The kindergarten program at Self Development Academy (SDA) boasts positive feedback from parents and grandparents of its young students.
A case in point is parent and grandparent, Kim Kunkle. “A person needs a good start in any program if he is to succeed. My son, Nick, was in Ms. Mona’s kindergarten class 14 years ago, and he graduated high school with honors,” she said. “My grandson, Kolton, had the same fantastic head start at SDA that Nick had and is off to a stupendous education. SDA picks educators who not only enjoy their work, but they also sincerely care about children.”
Comments and testimonies similar to the words shared by Kim are heard over and over again from SDA parents. A student’s path to academic success begins with the kindergarten program at SDA.
SDA
A public charter school, SDA serves students from kindergarten through grade 8, and is known in the local community and statewide for its outstanding academic programs. Now in its 19th year, SDA has consistently been ranked among the top elementary and junior high schools in the state. The success of SDA students is due to a visionary leader, Dr. Anjum Majeed, dedicated faculty and staff, supportive parents and hardworking, diligent students.
The SDA Core Curriculum
SDA offers an accelerated curriculum. Students learn a minimum of one grade level ahead of the Arizona Department of Education Standards. The SDA kindergarten curriculum emphasizes the two main areas of Language Arts and Mathematics. The Language Arts curriculum focuses on phonemic awareness, reading fluency, reading comprehension, handwriting and grammar. At the end of the kindergarten year, students are reading fluently at the Grade 1 level and writing complete sentences, even creating their own storybooks. Number sense, addition and subtraction, fractions, patterns and the basics of time and money are components of the Mathematics curriculum. During the kindergarten year, students master the concept of addition and subtraction, while also memorizing Math Facts. By the end of the kindergarten year, SDA students are well prepared to continue with the accelerated curriculum as Grade 1 students.
Specials at SDA
In addition to laying a strong Language Arts and Mathematics foundation, SDA offers weekly specials, including physical education, music and art classes. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Technology) also is an important component. Mrs. Christy Porter, the music and violin teacher at SDA for more than six years, leads the music class. The students showcase their musical talents twice a year at the Winter Program and Kindergarten Promotion Ceremony. Each classroom at SDA has an interactive computer board allowing technology to be woven into curriculum, as well. Through specials, the kindergarten students develop other important skills, such as gross and fine motor and social skills.
The SDA Kindergarten Team
The success of the kindergarten program is due in large part to the SDA Kindergarten Team. The Kindergarten Team is made up of Mrs. Kathi Haschke, Ms. Liz Pierson and Mrs. Kelli Wolfe. Kindergarten aides, Mrs. Meghan Jones, Mrs. Kimberly Riley, Mrs. Faiza Rashid and other school personnel, support the kindergarten program and students, too. The teachers and staff foster the high academic and personal standards of the program in a nurturing environment. The Kindergarten Team is passionate about educating children, many serving the SDA community for more than five years. The team is dedicated to being a special part of the students’ educational experiences.
Please join us at Kindergarten Information Nights, Nov. 8 and Dec. 4, at 6:15 p.m. Enroll now. Limited spaces are available for the 2019 – 2020 school year. For more information regarding SDA, or to arrange a tour, please contact the Front Office at (480) 641-2640.