Early Childhood Education
Our early childhood program focuses on the whole child; their social, emotional, physical, and mental growth. We strive to create authentic relationships between children and teachers as well as help children possess a sense of belonging within the community. Our goal is to offer opportunities for children to build their own set of tools to support their future success.
Class Sizes
We have two PreKindergarten classrooms with a maximum of 10 students per classroom. Our PreKindergarten program begins at 3 years of age and continues through age 5 when our students move onto Young 5’s or Kindergarten. We strive to ensure small class sizes and child-to-teacher ratios. We adhere to a 1:10 Teacher: Student maximum ratio.
The place
Our PreK classrooms are a place of wonder and exploration. We utilize the outdoors and play in our learning whenever possible. Our students go on adventures all around our 22-acre campus; sometimes in snowshoes and other times barefoot on our beach. We learn about the environment, animals, stewardship, discovery, and so much more while we are outside. The same level of discovery and learning happens within the walls of our PreK classrooms; whether through building a cardboard airplane, practicing yoga and mindfulness, or identifying shapes and colors. Our environment plays such a large part on learning, and we strive to create a safe space for all our students to learn, laugh, and grow!
Sample Schedule
Our PreKindergarten classrooms have multiple scheduling options; including 5 Full Days (M-F), 3 Full Days (M,W,F), or 2 Full Days (T,Th). A student enrolled in 5 Full Days, will have at least one class with each of our co-curricular faculty; French, Music, Physical Education, and Library. We strive to provide a play-based learning environment, where our students can learn and grow together.
A typical day may look like:
8:00-8:30am Welcome Circle and Song
8:30-9:00am French/Music
9:00-9:30am Snack
9:30-10:00am Free Choice Stations
10:00-10:45am Recess
10:45-11:00am Storytime
11:00-11:30am Lunch
11:30-12:00pm Rest & Relaxation
12:00-12:45pm Scientific Exploration
12:45-1:30pm Art
1:30-2:15pm Dramatic Play
2:15-3:00pm Recess
3:00-3:15pm Pick-up
CURRICULUM
Our curriculum design is based on current brain research, developmentally appropriate practice and teaching to the multiple intelligences. It emerges from the children’s interests and ideas. Through observations of children at play, interests are discovered to guide the planning process. Teachers gather together to brainstorm the curriculum avenues. In doing so, the Child Observation Record assessment, developmental domains, and learning styles are embedded in the plans to ensure challenges and successes are supported. Each learning adventure focus is on process rather than products. The curriculum process takes place like a science project. Open-ended questions are asked to encourage and strengthen critical thinking and problem solving skills. Children hypothesize and then as a group they test their ideas by setting up experiments, hands-on activities and opportunities to communicate and discover. Results are charted, graphed, photographed and represented by creating models from many mediums. This great documentation helps make learning visible to parents and the outer community.