Welcome to the Kindergarten
Our goal for kindergarten is to provide your child with a strong foundation of both academic and social
skills while also promoting a love of learning. By the end of the year, children know about letters,
words, and sounds and apply this knowledge to read and write simple sentences. They can relate an
experience or creative story in a logical sequence. They understand small numbers, quantities, and simple
shapes in their everyday environment as well as count, compare, describe and sort objects, and develop a
sense of properties and patterns through art and other multisensory activities.
Please feel free to download and read the New Kinder Parent Info packet.
Meet the Teachers
At Pali we are so fortunate to have a great group of kindergarten teachers who inspire, encourage and challenge our students to be the best that they can be. Our wonderful teachers are:
Alexis Bourne
Alexis Bourne has been teaching for almost two decades, with the last eight years here at Pali.
She's taught from Kindergarten to sixth grade; she's also a Reading Recovery Teacher.
She has a Masters in Special Education--in the past she has taught Deaf and hard-of-hearing
students. Her first school memory is being sent home on the wrong bus on the first day of
kindergarten!
Ms. Shelton and Ms. Yamamoto
Ms. Shelton and Ms. Yamamoto love collaborating their work with their shared Kindergarten classroom. The
two teachers are in constant communication, so their students experience a seamless transition between
the two and benefit from each of their teachers' strengths. They also really understand young children
because they both have two of their own at home. Together they bring over 25 years of experience to the
job.
Kari Shelton grew up in a small mountain town by Lake Tahoe. She earned a bilingual teaching credential
and a Masters in Education from UC San Diego. After taking time off to travel and following her husband
to Westwood to attend law school, she found Pali. After teaching 2nd and 4th grades she discovered her
love for teaching the youngest elementary students. When she isn't at work or on the phone with Ms.
Yamamoto, she enjoys jogging with her coworkers, traveling, camping, and spending time with her family.
This year she is excited to become not only a Pali kinder teacher but also a Pali kinder parent.
Elsa Yamamoto was born and raised in Los Angeles. She earned her teaching credential from UC Irvine and
later earned a Masters in English from CSUN. She taught third grade for 5 years in Orange County. After
missing living in L.A., she moved back to her hometown and started teaching at Pali and has taught third,
fourth, second, and kindergarten for the last 13 years there. On her free time, she likes to travel, do
arts and crafts, play '80s music on her guitar, and hang out with her husband, daughter, and son.
Anna Martinez-Mollica
Anna Martinez-Mollica was born and raised in Los Angeles. Anna's received a Bachelors degree in Liberal studies with a concentration in child development. She received her Multiple Subject teaching credential and then Completed her Master's degree in Teaching and Curriculum. For the last 11 years she's taught a variety of grades, but finds her passion in working with Kindergarten.
Mr. Walker
When Mr. Walker was very young, he decided that he quite liked elementary school and never wanted to leave. Fast forward many years and Mr. Walker has certainly made good on that promise to himself. He is married to a talented chef, has two wonderful children and two vocal cats. Mr. Walker is a graduate of Humboldt Sate University. (Go, Lumberjacks!) Most days after school you can find Mr. Walker washing off the stress of the day at either Sunset or Topanga.