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All Day TK

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The goal of our TK program is to provide the best foundation for your child’s future academic and social success.

Because our Transitional Kindergarten is All Day, there is ample time

  • to teach the critical first steps for understanding math, writing, letters and literacy
  • for the very important free play where students learn social, problem solving and leadership skills.

Our Transitional Kindergarten students also benefit from their weekly instruction with our music, art and physical education teachers.

Children must be age 4 by September 1st to apply for All Day Transitional Kindergarten.

TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN READINESS

Staff

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

Allison Torok

Allison Torok

Transitional Kindergarten

Allison Torok

Allison Torok

Transitional Kindergarten

Allison Torok currently teaches Transitional Kindergarten (TK) at St. James School. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UC Davis and a Master of Arts in Education from National University, San Diego in 2019.

Mrs. Torok has over 15 years of educational experience where she tutored in core subjects, test preparation, and English Language skills for students. She also has experience in program management and developing educational and community support programs and expertise in curriculum development, classroom management, and student progress tracking.

Mrs. Torok is dedicated to facilitating equitable and inclusive educational programs. She was drawn to Catholic education because she values the fostering community, leadership, and love of learning rooted in values and faith-based education.

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.

Maggie Warren

Maggie Warren

TKInstructional Aide

Maggie Warren

Maggie Warren

TKInstructional Aide

Each day, students rotate through active learning centers, which focus on important instructional elements that are aligned with Common Core Curriculum Standards.

Religion

In addition to learning many Bible stories, students learn that God loves them. Respect and kindness are taught every day. Kind words, kind actions and kind thoughts make St. James’ TK a great place to be.

Writing

Tracing letters, shapes and numbers help to develop fine motor skills and develop pencil grip.

Math

Through many fun activities, students become adept at counting objects and number recognition.

Letters

Students learn to identify upper and lower case letters, sort letters and match lower and upper case letters.

Literacy

Students learn to blend letter sounds to form words.

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, social skills and language development.  When children are playing they are learning.

Music

Twice a week, music director, Mr. Schwagerus (or Mr. S to our TKers) brings his guitar and other fun instruments to the classroom where the students learn songs and respond to music through movement.

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 they learn about artists and their work, Art History and how to produce similar pieces.

Library Time

To cultivate a love of reading, Transitional Kindergarteners are introduced to the library through weekly story-time sessions with the school’s librarian.