Religion: The students receive daily instruction, helping them to better understand God and His role in their lives.

Math: The use of manipulatives as teaching tools enables the students to develop a concrete concept of numbers, counting, addition, subtraction, measurement, and relativity.

Language Arts: The students spend time learning to write their letters, learn sounds, and build words. They have fun using the building-block words to write in their journals and read stories.

Science: The combination of hands-on activities and observation of materials, plants, and animals helps develop the students' understanding of the natural world around them.

Art Instruction: Although art projects are integrated into the daily curriculum, with many daily opportunities for visual art and self-expression, formal art instruction is given once a week by the school's art teacher. Art projects are prominently displayed on classroom and school walls. Once a year, kindergarten multi-media art projects are on display for the public at the school's Art Fair.

Physical Education: Physical Education classes are scheduled twice a week for kindergarten students. Additionally, team sports are introduced in kindergarten, with most of the students playing on the coed soccer and basketball teams.

Big Brother/Big Sister Program: Each kindergarten student is assigned a Big Brother or a Big Sister from the eighth grade. This year-long partnership and friendship is mutually beneficial, and enhances the sprit of community and collaborative support within the school.

French Language and Culture: Beginning in kindergarten, the students meet daily with their French teacher and enjoy a lively, interactive French language program. The kindergarten program includes animal characters, puppets, songs, and poetry, through which they immediately start to build their French vocabulary and comprehension.

Activities: In addition to the varied, hands-on activities that engage students in the core subjects, the kindergarten students also plan and actively participate in their Class Masses, most notably the one in honor of St. Lucia. Participation in school-wide music recitals and talent contests is also encouraged. The school year culminates with a formal kindergarten graduation ceremony, in which the students perform in a play entitled "Mrs. Wishy-Washy." The students' 8th Grade Big Brothers and Big Sisters often return to the school after their own graduation to attend this ceremony.

Field trips: Trips to hear the San Francisco Symphony are a tradition in the kindergarten, as well as the seasonal field trip with 8th grade Big Brothers and Big Sisters to the pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay.

Lawrence Hall of Science Program: Each year the Lawrence Hall of Science visits the school to offer a science-related demonstration on a particular theme.

Faculty: NDV's excellence in teaching begins with our kindergarten teacher, Robbie Renzi, whose 25+ year tenure at NDV and international studies in the field of education have kept her in demand as a mentor for young teachers throughout the Bay Area.