Preschool Group (2.9 Months – 5 Years)

The Preschool, Pre-K and Older Pre-K programs share a common goal. This goal is to create an environment where there is respect for age, gender and cultural differences. Themes are introduced monthly with weekly sub themes to help the children discover the similarities as well as the differences among ourselves and others.

In each of these classrooms, learning centers are set up to encourage your child to make choices while developing social, fine motor, gross motor, and pre-reading writing and communication skills. Your child will be exposed to exciting new experiences while exploring a variety of learning materials and participating in many interesting projects. All activities, of course, are age appropriate and emphasize “process” rather than “product”.

Sample Schedule

Free Play
Upon arrival, your child may choose to participate in a variety of activity centers. These are designed to promote cooperation, sharing, and communication.

Snack
Self-serve, “family style.”

Circle
At circle, the monthly/weekly theme is introduced with a story, game, song, and other activities that support these themes.

Centers
There are several centers to choose from:

• Science (experiments, sand and water play)
• Art (fine motor creation: play dough, painting, gluing)
• Blocks (building and creating with blocks and other materials)
• Dramatic play (housekeeping, puppets, and other theme related activities)
• Library (a quiet place to look at books, write stories, computer play, etc.)
• Manipulatives (puzzles and games)

Gross Motor
Outdoor play – weather permitting. Indoor play as necessary.

Circle Close
Story and a review of the experiences of the day

Lunch

Afternoon Program
For those children who stay for the afternoon, there is a rest period (The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires a minimum of 45 minutes of rest for children who are in school for longer than 4 hours). After resting or sleeping, your child can choose a quiet activity until all children have woken. An afternoon snack is then served and an afternoon project is available for those children wishing to participate. This project is based upon the weekly theme. Later in the afternoon, a school bus delivers the school aged children to the Center. After their snack, all of the children go outside (weather permitting) to the playground for free play. Afterwards, in the classroom, your child can listen to a story or choose an activity until collected by you or by another adult that you have formally designated.