Academics Overview

Preschool Overview

WCA’s preschool prepares children for the more formal learning they will experience as they grow.  More than just a playgroup, WCA’s program helps children develop social and reading readiness skills.  Emphasis is placed on meeting a childs individual needs and nurturing development.  The preschool class enjoys lessons with the special’s teachers including music and Spanish.

The preschool program is divided into two classes; one for three year olds, and one for four year olds.  Each class maintains our commitment to an 8:1 student teacher ratio.

Three year olds work on social and emotional skills, developing independence in all areas, and participate in a variety of readiness activities.

Four year olds continue to develop independence as well as finding stronger focus on reading and math readiness.  Phonemic awareness is emphasized as well as letter recognition and early blending skills.

Class is held from 8:30 to 11:30 each day.   Preschool students may choose an extended day option and stay until 3:00 and the after school program is open to them as well.

Although students are admitted to the preschool program as early as 2 years 9 months it is important to remember that this may be too early.  Kindergarten and elementary programs have strict cut off dates (i.e. 5 by October 1st for admission to Kindergarten).   These cut off dates as well as developmental maturity may present the need for a third year of preschool.

Lower Elementary ( Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2 )

Children in this level become proficient and confident readers after a thorough phonics review and then are able to read chapter books comfortably.  Math includes advanced addition and subtraction and beginning multiplication.

This program is tailored to children with a solid phonetic foundation in reading. It provides further practice from the Open Court Young Scholars series to help your child gain full reading proficiency. Math is taught using hands-on materials for conceptual development and a Saxon math book for practice. The maximum limit for these classes is sixteen students.

Middle Elementary ( Grades 3, 4, and 5 )

Children in this level, as proficient readers, use primary sources and classics for much of their literature and history.  They will also learn to perform advanced multiplication and division and all complementary topics.  Latin is taught to reinforce an understanding of grammar and sentence structure.

This program is for proficient readers who acquire information on their own by reading original sources. Students focus on strengthening their reading and writing skills, critical thinking, and develop their ability to gather information. Latin studies provide a foundation for English. These classes are limited to sixteen students.

Junior High School ( Grades 6, 7 and 8 )

Children in this level can comfortably read the classics of literature and be challenged to think, write, and synthesize information.  All topics of science and history are taught on a middle school level within the curriculum units.  They continue to develop their proficiency in all the basics of mathematics through algebra.