Starting or considering kindergarten in 2022?
Kindergarten marks the start of an exciting learning journey for many families. We know our youngest learners flourish in an environment where they are authentically known, that nurtures and inspires their creative and curious minds.
Snowy Mountains Grammar School warmly invites you and your child to join us at our kindergarten events this year. Our kindergarten events aim to provide families with opportunities to tour our inspiring learning environment, get to know our exceptional teaching team and provide tools to help prepare your child (and you) for the exciting learning journey that awaits!
“In our caring, safe and supportive environment, our youngest learners flourish as they inquire, create and connect with each other and the wider school community.
We prepare our students for life, they take ownership of their learning through a positive mindset approach, working towards their personal best.”
Why SMGS Kindergarten?
Personalised Learning
In our safe and nurturing environment, Kindergarten students are authentically known to each teacher at SMGS and we understand that each student is on their own personal learning journey. Our Kindergarten Program is differentiated to meet individual student needs and is supported by our Teacher’s aide through consistent individual support or small group work, to further consolidate student learning.
Flexible Learning Spaces
Classrooms today are rapidly changing to adapt to different styles of learning for a more personalised approach. At Snowy Mountains Grammar School, we are progressively designing our learning spaces to be more considered for all types of learners and learning experiences, across a broad range of subject areas and age groups. The Kindergarten class room was built to maximise the natural light. The tables, chairs and ground level soft spaces are agile and dynamic, to support the learning styles of our youngest learners and stimulate learning opportunities.
Connection of our indoor and outdoor spaces has been thoroughly considered with outdoor work benches, gardens, greenery, café style tables with umbrellas and more ground level soft furnishings.
In synergy, these spaces allow for increased collaboration, connection and inclusion, focused work and creativity.
At recess, lunch and PE, students have room to move on our schools oval, playground and “Eat Street”. We have a calm playground environment where students are engaged in games and are encouraged to explore their environment.
Learning Foundations
Strong literacy foundations underpin all key learning areas for our Kindergarten students. Early literacy screening for phonemic awareness is an important tool for our staff to establish where each student is beginning their learning journey. Multiple times a week, students work with our teacher’s aide to consolidate their knowledge of letter sounds, high frequency word acquisition and reading skill development.
Numeracy in Kindergarten focuses on the use of concrete materials to build students’ mathematical knowledge. Teaching with manipulatives supports a Kindergarten child’s understanding of concepts. In our Kindergarten classroom, we support students to touch and move manipulatives when learning a mathematical skill, as their senses are thus fully involved in the learning experience. They develop their understanding with concrete materials before transferring that knowledge to numerical symbols. We love it when we hear our students say, “Maths is so much fun!”
Specialist Teachers
Teaching and Learning programs at Snowy Mountains Grammar School meet the requirements of the NSW Syllabus. Our Kindergarten program includes the following specialist classes: Visual Arts, Music, German and Physical Education.
Before and after school and holiday care
Run by Gidgillys at SMGS, the service is available for students in year levels ranging from Kindergarten to Year 6 and will operate in the P5 classroom with access to the Junior School facilities including Eat Street and the Playground.
To learn more or to register, head to: https://www.gidgillys.com.au/jindabyneoshc
Wellbeing
Our students build friendships across the year groups through a warm, close-knit school environment. At the beginning of the year, our K-2 students are each paired with a Year 12 buddy who develops a nurturing connection with the student throughout the year. It is so heart-warming to see Year 12 piggy-back their Kindergarten buddy in the pool for their very first swimming carnival novelty race. Our Kindergarten students are also placed in one of four houses, in which they remain for their entire learning journey.
Our youngest learners also participate in the Junior School’s wellbeing program, WeMeet, which was designed by our Junior School staff in collaboration with our Junior School students. WeMeet supports problem-solving, team-building and wellbeing and is an important start to our day in order to connect with each other, check in and build strong bonds with our peers.
Communication and Connections
Our close-knit community also means that parents have more opportunity to engage with our classroom teachers. In addition to frequent and encouraged face-to-face communication, SeeSaw is used to communicate daily activities within the classroom and share student work samples with parents. School-wide, we use CareMonkey, email, Aspects (school newsletter) and social media to connect with families.
Technology and Innovation in Kindergarten
Using technology in our Kindergarten classroom is a vital and valuable part of their educational learning. Our students have access to iPad technology during literacy and numeracy activities. They learn how to navigate a keyboard and engage in stimulating interactive learning opportunities to further consolidate phonics, phonemic awareness, spelling, reading and numeracy skills. Kindergarten students explore coding with Botley the Robot, as they are introduced to early STEM skills that promote critical thinking and problem-solving. The inclusion of technology within our classrooms creates new learning opportunities that support our 21st century learners.
Kinaesthetic learners are catered for in Kindergarten with the inclusion of pedal desks within the classroom environment. Research states that movement engages the brain and we see this in action within our classrooms. Students are excited by this innovative furniture that makes their classroom unique.
Co-curricular Opportunities
SMGS Kindergarten students also have access to a number of unique co-curricular activities, including the following:
- Garden Club
- Mountain Bike Club
- Junior School Play
- Snowsports
- Learn to Swim Program
- Mindfulness – Morning Sit
- Choir
- Chess
- Minecraft Education
- Winter Boot Camp Fitness
- Rostrum Speaking/Debating
- Stage 3 Tutor Club.
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