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All Day Kindergarten

Because our Kindergarten is All Day, it allows for a very rich and comprehensive curriculum.

There is enough time for not only academic instruction but the equally important free play which promotes motor coordination, sharing and socialization.

Our kindergarten students also benefit for their weekly instruction with our music, art and physical education teachers.

Kindergarten Readiness 

Staff

Kindergarten is taught by a full-time credentialed teacher and one instructional aide.

Robin Ramos

Robin Ramos

Kindergarten

Robin Ramos

Robin Ramos

Kindergarten

Robin Ramos, St. James School’s Kindergarten teacher, earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University in 2002 and her California Teaching Credential with a CLAD certification in 2003 from the same institution. She has been in education for 16 years as a classroom teacher and private tutor. Ms. Ramos was drawn to Catholic education because it allows her to intertwine the morals and values of Jesus’ teachings throughout all curricular areas.

Ms. Ramos has three children who all attended St. James School. She has been part of the school community since 2015 and loves the close knit family feel and community at SJS. It is important to Ms. Ramos to create a meaningful, fun, and positive learning environment for all types of student learners.

Shelly Dirksen

Shelly Dirksen

Educational Academic Specialist

Shelly Dirksen

Shelly Dirksen

Educational Academic Specialist

Shelly Dirksen received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a Minor in Reading Instruction from Dordt University, Sioux Center, Iowa in 2001. She has been in education for 23 years serving as a Special Education paraeducator, teacher, reading and writing tutor, substitute teacher, and Children’s Ministry Director grades TK-12 for Christ Church in Davis. Mrs. Dirksen is our Education Achievement Specialist (EAS), a position she has held for 3 and a half years. She is currently working toward her California Clear Teaching Credential.

Mrs. Dirksen has always known her skill set was geared toward teaching and working with children. She loves to help students reach their goals and realize how capable they truly are. She feels it is a true privilege to participate in the moment a child learns something new.

St. James is Mrs. Dirksen’s first experience teaching at a Catholic school. She loves Catholic education and finds it a joy to combine her two loves: faith and teaching.

Kari Fisher

Kari Fisher

School Counselor

Kari Fisher

Kari Fisher

School Counselor

Kari Fisher received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology from UC Davis in 1995 and her Masters in Counseling from UC Davis in 2002. She has over 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist working in private practice, community, and school settings. She has additional training in emotionally focused therapy, trauma therapy, and therapies with children and families.

Mrs. Fisher is in her first year as our School Counselor. She chose Catholic education because her son attended St. James and she fell in love with the community as a parent. She has always loved working with children as a psychotherapist and feels blessed to be able to combine her work with a community she holds great fondness for.

Emily Putnam

Emily Putnam

KindergartenInstructional Aide

Emily Putnam

Emily Putnam

KindergartenInstructional Aide
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Religion

In addition to learning many Bible stories and basic prayers, students learn that God loves them. They create art and perform dramatic plays about God’s Creation and how we are all members of God’s Family.  In December, the Kindergarten class presents its own version of the Nativity Pageant.

English Language Arts

St. James School uses the phonics-based Zaner-Bloser Super Kids program.We focus on a letter of the day/week (recognition, sound, write, blend). Students will listen and retell stories (character, plot, setting, fantasy/real, main idea, sequence). In addition, there are leveled readers where students learn left to right, top to bottom, punctuation, CVC words, rhyming, syllables, segmenting words, and Concepts of Print. A comprehensive writing program which includes illustrations, writing, and dictation is also implemnted. Public speaking is promoted through participation in class discussion, reports, assembly and Mass.

Handwriting

The method of Transitional Manuscript is taught because it has proven most effective in learning how to write the alphabet.

Math

Students will recognize and understand the numerals 1 to 20, learn about comparisons, the calendar, the clock, measurement, patterns and geometric shapes. Students will gain an understanding of addition, subtraction, graphing and the place values 1 to 19. Place value, measurement and geometry are also introduced. A variety of manipulatives, games and other hands on activities are used to increase the students’ knowledge and understanding.

Free Play Time

Children play both indoors and outdoors, promoting motor coordination, imagination, fair play, sharing and sportsmanship. During free play, children experience leadership, problem solving skills, social skills and language development. When children are playing, they are learning.

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Science

The Kindergarten topics include:

Physical Science: Liquids and Solids (observed, measured, predicted)

Life Science: Different Plants and Animals (observe and identify)

Earth Science: Land, Air and Water

Social Studies

Students learn about being a good citizen, community workers, holidays and life events, different types of familes and their responsibilities, state and national symbols, maps, and the diversity of different cultures.

Communication Skills/Drama

The Kindergartners participate in two formal musical productions during the school year. They also practice public speaking at the all-school morning assemblies and Mass.

Music

In addition to responding to music through movement in the Kindergarten classroom, students also attend formal music classes twice a week taught by the school’s Music Director in the Music Room.

Physical Education

Three times a week, under the direction of the school’s full-time P.E. teacher, students attend formal Physical Education classes, either in the school’s gym or on the play field. They learn skills in games, team play and gross and fine motor coordination.

Visual Arts

Students channel their creative expression by painting, drawing and constructing art pieces. They use play dough and other tactile objects on a daily basis which supports fine motor skills, prewriting skills and imagination. Once a week, the school’s Art teacher exposes the students to a Fine Arts Program where the students learn about artists and their work, Art History and how to produce similar pieces.

Library Time

To cultivate a love of reading, Kindergarteners are introduced to the library through weekly story-time sessions, held in the school library.

Eighth Grade Buddy Program

Each Kindergartener is assigned an Eighth Grade Buddy. This popular program offers support to our “little ones” as they get to know and trust an older student while building a school-wide sense of community. Together these students share many activities throughout the year including: apple dissection experiment, pumpkin carving, letter to Santa, Easter Egg Hunt and May Crowning. The Eighth Grade Buddies also serve as role models to teach the Kindergarteners how to act and behave in church, while developing a wonderful and mutually beneficial relationship throughout the year.