Home
Calendar
Purpose
Program
Curriculum
Goals
Staff
|
|
Our weekday Parent’s Day Out and Preschool operates Monday through Thursday during the school year, from 9:30 a.m. till 3:30 p.m.
Our primary goal in Parents Day Out is to provide a safe environment for the children. A daily schedule is posted in the classrooms. Children spend their time participating in age-appropriate activities. Children under two play outside in our courtyard area; our two-year-old classes play on our playground. Our staff/pupil ratio for creepers is 2 workers to 6 children; for toddlers, 2
workers to 10 children; for 2-year-olds, 2 workers to 12 children.
Our teachers have a skills list and curriculum for their particular age group. They incorporate these skills through the different units of themes that they choose for their class. Parents are able to see the lesson plans for the month so that they too can be a valuable part of the child's development. Parent/teacher conferences are held each semester.
Discipline
Our discipline policy is based on the philosophy that each child is a special gift from God. Children will have days when they need direction and guidance in assessing and selecting appropriate choices and behaviors. We will guide each child to develop self-discipline by providing consistently age-appropriate limits. The teacher will label behavior as "acceptable" and "unacceptable". Acceptable behavior will be encouraged and rewarded at all times. Unacceptable behavior will be discouraged. Teachers will clearly explain to the class what is "acceptable" and what is "unacceptable" in their individual classrooms. As with any special gift, your child will be cared for and cherished without any physical, emotional, or verbal abuse.
Discipline must be individualized and consistent for each child, appropriate to the child’s level of understanding, and directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control. A caregiver may use only positive methods of discipline and guidance that encourage self-esteem, self-control, and self-direction (praise of good behavior, clear reminders of expectations, redirecting behavior, and brief, supervised time out from the group of no more that 1 minute per year of the child’s age). No harsh or cruel treatment is allowed (including corporal punishment or threats thereof; punishment associated with food, naps, or toilet training; pinching, biting or shaking a child; hitting a child with a hand or instrument; putting anything in or on a child’s mouth; humiliating, ridiculing, rejecting or yelling at a child; using harsh, abusive, or profane language; putting the child in a separate, locked or dark area; requiring the child to remain silent or inactive for inappropriately long periods of time for the child’s age).
If a child's behavior continues to be unmanageable despite all efforts by the staff, a conference will be scheduled to discuss the possible reasons and solutions.
All learning is age-appropriate and designed to include exploring, listening, verbalizing, social interaction, creative play, music, science, and sensory and motor activities. Field trips are scheduled to further enhance our curriculum for our four-year-old classes. Outside speakers also visit often to share their skills and talents with our students.
Chapel time is a part of our curriculum. It is offered weekly to children three and up. This is a time of singing, story-telling, and prayer. Stories are based on scripture from the NRSV Bible. Our Director of Children's Ministries leads worship.
Preschool classrooms are staffed with a degreed teacher and assistant in the mornings, and by an assistant only for Extended Day Care. Class sizes are limited to 13 students for 3-year-olds and 15 students for 4-year-olds.
|
