Over 100 families joined teachers, staff, and parent volunteers for an action-packed information session about Kindergarten at McDonald International School followed by a tour of our school on Tuesday, Feb 6 at 6pm.

The evening began with a presentation by principal Zoe Facilla and three students! Tours were led in English, Japanese, and Spanish.

Highlights from Mrs. Facilla’s presentation included these points:

• Envision Mathematics
• Amplify Science
• Center for the Collaborative Classroom: English, Language Arts, and Reading
• Second Step: Social and Emotional Learning
• Half of the day is spent studying English, Language Arts, and Reading, Social Studies, and Social and Emotional Learning in English.
• Half of the day is spent studying Mathematics and Science in Spanish or Japanese.
• Each student spends 30 minutes per week in Visual Art.
• 135 minutes per week is divided into three, 45-minute sessions that alternate: one-week students attend 2 Physical Education Classes and 1 Music Class and the next week the same students attend 2 Music Classes and 1 Physical Education Class.
• Daily, we host two, 15-minute recesses, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
• Additionally, students attend one, 20-minute recess daily before a 20-minute lunch break in the Scottie Café. (Breakfast starts at 7:40 am and can be purchased for $2.25 and lunch for $3.25).
• McDonald Mile
• Option School Seats Offered in mid-April.
• Wait list ends on August 31
• Ice Cream Social for new families hosted by PTA in mid-June
• New Kinder Playdates in June, July, and August
• Jump Start in mid-August (TBD)
• First Day of School for Kindergarten: September 9