Over the years, Holy Spirit Parish School has been blessed with the joy of watching our youngest students begin their journey of learning and faith. These early childhood years are filled with discovery, laughter, and growth, and they set the foundation for all that follows.
With this in mind, I want to share an important update regarding our early childhood program. At Holy Spirit, we are deeply committed to nurturing our youngest learners, knowing that these first years of school shape both their love of learning and their life of faith. Beginning this year, what has traditionally been called Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten
In this model, Kindergarten 1 is for our four-year-old students and will continue as a half-day program, while Kindergarten 2 is for our five-year-old students and is now offered as a full-day program. Our youngest learners begin their academic journey in K1 with Super Kids, our English Language Arts curriculum, which continues seamlessly through K2 and on to second grade. Alongside this, our Everyday Mathematics program begins in K1 and provides a consistent, research-based approach to math all the way through grade 6. Together, these programs help children build confidence, develop strong foundational skills, and discover the joy of learning step by step.
You may wonder: why now? Across California, new legislative and regulatory changes are shaping how schools serve four- and five-year-olds. Transitional kindergarten programs are being asked to meet updated expectations in areas such as student–teacher ratios, age requirements, and licensing. While public schools are responding with large-scale funding and mandates, Catholic schools like ours are taking this as an opportunity to strengthen our programs thoughtfully and faithfully.
For Holy Spirit, this update allows us to protect the well-being of our youngest students, safeguard the distinctive character of Catholic education, and plan responsibly for the future. By making these changes now, we ensure that we can continue welcoming four-year-olds into a program that is safe, developmentally sound, and rooted in our mission of forming children in faith, knowledge, and love.
Looking ahead, we are preparing for the licensing process that will allow us to accept four-year-olds under the updated requirements beginning in 2026–2027. In the meantime, our K1 and K2 structure ensures that we remain faithful to our mission while also being responsive to the needs of our students and families.
I know this is a lot of information, and I want to reassure you that the heart of our program remains the same: to provide a loving, safe, and enriching environment where your child can grow spiritually, academically, and socially. We believe these early years lay the strongest foundation for a lifetime of learning and faith, and we are proud to invest fully in that beginning. These changes are about protecting that mission and securing the future of Catholic education here at Holy Spirit Parish School.
Thank you for your trust, your prayers, and your continued partnership. Together, we remain committed to helping our youngest students begin their lifelong journey of faith and learning with joy.
Come Holy Spirit!
Raphael Domingo
Principal