McRae Hall
NEW! PRIVATE PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN (2.5 to 5 years old)
Our Mission
According to the Education Act, the class size limit for Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten is 29. The Ministry of Education recognizes the regular classroom in the neighbourhood school as the preferred placement for all children. As we know, children develop at different rates and learn differently and some will need more time than others to develop skills and/or achieve learning expectations.
Through a smaller class with more staff to support, McRae Hall's mission is to introduce a strong early childhood learning framework that is aligned with Ontario's Kindergarten curriculum.
Transitional Kindergarten (TK)
Welcome to “transitional kindergarten”!
Transitional kindergarten offers children an early start/extra time and a developmentally appropriate curriculum to prepare them for entering kindergarten.
In an academic world where standards for kindergarteners are increasingly similar to those once expected of first graders, transitional kindergarten provides an appropriate bridge to meet the social-emotional and academic needs of younger rising kindergarten students who would benefit from a smaller class.
While there is currently no provincial curriculum, transitional kindergarten teaches children the foundational learning skills they need in order to be comfortable in a classroom environment among their peers. 2.5 to 5 year olds are offered the time to build the foundation skills necessary for them to adapt successfully to kindergarten when they are ready. Students not only learn essential pre-literacy, pre-math, and other cognitive skills but also develop social and self-regulation skills needed to succeed in school and life.
Transitional Kindergarten vs Preschool
While they may feel similar, many transitional kindergarten programs have stark differences from their preschool counterparts. At McRae Hall, Transitional Kindergarten teachers must meet the credential requirements to teach kindergarten in the K-12 system, while preschools may not have the same requirements.
Additionally, transitional kindergarten curriculum is often modeled after a kindergarten curriculum, modified to be developmentally appropriate for a younger class.A study conducted by Christopher Doss through the Stanford-San Francisco Unified School District Partnership found that transitional kindergarten differs from pre-k in that it is folded into the larger K-12 system, employs teachers that are more highly educated, and offers a more academically focused curriculum.
TK Early Years Curriculum
Literacy & Mathematics
Inquiry & Problem-Solving
Inquiry & Problem-Solving
- demonstrate an understanding of numbers to explore counting, quantity, and number relationships
- read Level 3 texts
Inquiry & Problem-Solving
Inquiry & Problem-Solving
Inquiry & Problem-Solving
- identify and use social skills in play and other contexts
- demonstrate independence, selfregulation, and a willingness to take responsibility in learning and other endeavours
The Arts
Communication
Communication
- use technological problem-solving skills, on their own and with others, in the process of creating and designing (i.e., questioning, planning, constructing, analysing, redesigning, and communicating)
Communication
Communication
Communication
- express their responses to a variety of forms of drama, dance, music, and visual arts
- communicate their thoughts and feelings, and their theories and ideas, through various art forms
How do young children demonstrate their learning?
Ways in Which Children Might Demonstrate Their Learning
- Saying - These are examples of what a child might say when engaged in learning alone or with others.
- Doing - Young children learn through active engagement, building on prior experiences, observations, experimentation, and social interaction.
- Representing - Their learning often involves formulating questions and trying to devise and communicate their working theories or solutions.
2024 McRae Hall Program Offerings
Full-Day Transitional Kindergarten
2.5 - 5 years old
Includes snack and hot lunch
Extended day (between 8am-5pm) available