Kindergarten

Welcome to Kindergarten

A Structured Start to Every Day

In Mrs. Lombardo’s classroom, "structure" is the key to success. Our students thrive in a predictable, engaging environment that begins each morning with a community meeting. This daily ritual includes:

• Morning Greeting: Building social-emotional bonds with peers.

• Calendar & Weather: Student-led tasks that teach the date and seasons.

• Visual Learning: Using SMART Board technology to review high-frequency words and letters.

• Public Speaking: Each day, two students share personal stories to build confidence and oral language skills.

• Group Activities: A rotating mix of math, phonics, and music.

Building Strong Foundations: Literacy & Reading

Our primary goal is to equip students with the essential tools for lifelong reading. We focus on two critical pillars:

• Decoding: Learning to sound out words to read them aloud.

• Encoding: Learning to segment sounds to write words down.

By beginning the year with a focus on letters and pictures, we set a firm foundation. As students master these skills, they transition quickly into independent reading.

"I like to do things where they have to think. I’m a big person on thought... That helps them to become more independent. Independence is big in Kindergarten." > — Mrs. Lombardo

Personalized Support for Every Learner

We believe every child should have the tools they need to succeed. Mrs. Lombardo provides regular one-on-one assistance during class time. Additionally, we offer:

• Title I & Tutoring: Extra academic support tailored to student needs.

• ELL Support: For our native Spanish speakers, we provide specialized tutoring with our English Language Learner teacher, Mrs. Kate Griffiths.

• Inclusive Discussions: When students return from tutoring, they are always brought up to speed with a class recap so no one misses out on group learning.

The "Lombardo Difference": Rigor, Faith, & Fun

Our program follows the rigorous academic standards of the Archdiocese of Hartford, preparing students today for the challenges of First Grade tomorrow. What makes Mrs. Lombardo’s room unique?

• Creative Themes: Lessons often come to life through exciting topics like dinosaurs, plants, and animals.

• Faith in Action: Faith is woven into everything we do. Students learn school wide prayers, learn the history of the Saints, and celebrate liturgical traditions like Las Posadas and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

• Technology as a Tool: While we prioritize hands-on worksheets and textbooks, we use the SMART Board and iPads to enhance visual learning and provide interactive practice.

Encouraging Independence

Beyond academics, we focus on the "whole child." Students are taught to:

• Organize their personal belongings.

• Clean up after themselves.

• Solve "mysteries" and logic puzzles that require critical thinking.