PRESCHOOL

THE BASICS

Age: 2 1/2 years (30 months) to 5yrs

3 mornings a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday)

from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m.

OR

2 afternoons a week (Tuesday, and Thursday)

from 1:00 to 3:15 p.m.

Class Size: Up to 24 students

Adult to Student Ratio: 1:5

Our preschool program, which is based on the principal that children learn best through play, will stimulate your child to learn and explore the world around them. We have purposely created a program with two consecutive days of school in order to better prepare for the realities of everyday kindergarten which will be fully implemented in our region by 2013. We offer an inclusive learning environment suitable for children of all backgrounds and developmental levels. Both of our teachers spend part of the year working with Kitchener-Waterloo Habilitation Services and have a good deal of experience working with children who have special needs. We pride ourselves on creating an environment that helps all children grow and flourish. Using an emergent curriculum, the classroom activities are led by the children's own interests. With a wide variety of puzzles, toys, crafts, and imaginative play centres, children are encouraged to explore and expand their interests both in the classroom and the outdoor play area.

In addition to regular play, special guests come to the class on a regular basis. These guests work with the children, sometimes explaining what they do, other times helping them to create a special craft. We have found that after these visits the play in the classroom often shifts towards the topics discussed and children wholeheartedly embrace the new experiences. Several field trips are also planned each year not only to introduce new experiences, but also to take advantage of the wonderful area we live in.

While we encourage all of our students to be potty trained when they start the class, we do understand that the younger children may not have finished the journey to being diaper free. We ask that children who are not fully trained come to class in a pull-up so as to encourage their continual learning.

In sum, we strive to create an experience for your children that will encourage them to grow, discover, and embrace the wonders of the world around them.

Guests have included:

• • Painters

  • Photographers

  • Guide-dog trainers

  • Fire fighters

  • Conservation workers

  • Musicians.

Field Trips have included:

• • The pumpkin patch

  • Waterloo University Dinosaur Museum

  • GreenWay Blooming Centre

  • Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory

  • Steckle Heritage Farm