Enrollment Information
We offer 2/3/5 full or half day options. Part time options must include a Monday or Friday and be consecutive days.
Full days are from 8:30am - 3:00pm and half days are from 8:30am - 12:30pm.
Children in our Mixed Kindergarten program are eligible for tuition assistance.
Full days are from 8:30am - 3:00pm and half days are from 8:30am - 12:30pm.
Children in our Mixed Kindergarten program are eligible for tuition assistance.
Mixed Kindergarten Program Requirements
Our Mixed Kindergarten classes are designed for children 4 years old by September 1st, to 6 years old. This age group includes children who would be eligible for Kindergarten in a traditional school setting. Children on the lower end of this age range may also be eligible for our Preschool program depending on space, class dynamic and development. Children in our Mixed Kindergarten are expected to be potty trained.
Our mixed aged classes limit the number of transitions children have of teachers and environment during this important part in their development. The 4- to 6-year-old age range allows our younger children a chance to learn from our older children. This gives the older children a sense of pride in their growth and ability to nurture the younger students in their class. Each year of growth, children are able to take their turn to handle more responsibilities in the classroom.
Kindergarten and Academic Learning
Directed academic instruction and activities are not emphasized in our Kindergarten classes; the emphasis lies on the foundation skills and experiences. One key goal of the kindergarten program is to lay a strong foundation for the formal academic curriculum of the grades. Many preliminary academic skills are practiced daily. This material is not presented through formal academic lessons but rather is embedded in the activities and rhythms of each day. The kindergarten program also allows children to fully develop their creativity, imagination, and self-confidence in preparation for the higher levels of cognitive thinking developed in the later grades.
For example, music, games and finger play develop rhythm and counting skills. The hands-on activities of gardening, cooking, nature walks, seasonal activities, etc., introduce science, math and geography skills, and concepts and vocabulary developed through classroom activities and stories. Multicultural stories give the child an introduction to social studies. Social development and cooperative learning are also emphasized in kindergarten. In particular, acquiring the skills of concentration, courtesy, social habits, classroom habits and spatial awareness are important goals providing a strong foundation for future learning and for life. Each day follows a regular and reassuring pattern and rhythm. Within the rhythm of each week, the children engage in these activities following a regular pattern: painting, baking, sewing, drawing, and beeswax modeling. Story, song, seasonal activities and celebrations carry us through the cycle of the natural year.
For example, music, games and finger play develop rhythm and counting skills. The hands-on activities of gardening, cooking, nature walks, seasonal activities, etc., introduce science, math and geography skills, and concepts and vocabulary developed through classroom activities and stories. Multicultural stories give the child an introduction to social studies. Social development and cooperative learning are also emphasized in kindergarten. In particular, acquiring the skills of concentration, courtesy, social habits, classroom habits and spatial awareness are important goals providing a strong foundation for future learning and for life. Each day follows a regular and reassuring pattern and rhythm. Within the rhythm of each week, the children engage in these activities following a regular pattern: painting, baking, sewing, drawing, and beeswax modeling. Story, song, seasonal activities and celebrations carry us through the cycle of the natural year.
Our daily rhythm includes 2-4 hours of outdoor play. While at many other schools, children are indoor on rainy days, at Bayou Village School, safe rainy days provide children a chance to suit up in their rain gear and enjoy making mudpies and engage in meaningful sensory activities in a natural environment.
Each class has their own weekly rhythm which is followed throughout the year. Children learn organizational skills by following this rhythm and feel secure because they know what to expect.
Below is an example of a weekly rhythm:
Each class has their own weekly rhythm which is followed throughout the year. Children learn organizational skills by following this rhythm and feel secure because they know what to expect.
Below is an example of a weekly rhythm:
Monday: Painting
Tuesday: Bread Baking
Wednesday: Beeswax Molding
Thursday: Soup Making
Friday: Movement
Tuesday: Bread Baking
Wednesday: Beeswax Molding
Thursday: Soup Making
Friday: Movement
Finally, there is the seasonal rhythm. We celebrate seasonal festivals and incorporate certain seasonal activities into the children's daily rhythms. Classes have beautiful nature tables set up by the teachers, which change to reflect the seasons. Children are encouraged to bring nature items they find to add to their class' nature table.
Meet The Teachers
Moonflowers Class
Lead Teacher: Jenna Arbogast-Truver
Jenna has spent most of her life caring for children in varying capacities, beginning when she was just a child herself! She quickly learned that this was her life’s calling. Her teaching career officially began in 2011. She was first introduced to the Waldorf philosophy while attending a teaching workshop. It resonated so deeply that she continued her own research and discovered that this philosophy was in close alignment with her own values and lifestyle. In August of 2016, Jenna accepted a position as a classroom assistant at Bayou Village School, quickly advancing to Lead Teacher of her own Kindergarten class.
Jenna is a proud 2019 graduate of the West Coast Institute for Studies in Anthroposophy and holds a certificate as a Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher. Outside of her passion for teaching, Jenna is a devoted wife and Momma, an artistic dabbler, yoga practitioner and an aspiring herbalist.
Assistant Teacher: Paloma Esparza
Honeysuckles Class
Lead Teacher: Elizabeth Webb
Elizabeth has worked in Early Childhood since 2010 and began her journey with Bayou Village School in 2016. While she always worked in a more traditional setting, since joining Bayou Village, she has come to cherish the philosophy behind Waldorf Education. Her dedication to her student and their families is something she holds very dear to her! She has worked with many age groups while at Bayou Village and has found a home with mixed kindergarten.
Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her children and husband, crafting and needle felting, cooking and being outside. She has attended various trainings and workshops including a puppet making course through Sofia’s Hearth and has completed her Waldorf Early Childhood Certification through Sunbridge Institute.
Assistant Teacher: Denise Valencia