The Early Childhood program is a progressive, child-centered approach that lays the foundation for learning and prepares our students for Kindergarten. Each child learns from a curriculum that allows students to construct knowledge through exploration and discovery. Our classes strive for optimum growth in each student in a positive learning environment. A sense of community is instilled in all children through interaction with their peers and participation of service projects that provide an introduction to the world around them. We help our students to develop as thinkers, problem solvers, and explorers. Our daily experiences promote hands-on learning and encourages independent thinking.
Jr. Cubs, for children who are 2 years old by August 15, has a developmentally and age appropriate program that gives each child the important first step in his or her education. Teachers encourage a child’s curiosity through hands-on experiences as well as addressing the developmental domains of play-- fine and gross motor skills, social/emotional skills, language, and cognitive skills.
USJ also offers a two-day-a-week program for Jr. Cubs. Children attending this program will have physical education enrichment on one day and music on the other day.
Bruin Cubs, for children who are 3 years old by August 15, helps children acquire social competence and the skills they need to succeed as learners. Classrooms are center-based to promote interactive learning and encourage the child’s construction of knowledge. We believe that early childhood education should encourage children’s active exploration and creativity while integrating developmentally appropriate subject matter to include phonological awareness and number concepts. Monthly themes that promote social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth are presented with the child’s interest in mind.
We acknowledge and accept the varied and different rates of development present in each child. Our classes strive for the optimum growth potential of the child, while providing a positive learning environment. Children learn to function as a classroom community, learning independence in a safe and nurturing setting. We believe child-directed and teacher-supported active learning is the key to a quality program for children this age.
USJ also offers a three-day-a-week program for Cubs. Children attending this program will have an enrichment class each day: physical education, library, and character education.
Jr. Kindergarten, for students who are 4 and 5 years old, offers a program that helps the young student develop self-confidence, self-discipline, and social skills. These qualities encourage a sense of security and independence. Jr. Kindergarten classes use a variety of instructional tools for individual, small group, and whole group experiences. Individual instruction helps the students to practice and improve their skills as well as accommodate individual learning differences.
Pre-reading skills are taught through phonics, phonemic awareness, and print awareness. Jr. Kindergarten students also learn pre-writing skills as letters are introduced. They learn how to ask and answer questions as they learn about familiar and unfamiliar topics through science and social studies units. The mathematics curriculum is designed to help our students develop number sense and computational fluency as they explore a range of strategies for problem solving through hands-on experiences. The classroom environment is tailored to meet each student’s needs and stimulate a love of learning in all developmental areas. Pre-handwriting skills are introduced in small groups at this level.
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The University School of Jackson is pleased to announce the promotion of Lauren Yancey to Assistant Director of the Camille and Ralph Jones Academic Center (JAC). Lauren will assist the JAC Director, Christy Glenn, in the day to day operation of the center and with the instruction of qualifying USJ...Read More
On Monday, May 20, 2019, University School of Jackson kicked off the beginning of Phase I of their Campus Master Plan with the groundbreaking of the Lower School playgrounds. Students, wearing USJ hard hats, joined together behind the Lower School to watch and cheer as a group of their peers shoveled the...Read More
USJ students in Mrs. Tanner and Mrs. McPeake's art classes recently participated in the Color of Music contest sponsored by the Jackson Symphony. They listened to the selections and created artwork based on their interpretations of the music. Congratulations to these lower and middle school art students for...Read More
It is with great pleasure that the University School of Jackson announces the appointment of Mr. Don Roe as our Associate Head of School, Middle School Director. As the Associate Head of School, Don will work closely with our Head of School, Stuart Hirstein, to oversee the wellbeing of USJ...Read More