FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is your teacher-child ratio?
Does your program run year round?
Do you participate in field trips?
What is your discipline policy?
What kind of training and experience does your staff have?
What type of curriculum do you provide?
What part does socialization play in your preschool program?
How are parents kept informed?
Are parents allowed to visit a class?
Are there a variety of books available?
What types of craft activities are provided?
What is your teacher-child
ratio?
one teacher per 6 children in the 3 year olds
one teacher per 8 children in the 4-5 year olds
Does your program run year round?
Our program runs from September through the end of May and follows Southwestern
City School's schedule with the exception that we begin the week after Labor
Day and end at the end of May.
Do you participate in field trips?
All of our field trips are in house. We have visits from the fire department,
the dentist office, musical programs, a professional clown has visited, a
visit from the pet shop and any experience which might enrich what we are
exploring in the classroom.
What is your discipline policy?
We teach children to make good choices and reward them often and in kind.
However, when they choose to make a bad choice, we hold them accountable with
a 3-5 minute time out. Our focus is on the positive.
What kind of training and experience does your staff have?
We are very fortunate to have teachers who have been with us so many years.
All of our lead teachers have either 2 or 4 year degrees in Early Childhood
or related fields and boasts a combined total of 100 years experience in the
field. Continuing Education is still a priority for our staff as we continue
to keep current with what is new in the field. All three of our four year
old lead teachers are degreed, one has been at our center 29 years, another
21 years and the third 19 years. Our assistant teachers also have many years
of experience and a number of them also have degrees. All of our teachers
have many hours of continuing education which we require.
What type of curriculum do you provide?
We provide a "Hands On" curriculum enabling children to use all their senses
to experience age appropriate activities, a learning style appropriate to
ages 3 through 5 years of age.
What part does socialization play in your preschool program?
Our main goal is socialization, learning to get along with others, taking
turns, following directions, taking direction from someone other than mom
and dad, following a few simple classroom rules, following a classroom routine,
and learning to become as self sufficient as possible for their age, (i.e.
cleaning up my snack, putting on my coat, and cleaning up toys).
Do you provide snacks?
The preschool provides a snack daily. However, if you would like to bring
a snack at any time, you may sign up on the volunteer snack list found on
the parent bulletin board.
How are parents kept informed?
Parents are given a monthly newsletter with information about up coming events
as well as what is going on in the classroom. The parent bulletin board which
is situated outside each classroom, holds snack lists, party lists, and the
latest information on recalls, websites, community services, etc. What do
we need to bring in the way of supplies? We provide all craft supplies, Kleenex,
cups, napkins, juice, and snack.
What is a typical day like?
A typical day includes free play, craft activity, muscle room, outdoor play,
circle time ( which may include story time, calendar, weather, and activities
which are related to present units of study), snack time, circle games, finger
plays, and songs.
How can parents be involved?
Parents volunteer in the classroom to help with projects like cutting a pumpkin
or helping with a wood working project. Our parents also help volunteer to
serve on preschool board which sets policy and decides how funds are spent.
Parents help with fund raisers and provide games, snacks and activities for
parties.
Are parents allowed to visit a class?
Parents are always welcome to visit their child's classroom to observe a class,
to help with a project, or to participate in a classroom party.
Do you hold fund raisers?
Our program is totally funded through tuition. Therefore, at times it is necessary
to hold fund raisers for special projects. We do whatever we can to keep costs
down and keep our tuition costs in line with area preschools.
Are there a variety of books available?
We participate in the Library's Outreach Program receiving books monthly.
The children have access to these books as well as a variety of books in the
classroom. The preschool also has a library which consists of approximately
450 books giving the 4 and 5 years olds the opportunity to check out books
on a weekly basis. Daily the teacher will read the children stories in the
classroom.
What types of craft activities are provided?
Children are exposed to all types of paint media, (finger painting, q-tip
painting, easel painting, marble painting), scissors activities, crayons,
markers, lacing, gluing.