Junior Kindergarten

Cheryl Sicker
​Teacher

Education
Marquette University
Bachelor of Arts, College of Journalism

Notre Dame College
Early Childhood Education – PreK-3
K-12 Reading Endorsement

Philosophy
Junior Kindergarten is a magical year of wonder and growth for our young learners and it is my goal to provide them with authentic and rigorous learning opportunities to spark that magic! As we journey together, we will create a thoughtful, imaginative, responsible, caring and fun classroom community in which all students will strive to reach their own academic, social and spiritual goals.  I am committed to providing this excellence in education, along with sharing my faith and helping students grow closer to Jesus.

cheryl.sicker@st-gabrielschool.org

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Christine Rusnak Teacher

Education
University of Dayton
Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education




Philosophy
I believe that every child should have an equal opportunity to learn in a nurturing, loving, and fair environment.

​christine.rusnak@st-gabrielschool.org

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Kimberly Wood
Teacher Aide

Philosophy of Education
The fundamental components for children's growth and learning are through playful imagination, creativity, and exploration. Children are unique individuals with their own strengths and interests. By instilling the tools of learning and a faith-based foundation in the classroom, I believe children will have the key essentials to use for a lifetime. 
kimberly.wood@st-gabrielschool.org

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Matea Korsa
Teacher Aide

Education
Third year at Lakeland community college 
Associate Degree in Applied Arts 
Further study:
Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education
Philosophy of Education 
My goal as a teacher's aide is to make a difference in the classroom and to help those who struggle to be successful in the classroom.
matea.korsa@st-gabrielschool.org

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Full Day Preschool & Junior Kindergarten Overview

Introducing an affordable, all day option for families that will prepare children for Kindergarten. The program will offer a faith-based balance of play and academics.

St. Gabriel School offers full-day Junior Kindergarten five days a week.  Our Junior Kindergarten classroom teachers provide daily instruction, supplemented by weekly instruction from our school’s full-time Art, Computer, Music, Physical Education and Spanish teachers. Classroom instruction is infused with our mission of Being CHRIST ~ Every Day ~ Everywhere through teaching, learning, leading and serving .  We seek to help students grow in deeper and clearer awareness that they are children of God who are loved and blessed with unique gifts and talents, and who are called to go forth as disciples of Christ. Our approach is based on accepted research that clearly indicates that the deepest, most genuine learning occurs for children at this age through play and fun activities lovingly guided by highly trained, certified teachers. 

Junior Kindergarten Handbook

​Age requirements for Full Day Preschool/ Junior Kindergarten 
Children who enter our full day Junior Kindergarten must be 4 years old by September 30 of the school year they are entering. Upon leaving Junior kindergarten, children move to Kindergarten. Keeping this move in mind, students with birthdays later than December 31st and prior to March 1st will be reviewed on a case by case basis to ensure the students' success. Our primary goal is student success in these young years to build a foundation for future achievement. To ensure early success, our screening process will look at current preschool assessments and recommendations, observing the child, and using early childhood educational assessment tools.‌