4 & 5 year olds
Pre-k & kindergarten“Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8)
Our Pre-K and Kindergarten classes operate from Monday to Friday with Thursday being a half day along with the rest of the school. Monday and Friday are optional for families who desire a shorter week for their children.
Our program is designed for four and five year old children: to be considered for enrollment, youngsters need to be 4 years old by September 1st. As academic success in Grade 1 is often determined by overall maturity rather than purely intellectual ability or attainment, it can be a help for a child to be on the older side. Delaying entrance into Kindergarten for those with “summer” birthdays may be a gift.
Our Pre-K and Kindergarten classes are designed to foster children’s natural sense of wonder as they develop skills to observe and appreciate the world around them. We achieve this by establishing an atmosphere where learning is viewed as a privilege and responsibility, and where truth, goodness, and beauty are highly valued. Opportunities for academic, physical, and social growth are systematically presented and are rooted in the classical, Christian understanding of children and education.
In addition to their daily activities, Pre-K & Kindergarten students enjoy music and physical education classes with our co-curricular teachers as well as organized workshops and buddy time with the Upper School students. Our “Pre-Ks & Ks” perform a class play and present a chapel devotional for the school and participate in most of Imago’s programs and activities.
The Imago Pre-K & Kindergarten classes are, indeed, a garden for children where our youngest members of the school community are invited to “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8)
Pre-K & Kindergarten Faculty
Mary Soto | Pre-K
Algebra I Teacher
Eden’s Children Staff
Mary Soto joined The Imago School in 2019, along with her daughter, Hannah, who attended first grade that year. She has had several roles in her years at Imago, including teaching second grade, being the Pre-K & Kindergarten Assistant, and substitute teaching, especially for Upper School math. When Imago formed a separate Pre-K class in 2024, Mrs. Soto helped set up the new classroom and stepped into her current role of Pre-K homeroom teacher. She is thankful to Mrs. Kinney, who taught her so much about teaching, and with whom she continues to collaborate. Mrs. Soto also teaches first grade on Fridays and has benefited from Miss Heikkila’s wisdom and experience as well. She loves the people that she works with and is grateful for this remarkable little school.
Before coming to Imago, Mary was a nanny for over 10 years. She has a BA in Mathematical Science, with a minor in Education from Colby College. She got certified to teach 7th-12th grade math, but realized she loved being with younger children. Mary is married to Jose, and they live in Natick with their two daughters, Hannah and Maria. The girls have been described as identical twins… only 11 years apart! Baby Maria is well known and loved around The Imago School. Mary is conversational in Spanish and gets to practice regularly with her Dominican in-laws, who don’t speak English. Her other skills include juggling and solving the Rubik’s cube. She enjoys board games, audiobooks, and spending time with friends and family. She also loves volleyball, and used to pole vault over 10 feet (many years ago)!
Denise Kinney | Kindergarten
Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher
P.E. Teacher, Pre-K – Grade 6
Denise Kinney is a lifelong resident of Massachusetts. As an Imago High School graduate, she was immersed in classical, Christian education from an early age, but it was not until she became a teacher and parent that her passion for classical, Christian education became fully ignited.
Denise began teaching kindergarten at The Imago School in 2015. As a Kindergarten teacher and parent of two Imago students, she is truly blessed. Having a heart for all learners and many years of experience in the special education field, Denise is also the Student Support Specialist at the Imago School. Denise holds a master’s degree in education and is a certified Orton-Gillingham dyslexia practitioner.
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The Imago School is a classical school for grades Pre-Kindergarten through 10th and growing, deeply rooted in the Christian Tradition of classical education. The Imago School is located in Maynard, Massachusetts, and was founded in 1980.