Curriculum

Our dedicated teachers are experienced, certified, and trained in early education.

The Gateway School offers exceptional educational opportunities for young children.

Preschool Programs
Our preschool children are divided into three groups, the Pre-Primaries (2.7 to 3 year-olds), the Primaries (3 to 4-year-olds) and the Juniors (4 to 5-year olds) The school day runs from 9:00 to 12:00, 5 days a week. All children are welcomed to attend our 12:00-1:00 Mini-Lunch program which gives them time to eat lunch and have a short free play period. Our full afternoon program runs from 12:00-3:00. Our afternoons are filled with free play, rest and story time, and a structured activity.

Kindergarten Program
Our Kindergarten children attend school 5 days a week from 9:00 to 3:00. They have two teachers who work equally with all the students.

The curriculum for our entire student body has certain commonalities:

Educational Philosophy
Gateway’s curriculum is driven by our dedication to a differentiated teaching model. In order to effectively reach every child in our school, we believe differences in learning styles must be recognized and addressed. This is especially true for young children whose birthdays span a full 12 months within each classroom, and who are at very different stages of readiness. In practice, this means that learning has to be presented in a variety of ways. For some that might mean listening to a teacher explain a concept. For others, seeing a demonstration works best. And certainly all learners benefit from actively participating in the learning process. By trying out something they’ve just learned, Gateway children get to connect with and understand information.

The Arts
We believe that the arts enrich our students’ lives. Exposure to foreign language, music, literature, creative movement and dance broadens their outlook and allows them to express themselves in unique and rewarding ways. At Gateway, experienced, trained specialists in arts and language education share the arts with our children in small groups. Our intention is to provide a variety of possibilities to the young children who come through our doors. When they leave us, we hope their minds will remain open to the quickly-changing world around them.

Free Play
It is through play that children become eager, curious learners. For this reason, it is an important part of our students’ day. During free play, we help our students hone their interpersonal skills so that they can get along well with their peers and develop a positive self-image. We specifically work on such behaviors as waiting for turns, sharing, knowing how to ask for help and advocating for themselves. Giving children the tools to self-regulate their behavior during play time is yet another vital part of our teachers’ role. In addition to improving social skills, cooperative play has an overall positive effect upon our students’ development of language skills – the building blocks of their future learning.

Outdoor Play
Young children thrive on outdoor activity, no matter what the weather! Gateway takes pride in its reputation as a school that values exploration and outdoor play. Our playgrounds provide numerous opportunities for exploration and growth. Whether it means sledding down our hills in winter or digging for worms in spring, our children make the most of our extensive outdoor space.