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Transitional Kindergarten
A Gentle Bridge to Kindergarten
Is your child turning five before January and needing extra time to grow before Kindergarten? Our Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program provides a warm, nurturing space where young learners can build confidence, strengthen foundational skills, and thrive at their own pace, offering a unique bridge between preschool and Kindergarten.
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This full-day program (Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) blends the joy of play with hands-on, developmentally appropriate learning in a supportive, engaging environment. Through Learning Without Tears, playful math activities, early literacy experiences, and outdoor exploration, including an in-depth creek study, children develop essential academic skills such as letter and number recognition, problem-solving, writing readiness, and science exploration while fostering a deep connection with nature.
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Guided by our Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship, every part of the day is designed to help children feel safe, valued, and inspired to discover their unique talents. This transitional year ensures that children enter Kindergarten with confidence, curiosity, and the academic readiness to succeed.
Give your child the gift of a strong start in a joyful, enriching, and developmentally thoughtful program. Visit and see the magic of Transitional Kindergarten in action!
"The culture at this school is phenomenal!"
-UFS Parent
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students follow the same schedule as their elementary schoolmates, from 8:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., five days per week.
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Our full-day Kindergarten program helps students transition from Preschool to Elementary School, which begins in First Grade. Children experience increased choice and independence as they develop essential academic skills. Students begin Wilson Fundations to strengthen phonics, spelling, and early reading skills, and Bridges in Mathematics to build foundational numeracy and problem-solving abilities. Hands-on, center-based learning in science, art, music, library, technology, and physical education fosters curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
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Guided by Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship, students also cultivate social-emotional skills such as empathy, self-regulation, collaboration, and reflection. Kindergarteners remain active throughout the day while learning to focus on longer tasks and lessons, developing both academic confidence and emotional resilience. We celebrate their milestone of graduating from Preschool and beginning their journey as the “big kids” in the school community.
“Our son went from resisting school every day to feeling excitement and joy about learning. He has made so many new friends at UFS, and he receives hands-on, engaging learning while also building strong foundational skills.”
—Current UFS Parent
First through 5th Grade
Welcome to United Friends School, a vibrant Independent Quaker Elementary School where students truly thrive! We cultivate a nurturing and dynamic learning environment that is taliored to each student's unique needs. Our exciting project-based curriculum sparks hands-on, inquiry-driven exploration, empowering students to dive deep into fascinating topics while honing their thinking and problem-solving skills. With immersive field trips that bring learning to life, our students gain enriching real-world experiences that strengthen their connection to the world around them.
Grounded in Quaker values, we foster a spirited sense of community, reflection, and personal growth, ensuring every student flourishes both academically and personally.
UFS Curriculum At-a-Glance
Students thrive as they cultivate exceptional reading and writing skills through our dynamic and inclusive English Language Arts Curriculum. With the exciting integration of the Fundations Curriculum – Wilson’s Language Training, teachers create a blended approach that enhances phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. Literature circles spark independent reading, analysis, and meaningful engagement with texts, allowing students to evolve from writing simple phonetic sentences to becoming confident authors across diverse. They enthusiastically review, edit, and publish their work, celebrating their journey as budding authors!
In mathematics, teachers implement Bridges in Mathematics, empowering students to gain a profound understanding of concepts and master the art of recognizing number patterns and decoding problems. Collaborative discussions with peers deepen their understanding and foster a love for learning!
Our Social Studies curriculum inspires students to become informed global and local citizens, instilling a sense of responsibility and the power to uphold the Quaker Testimonies worldwide. Centered on five essential pillars—economics, geography, history, service learning/citizenship, and culture- students are ready to make a difference!
Finally, our environmental and life science program opens the door to an interdisciplinary adventure, exploring weather, biology, geography, the natural environment, and innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Let’s ignite curiosity and passion for the world around us.
