Junior and Senior Kindergarten

Saxon Math is a highly regarded, rigorous program that spirals the instruction of each concept and continues to review information introduced earlier. This allows students the time to practice and retain math concepts to the level of mastery.

Core French at Hudson begins in Junior Kindergarten. Students learn to speak, read, and write in dynamic classes using Action in Motion (AIM), which uses high-frequency vocabulary in context with storytelling, gestures, active collaboration and repetition. Students also engage in hands-on arts and craft activities to become familiar with French vocabulary.

Our performance-based music program fosters patience, commitment and self-expression. From JK through Grade 1, students focus on appreciation of song, rhythm and movement using various percussion instruments – wood blocks, maracas, shakers and small drums – before graduating to ukuleles, recorders and concert band instruments in the junior and middle years. Our youngest musicians learn how music flows through the body, experience the joy of music, and tie their understanding of key musical concepts to instruments.

Kindergarten students express themselves artistically with creative projects throughout the year that develop drawing, painting, design and building skills. They experiment with different types of paint and drawing materials, learn about artists like Reggie Laurent, van Gogh and Kandinsky, and explore the process of bringing designs to life with architectural projects like bird feeders.

Teachers use limited technology in the Kindergarten classroom, with collaborative and self-guided interactive activities on iPads and select media. From sing-along YouTube videos to interactive games that reinforce literacy and numeracy skills, tech literacy is carefully integrated into the everyday classroom routine.

Kindergarten students have gym class four times every 8-day rotation, and we also incorporate daily movement within everyday class routines to build healthy habits. Students focus on fundamental movement skills such as running, skipping, and jumping. One of Hudson's favourite (and highly anticipated) games is “Cups,” which introduces students to ball movements and focuses on hand-eye coordination.

We introduce lunchtime and co-curricular activities at an early developmental stage. Kindergarten students can look forward to lunch clubs featuring karate, soccer, and arts and crafts, as well as seasonal co-curricular skate and swim programs with skilled trainers. Students develop skating skills with Performance Skating Schools at Forest Hill Arena in the late fall, then complete a Red Cross swim program at the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club each spring.

Each month, students are introduced to a particular value that we can all embody and develop in different ways; this value is incorporated into the daily curriculum, and the teacher selects one or two students to recognize during the Lower School assembly.