afternoons are best used for outdoor physical activities, nature walks and studies, art and music appreciation, and guided learning activities set in a more leisurely atmosphere.

Come, spend some time with us and sample our inspirational environment. The children gather together for lunch with the first through third graders and then head back to Room 13 to begin our afternoon. Read-aloud time is very special as we enjoy well-written and beautifully illustrated picture books and non-fiction books related to a “letter of the week.” During the first nine weeks cots are distributed and the children stretch out for a time of quiet rest and enjoyment of books with a background of soothing classical music.

The young ones are then ready for time outside on the playground, to run, climb on play equipment, and transform themselves into a myriad of make-believe characters. When buckets of water and paint brushes are available, the children are changed into professional painters. Walls become murals to display temporary works of art. Our tricycles and the water and brushes become a busy car wash.

Upon returning to our classroom, we may be involved in activities which are related to our letter of the week. Just as an author tells a story with words, an artist tells a story with his painting and a composer with his music. We are eager to study a new painting by Norman Rockwell or to listen to rich and varied classical music of gifted composers. God’s creation provides a myriad of nature studies both inside and outside our classroom.

Time is made available for the children to have creative classroom playtime. A wide variety of props are available for the children to use in plugging into and expanding their God-given creativity and imagination. A bucket of Legos is used to build spaceships and race cars. All types of art supplies and play dough keep hands and minds busy. The home center be-comes a haven for young ladies and gentlemen who practice being moms and dads by caring for their babies, cooking scrumptious meals, and showing hospitality. Cash register and play money are used in a store. Our sand table is filled with soft play sand for scooping and digging. Watch in amazement how a quiet child becomes animated as he/she puts on a hand puppet and speaks through that animal in our theater.

Children may enroll in Inspirational Afternoons either on Monday/Wednesday (2 day) or Monday - Thursday (4 day). We meet from 12:00 pm to 2:50 pm. Contact Mrs. Shepperd in the school office to enroll. You are welcome to visit our classroom. We count it a great privilege to be used in helping to inspire our young ones in developing their individual creative gifts, in appreciating the gifts God has given great composers and artists, and in learning about our awesome God and His creation.

Debbie Ferg, Former Inspirational Afternoons Teacher
 
Please Note: For the 2012-2013 school year, we will only be offering the Monday-Thursday (4-day) program at this time. If you would be more interested in the Monday/Wednesday (2-day) program, please be sure to let the Admissions Director know about your interest. Thank You.
 
What is the 5th Day Program?
 
We are excited to announce a new optional 5th Day program for our Kindergartners beginning in the 2012-2013 school year. This optional class will be held on Friday mornings, 8:10 am - 12:00 pm. Our traditional 4-day (Mon-Thurs) morning Kindergaten program will now be enhanced with this 5th day for those parents that feel their Kindergartner is ready for that additional day in school. This "extra" day will be optional and primarily focus on enrichment subjects such as Art, Music, and PE. As this new program is developed and put in place, more information and specifics about the curriculum will be made available to parents.

 

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