Dublin's Premier Full-Day Private Kindergarten
Welcome to Balanced Family Academy of Dublin, where we nurture a lifelong love of learning in every child. Our convenient full-day private kindergarten and supplemental programs offer engaging, and exploratory curriculum designed to prepare your child for success in elementary school and beyond. As part of the Balanced Family Academy All-Inclusive approach, we provide our kindergarteners with nutritious meals (breakfast, lunch & snacks) and exciting extracurricular activities built into the school day.
A Balanced Approach to Learning:
Our Kindergarten Curriculum
We believe kindergarten is a time for playful discovery, collaboration, and building a strong academic foundation. Our Dublin kindergarten curriculum aligns with Ohio's Learning Standards, while embracing a creative and individualized approach to teaching. We believe this ensures children are not only meeting the standards but also developing a true love of learning.
Growing Readers,
Writers, + Thinkers
We explore 2 fiction/non-fiction texts per week, focusing on reading comprehension, vocabulary, making inferences, and encouraging small group and partner discussions. Our ABC bootcamp kicks off the year with letter formation and sound review. Students grow as writers, creating multi-page stories and informational reports.
We master the DOLCH sight word lists for Kindergarten (and review some pre-K words). Our afternoons include six hands-on centers for students to practice phonics skills, sight word fluency, reading, and poetry. By year's end, students know 120-160 sight words!
Phonics focuses on how sounds are represented in writing, while phonemic awareness is about hearing individual sounds within words. Our Heggerty curriculum builds strong phonemic awareness, a key to reading success. Each level provides daily lessons focusing on eight core skills, along with activities to develop letter and sound recognition.
Making Math
Fun + Meaningful
Our math block includes warm-up games, mini-lessons, and hands-on center activities. Your child will build strong number sense, problem-solving skills, and a foundation for future math success.
Exploration in Science
+Social Studies
Through experiments, discussions, and creative projects, children explore fascinating science concepts and learn about their community and the wider world. We integrate these subjects into both our morning and afternoon blocks on Thursday each week.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
As part of our all inclusive approach at Balanced Family Academy, extra curricular activities are built right into our school day! Students will participate in our Balanced by Nature program, yoga, and Jump Bunch each week. Our Balanced by Nature program uses developmentally appropriate methods to introduce Kindergarteners to life cycles and habitats of plants and animals, with hands on exploration. Our yoga program teaches students a variety of poses and stretches while implementing mindfulness and breathing techniques. Jump Bunch allows our Kindergartners to refine their gross motor skills and strengthen their core through interactive games and sports.
Stephanie Kim
Dublin Perimeter Campus
Mrs. Kim brings a global perspective and a deep love of teaching to our classroom. Originally from Ontario, Canada, she received both her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor. Her passion for education took her to Seoul, South Korea, where she taught for two years. After returning, Ms. Kim gained valuable experience as a substitute teacher in Columbus and Gahanna. For the past five years, she's dedicated herself to our Balanced Family Academy kindergarten, where she finds joy in implementing hands-on curriculum and witnessing her students blossom as readers, writers, and learners.When she's not in the classroom, Ms. Kim enjoys spending time with her husband and two little girls, including a kindergartener at BFA Innovation and a 3-year-old in the BFA Perimeter's Kangaroo classroom. Her passion for teaching stems from her love of watching children learn and grow, both inside and outside the classroom.
Lusine Meliksetyan
Dublin Perimeter Campus
Mrs. Meliksetyan brings a wealth of experience and a passion for language education to our classroom. Born and raised in Armenia, she holds both a bachelor's degree in teaching French and English and a master's degree in teaching English. Before joining Balanced Family Academy, she worked as an elementary EFL teacher in Armenia. Her dedication to education is evident in her extensive volunteer experience as both a French and kindergarten teacher. Ms. Meliksetyan cherishes family time with her husband and two children – her son, a Beaver at the Perimeter location, and her daughter, a first-grader at Wyandot Elementary School. Her dedication to fostering children's growth is inspired by her own experiences as a mother and her strong foundation in education.
Jennifer Wolfe
Dublin Innovation Campus
Ms. Wolfe brings a wealth of Ohio teaching experience and a vibrant energy to our classroom. After receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Youngstown State, she gained valuable experience teaching first grade in Columbus Public Schools, along with a variety of preschool ages. When she's not in the classroom, she enjoys spending quality time with her family. Ms. Wolfe's dedication to teaching is fueled by her own love of learning and her passion for empowering young minds. She's thrilled to be starting her fourth year as a kindergarten teacher at Balanced Family Academy's Innovation campus!
FAQs
How does Balanced Family Academy of Dublin support different kindergarten schedules?
Full-Day Kindergarten: Our core kindergarten program is designed for children who meet Dublin City Schools' age requirements.
Full-Day Kindergarten Enrichment
This program is ideal for
Children who are slightly too young for Dublin City Schools' kindergarten cutoff.
Children who have completed a full year of Pre-K and are ready for a more challenging kindergarten experience.
Supplemental Learning for DCS Students: We offer supplemental kindergarten programming for children enrolled in Dublin City Schools' half-day kindergarten. This includes:
AM Supplement: Students attend BFA in the morning, then transition to DCS after lunch (bus schedule dependent).
PM Supplement: Students attend DCS kindergarten in the morning, then join BFA from approximately 12:15 pm onward.
What are the hours of your full-time kindergarten program ?
The school day for students enrolled in full day kindergarten at Balanced Family Academy of Dublin begins at 9:00 am and ends at 3:00 pm.
Which schools do you provide transportation to?
Balanced Family Academy of Dublin provides bus transportation to the following schools: Scottish Corners, Bailey, Wyandot, Deer Run, Indian Run, Eli Pinney, Abraham Depp, and Glacier Ridge.
Which Balanced Family Academy of Dublin locations offer Kindergarten?
We offer full day kindergarten at all three of our Dublin locations, including Dublin Perimeter, Dublin Innovation, and Dublin Bradenton.
When should I register my child for kindergarten?
We open kindergarten registration at Balanced Family Academy of Dublin in February of the previous school year. We will offer our existing families spots before opening registration up to the public in March.
What is the ratio in your kindergarten classrooms?
BFA staffs two licensed kindergarten teachers in each of our classrooms. The maximum classroom group size in each program is 28 students.
Do you have a kindergarten info night?
Yes, we do a virtual online info session in January before Dublin City Schools kindergarten registration is open. There is a “meet the teacher night ” a few days before school officially starts Mid- August. The start date is aligned with the Dublin City school calendar.
How does BFA of Dublin cater to kindergarten students with special needs?
BFA Dublin works with all families to best meet the needs of their child.
Dublin Kindergarten Registration
If you’d like to set up a tour at one of our Dublin Academies or register your child for one of our 2024 Kindergarten programs, please fill out the form below and our team will reach out to you!