Some photos of Kindergarten at Churten House

The littlies all around the big low table that's our main piece of furniture at the new Kindergarten. Classes are split into two sessions, morning and afternoon, of about four hours length. The first batch get breakfast and the second batch get lunch, plus snacks.

Riverkids was given quite a lot of children's toys, and we've been holding back the toys for the little kids for a while, so it's lovely to see them finally hard at 'work' with all the little children.

There are 20 children between 3 to 6 years old in each classroom. Originally we planned on 12 to 15, but demand as usual outstripped our supply, so we came up with a happy solution of hiring two young teenage girls ,who weren't allowed to join the Get Ready course, as kindergarten helpers. They help for one session and then go to the Grade School for at least some basic literacy and a chance at catching up for the other half of the day.

We don't have much happening just yet beyond showers, breakfast, lots of play with toys and a simple structured curriculum. Jolene has put together two months curriculum based on themes, and she's working with the teachers to get a much more play and child centered style of teaching instead of the usual drills and repetition that the teachers are used to.