Kindergarten at Hyde Park

Kindergarten Program Schedule

Hyde Park’s kindergarten program runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with drop-off available beginning at 7:30 a.m. Families who need additional coverage can use the After School Program, which is offered daily from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

What a Typical Day Looks Like

Each day is built to help children feel secure, engaged, and excited to learn. Kindergarteners move through a sequence of experiences that balance academics, creativity, movement, and community:

• Morning Meeting to greet classmates, share, and ease into the day with a sense of belonging.
• Phonics and reading groups that shift throughout the year to match each child’s developing skills.
• Writer’s Workshop, where children learn to express ideas through pictures, labels, and early sentences.
• Bible class that uses the Jesus Storybook Bible to see Jesus represented in the entire narrative of scripture.
• Enrichment classes in STEM, Spanish, art, movement, music, and library that spark curiosity.
• Story time and classroom reading that build imagination and language skills.
• Hands-on math lessons that introduce number sense, patterns, and problem-solving.
• Science and social studies units that help children explore the world around them.
• Outdoor recess for play, friendship-building, and recharging their bodies and minds.
• Center activities that invite creativity, collaboration, and choice-based learning.
• Closing Circle to reflect on the day and transition calmly into dismissal.

A Learning Environment That Feels Joyful and Developmentally Right

Children come into kindergarten with different backgrounds and comfort levels. Some have spent time in preschool, while others are stepping into a classroom for the first time. Hyde Park creates a smooth and reassuring transition for all.

Small Classes With Big Support

Class sizes stay intentionally small so teachers can understand each child’s learning style and personality. Kindergarteners might arrive reading chapter books or just beginning to learn sight words, and Hyde Park accommodates this full range of abilities with flexible grouping and individualized attention. For example, phonics groups shift every six weeks, giving students the right level of challenge as they grow and prepare for Lower School.

Spaces Designed With Children in Mind

Hyde Park’s campus includes several favorite spots that make kindergarten feel magical. The library offers reading teepees, soft lighting, and calming music that create a peaceful space for young learners. Students also enjoy time in:

• The STEM room, which houses a 3-D printer, robots and a Lego wall
• The music room which utilizes the ORFF method to foster creativity and musical exploration
• Outdoor learning and play areas where students explore and discover God’s beauty

A Culture of Kindness and Care

Teachers model empathy and attentiveness by learning the small details of their students’ lives and asking about their weekends and pets. They also use Responsive Classroom practices, which help children learn social skills, self-control, and the habits of kindness in age-appropriate ways. Daily Bible lessons and monthly biblical character traits reinforce this shared language of care and respect. Buddy Chapel adds to that sense of belonging as older students walk with kindergarteners and greet them by name.

“Kindergarten at Hyde Park was foundational for our son, Elliott. He is known by name, celebrated by his teachers, and challenged at a pace that allows him to thrive. The small class environment doesn’t just support strong academic growth — it creates space for intentional mentorship, meaningful relationships, and a sincere, steady faith. We are deeply grateful to Hyde Park for a kindergarten year that was not only successful, but truly formative in who Elliott is becoming.”

— Anna Saum, Hyde Park Parent