Welcome to St. John School’s transitional kindergarten program, an affordable private TK opportunity for your almost 5 year old!
Please note: We still have TK openings for this year. We encourage you to apply soon!
St. John’s full-day transitional kindergarten program offers our youngest students interesting, fun-filled days, and an advantage entering kindergarten. St. John’s transitional kindergarten teaching guidelines follow the California State Standards (Common Core) and are shaped by Catholic teachings, doctrine, and tradition. We emphasize social-emotional, literacy, and mathematics skill development in a play-based, sensory-rich classroom environment.
The St. John TK program introduces children to early foundational academic skills, including identifying letters and words, recognizing letter sounds, using expressive vocabulary, problem-solving, and early understanding of mathematical symbols and concepts. Social-emotional development, physical education, and introductions to science, history, cultural studies, and art are integrated into TK learning experiences. TK students’ enthusiasm helps shape instruction, too! Their natural curiosity produces daily interesting, unexpected, and creative learning opportunities.
Physical Education, Nutrition, and Spanish Instruction
Transitional kindergarten students receive PE and nutrition education twice a week from our Athletic Director, and Spanish language instruction once a week from our dedicated Spanish teacher. Special music, dance, technology, and art classes rotate through the curriculum in 6-week segments.
Recess and Lunchtime
These young students love to move so transitional kindergarten enjoys 3 recess breaks a day, lunch at tables outside (weather permitting), and active outdoor activities whenever possible. St. John maintains a separate TK and kindergarten-only play area with age-appropriate toys and structures for creative play. TK students also enjoy our larger yard for running games, hopscotch, chalk play, and social connection with our younger lower grades.
Field Trips
Carefully planned field trips help expand our TK students’ experience learning in new environments, build their confidence, and expose them to teaching not readily available in a classroom setting. Transitional kindergarten field trips vary by year but commonly include visits to a pumpkin patch and the San Francisco Zoo. Parents are always invited to help chaperone our expeditions.
Gifted parents often bring expertise into the classroom as well, adding their unique skills to our TK students learning experience. Depending on the parent community, TK may host visiting authors, arts and craft volunteers, engineers, nurses, construction experts, firefighters, police officers, bakers, and a variety of other gracious volunteer educators.
Qualifications for TK?
TK is considered the first year in a two-year Kindergarten program and is available to students who will not turn 5 before September 1st of the year they enroll.
How do I enroll my child?
TK enrollment is welcome year-round. We invite you to schedule a school tour to learn more about St. John School. Applications for St. John’s TK program are available online. For general information about our admission and application process, please visit our Admissions page.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
All adults, including parents and family members, who volunteer on the school campus or for any school activities must complete the San Francisco Archdiocese Safe School Program and adhere to all school safety policies.
AN INSIDE LOOK
St. John School is a private Catholic transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school located in San Francisco. Take a peek at our school days and special events. Visit our St. John Gallery!