Barron Park Elementary School - Kindergarten Info

Outstanding Faculty

Teachers Jeff Morris and Christine Morimoto are career teachers in the Palo Alto Unified School District. Jeff is beginning his 21st year of teaching; he holds a Masters Degree in Education and has taught kindergarten for 20 years. Chris is beginning her 10th year in Palo Alto. She spent 8 years in Kindergarten and 2 years in second grade. Prior to working in Palo Alto she taught Kindergarten for 13 years in Fresno.

Thanks to generous donations from parents to Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE), each class has a part-time instructional aide. All of our kindergarten staff understand our children and maintain the highest professional standards.

Strong Curriculum

While each teacher at Barron Park School is encouraged to use creative individual methods, all teachers share commitment to the rigorous California and PAUSD academic standards. Our kindergarten program builds on skills and knowledge children learn at home or pre-school. The manner of instruction – motivation, grouping, pacing, reinforcing and reteaching – is determined by each teacher as he or she works to meet individual needs. Our curriculum includes life skills that help our students to develop socially and emotionally.

The Kindergarten classes will have the opportunity this year to include a program from Let's Play in Spanish. Two times a week, instructors from Let's Play will come to the classes and lead play time and songs in Spanish. Another exciting aspect of kindergarten at Barron Park School is the addition of science units with Palo Alto's Jr. Museum & Zoo. Instructors from the Jr. Museum will visit all Barron Park classes several times a year; this program is generously funded by donations made to PiE (Palo Alto's Partners in Education).

Diversity

Barron Park School includes students and staff members from a wide range of ethnicities, cultures, and socioeconomic groups. We work together to ensure that students from every background can meet on safe, nurturing common ground.

Parent Volunteers

Parent helpers are welcomed at Barron Park School. Parents chaperone field trips; lead some small group activities; share cultural customs; and assist in all aspects of the daily academic program.

Extended Learning DayFull-Day

During the current school year, Barron Park has implemented a Full-Day Kindergarten Program. Evaluations determined that this was favorably received by a majority of parents. We are eager to continue this model, which means that students stay only half day through October, and beginning November stay until 2:30 four days, and 1:30 on our Wednesday Minimum Day. All Kindergarten students in Palo Alto participate in partially extended days. With the full-day program at Barron Park, students have additional opportunities to participate in structured social activities and enrichment, such as music, P.E., art, dance, science with the Jr. Museum, and the new Let’s Play in Spanish program.

Constellation Groups

Periodically throughout the school year kindergarteners join a small group of children from other grades. Working with a teacher, they do group activities focused on building community and on cooperative learning.

Celebrations and the Arts

The year is full of color and life for the kindergartners at our school. A few examples of special kindergarten activities: we perform songs during a special Harvest Feast in November; we celebrate Chinese New Year by parading around our school with a huge dragon; valentines are delivered to a class “post office” in February.

Thanks to support from Palo Alto Partners in Education, every class has bi-monthly Spectra Art lessons. Also with PiE funding, kindergartners participate in ten weeks of dance workshops, culminating in a Ballet Folklorico performance for their families.

Field Trips and Hands-On Learning

During the year, students take a variety of curriculum-related field trips. They visit Hidden Villa Farm, San Francisco Zoo, and other local attractions. Hands-on activities such as planting vegetables and observing animals are closely tied to core curricula in science, math, and literacy.

Kindergarten Schedule
English / Español

Kindergarten Questionnaire
English / Español

Kindergarten Open House Info
English


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