Explorers Overview
At Wilberforce, our Explorers (preschool) program integrates experiential and disciplined learning. We strive to foster a sense of wonder, exploration, and discovery, as emphasized by Charlotte Mason. Our teachers emphasize a love of learning for each child, engaging both the mind and the heart.
We believe that Wilberforce is a distinctive school where the learning environment is enveloped in a classical Christian foundation.
Our youngest students are “Explorers.”
- Explorers I is our Junior Kindergarten program (preschool), and is open to 4 year-olds and 5 year-olds.
- Explorers II is our Kindergarten program, and is open to 5 year-olds and 6 year-olds.*
Explorers are adventurers on a mission; they are people who examine carefully, investigate, probe, and discover. We believe these young years are years ripe for exploring.
During these essential years prior to entering Class One (first grade), we equip our students for academic success and to introduce them to a lifetime of joyful discovery and rich learning within a context of Christian devotion and worldview. (Half day and full day options for our Explorers students. Learn more.)
* Please Note: We want each child to thrive at Wilberforce. Each child’s placement decision is made on a case-by-case basis (based on age, testing, and other factors). Students entering Explorers One and Two must turn four or five years old (respectively) before September 1. We pay particularly close attention to children whose dates of birth fall in or near the summer months. Most children benefit by having more time to develop and mature before entering Class One. Being relatively young may not be a critical issue at the Explorers level, but when a child reaches Class One and above, the age disparity can be much more pronounced as these children begin to work at a higher level of academic difficulty alongside classmates who are as much as a year older.