Program philosophy, Description and Lunch Buddy Program
Mission Statement
The Children’s School is a vital ministry of Grace Episcopal Church. The objective of the school shall be to foster the development of the total child. The school will work with the home and church to provide an age appropriate academic environment while preparing each child to grow in their understanding of their individuality – living a creative, humane and compassionate life worthy of a child of God and a contributing member of our society.
The Children's School welcomes children and families from all ethnic, racial, religious, or national backgrounds and diverse family stuctures.
Program Philosophy and Description
The Children’s School offers a younger and older children’s preschool program. The younger children’s program is a smaller, self-contained, nurturing experience for older two-year old and young three year-old children. It is designed as an initial preschool experience. The older program caters to the needs of older three year-old, four year-old and five year-old children. The primary purpose of The Children’s School is to foster the innate uniqueness of the individual child. Development of positive self-esteem and appropriate responsive social interaction are the core elements of the program.
The full development of each child is unique. During the early childhood formative years, the child experiences intense motivation toward his own self-construction through personal involvement with his environment. A stimulating and responsive environment supports the development of self-esteem and the respective growth patterns of each child.
Each child enrolled in the program is addressed according to his/her skills and abilities as developmentally appropriate. A multi-sensory approach is implemented to maximize the child’s experiential learning through “hands on” activities. Activities and materials are planned and provided to stimulate interest in the specific areas of cognition, gross and fine motor skills, and language and speech development of the total child.
Specialized music activities, as well as arts and crafts, are regularly incorporated into the program activities.
Throughout the school year children enrolled in the older children’s program will attend Children’s Chapel. The Rector of Grace Episcopal Church or the Director of The Children’s School will conduct Chapel. Chapel will be held in the classroom or in the historic Chapel of Grace Episcopal Church.
For seven months of the school year, there are weekly activities at the YMCA for older children attending school on Friday. These sessions are designed to promote the development of various motor skills relative to the child’s integrated learning abilities as well as expose the child to transitional activities and directions.
We are also very fortunate to co-ordinate special programs through the Children’s Department of the Public Library. These usually occur on a monthly basis.
The Children’s School has a staff with certification, training and experience in the areas of child development, counseling and family life, exceptional children, music, art and education. In addition, a trained staff member from the YMCA co-ordinates program plans with the preschool staff.
Lunch Buddy Program
· The Lunch Buddy Program will only be offered for Monday/Wednesday students at this time due to the lack of interest for Tuesday/Thursday students. This is subject to change if enough Tuesday/Thursday students enroll at a later date.
· The cost for the program is $50 per month, which will be added onto your monthly tuition.
· The program will begin on Monday, October 4, 2010, and extend the school day until 1:30 p.m. for those signed up. This program will continue every Monday and Wednesday until the end of the school year, unless notified otherwise. Those who have elected not to sign up will pick up your child at 12:00 p.m. as usual.
· Please be prompt to pick up your child at 1:30. Some of our teachers are on tight schedules themselves and rely on the cooperation from all of the parents/caregivers to recover their child on time.
· Each child will bring a bag lunch from home to place in their cubby. We do not have space in the refrigerator for everybody’s lunch, so please send something that can stay out for a few hours. An insulated lunch bag may be utilized as long as it fits into the child’s cubby.
· Drinks will be provided for your child.
· On Friday, all children will be dismissed at 12:00.
· All children enrolled at The Children’s School will complete an activity to the theme of that day’s study. The Lunch Buddy Program children will complete an additional activity that is relevant to the morning’s theme, or a developmentally appropriate skill your child needs at that time (i.e., practicing their name, etc.).
The extended day program will also address other school readiness skills such as how to behave during lunch, and becoming more self-reliant to prepare for elementary school.