Elementary School (K-5)
Kindergarten
A gentle first school year: phonics, numbers and learning how school works.
- Length
- Full school year, three terms
- Format
- Online Live
- Level
- Elementary
- Tuition
- $1,499 a year
About Kindergarten
Kindergarten is short, lively and hands-on. Live lessons are kept brief and are broken up with movement, stories and drawing. Children learn letters and sounds, numbers to twenty, and the habits of school: listening, taking turns, and finishing a piece of work. A parent or carer sits with the child for most sessions, and we tell you exactly how to help.
By the end of the year
- Blend sounds to read simple words
- Write their name and a short sentence
- Count, compare and group numbers to twenty
- Follow a school routine and finish a task
What we provide
- Live class platform (browser, no install)
- Digital reading library
- Parent portal for progress and attendance
- Printable practice packs
The school year, term by term
3 terms · Full school year, three terms · reports go home at the end of each one.
Fall term: sounds, numbers and routines
- Letter sounds and blending
- Counting, matching and sorting to 10
- Names, labels and first words
- Classroom routines and turn taking
Winter term: reading begins
- Blending short words
- Numbers to 20, adding and taking away
- Seasons, weather and animals
- Story time and retelling
Spring term: first books
- Reading simple books aloud
- Writing a sentence
- Measuring, comparing and shapes
- Show and tell project
Assessed work
What your child produces across the year, and what the report card is based on:
A first reading folder, kept term by term
A weather and seasons poster
An end-of-year show and tell to the class
Who this suits
- Families who want live teaching rather than videos and worksheets
- Children who travel, move often, or live outside their district
- Children who need a calmer, smaller room than a full class
- Families who can sit with a younger child during the school day
Joining this grade
Children who turn 5 by 1 September of the school year. A short, friendly readiness conversation with a parent present, so we can plan support from day one.
Teachers for this level
Marta Alvarez
Head of Elementary
Marta taught kindergarten and first grade for eleven years before moving online, and she designs the elementary timetable around how long a young child can actually concentrate. She leads the weekly reading check that every elementary child sits.
Jonah Fischer
Elementary Teacher, Science and Mathematics
Jonah makes science happen at the kitchen table: his lessons use what families already have at home, and every investigation ends with the child explaining what they found. He also runs elementary number practice.
Priya Menon
Learning Support Lead
Priya works with students who need something adjusted: more time, different materials, a quieter room, or a plan agreed with the family. She reviews every new student’s placement notes and checks in through the year.
What this year leads to
- Grade 1 at Pioneer Academy
- A confident start in any elementary school
Tuition for Kindergarten
$1,499 per student for the school year, payable in full or in three term instalments of about $500. Tuition covers live classes, teaching materials and the parent portal. Books for the year are listed in the enrolment pack. Joining mid-year is charged from the term your child starts.
Pioneer Academy is not an accredited school and is working toward accreditation. Reports and transcripts are school-issued.
Questions about Kindergarten
What does a school day look like in Kindergarten?
Live classes run about 3 hours of live class a day, mornings Eastern Time, with breaks between lessons. The rest of the day is independent work, reading and, in the older grades, set assignments. Families in other time zones should check the timetable with admissions before enrolling, because classes are live.
Is Pioneer Academy accredited?
No. Pioneer Academy is not an accredited school and is working toward accreditation; we will publish the outcome when there is one. We issue our own report cards and transcripts, which not every district or college will recognise. If an accredited record matters to you, please confirm with your district or your child’s next school before enrolling.
What happens if my child joins part way through the year?
Mid-year places open at the start of the winter and spring terms, subject to space. We review recent school reports and run a short placement conversation so your child joins the right grade and we know what has already been covered. Tuition is charged from the term the child starts.
What do we need at home?
A computer or tablet with a camera and microphone, a reliable internet connection, and somewhere reasonably quiet to work. Books and materials for the year are listed in the enrolment pack before term starts.
Take the next step
Is Kindergarten right for your child?
Twenty minutes with admissions covers the timetable, the placement check and what the year actually involves. If another school suits them better, we will say so.