JK & K at Harrisburg Academy are more than learning the ABC'S. In the early years of Jr. kindergarten and Kindergarten the natural, simultaneous development of oral and written language is fostered in children by providing the social and learning circumstances under which these can occur. The book and writing center in the Jr. Kindergarten & Kindergarten classrooms help to encourage each child's personal investigation and discovery of the connections between letters, sounds, syllables, words, and stories. Based on the philosophy that young children learn through active exploration, using their imaginations to invent and create, the Jr. kindergarten and Kindergarten teachers provide materials and activities which are open-ended and adapt to many uses. Children are guided to develop independence, competence, and a sense of confidence.