Small Hands, Great Treasures Playschool
| nurturing and enriching |
Our playschool is a quality, licensed playschool within a Christian environment, serving the families of the community. Children must be fully toilet-trained (no pull-ups) by the start of the program and speak some English.
Registration
- A non-refundable registration fee ($50) for new families is due when you register your child.
- Open House on March 3, 2012 from 10 a.m. to noon. Tour the Playschool, meet the staff and regsiter your child for the fall term.
Three Year Old Class
Is your child 3 years old by October 15, 2012? (This date is firm).
- When: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15 - 11:30 am.
- Cost: $135.00/month (rate TBC by March 2012)
Four Year Old Class
Is your child 4 years old by December 31, 2012? (This date is firm).
- When: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 9:15 - 11:30 am.
- Cost: $165.00/month (rate TBC by March 2012)
| goals |
For the Program
The Small Hands, Great Treasures Playschool program strives to provide stimulating and enriching experiences drawn for the curiosity and interests of each child. We will provide a nurturing and stimulating environment with this in mind.
Families are very important to us since you are the first teachers of your children. We enjoy several family events throughout the school year when we come together to get to know one another better and celebrate the children's accomplishments.
For the Children
- Foster curiosity and investigation and be given the time to do so.
- Explore the world around them.
- Encourage collaborative group work.
- Recognize and celebrate how each child learns.
- Promote active learning with engaging, meaningful experiences.
- Come away from the program with a disposition to learn and a curiosity about their world.
- Enjoy open-ended art experiences.
- Learn Bible truths in a child-friendly, hands-on, inquisitive atmosphere.
| philosophy |
Reggio-Inspired Playschool Philosophy
The style of education at Small Hands, Great Treasures Playschool is inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy of early childhood education.
This philosophy began in the northern Italian town of Reggio Emilia shortly after World War II by mothers that desired early learning for their young children and to instill the values of democracy and social justice in their communities.
Hundreds of schools have embraced this philosophy and can be found around the world in both private and public institutions.
| fundamentals of reggio emilia |
The Image of the Child
Children are competent individuals who have within themselves the ability to investigate what they are curious about in their world. Children often learn through trial and error, with experiments being the stepping stones to knowledge.
Adults come alongside these experiences, sometimes engaging and assisting and at other times allowing discovery to unfold.
The One Hundred Languages of Children
Each child has his or her own way of learning and communicating. Art techniques, music, drama and the written word only touch on the myriad of ways children's ideas can be represented and celebrated.
The Role of Families
Each family knows their child best since you are their first and life-long teacher. Partnering with families is essential for consistent, positive experiences both at home and at school.
We encourage your involvement as our school year unfolds during projects and special events. We support an environment of communication and co-operation.
Time is Not Set by the Clock
Children have their own rhythm and sense of time. This is taken into consideration when planning activties so that children take the time they need to spread their wings and fly.
Generative Curriculum
Projects are seen as an active part of playschool life and can involve a small group of friends or the entire class. Projects can last for a day or several months, depending on the passion and curiosity of the children designing them.
Themes arise from children's theories and interests, supporting the desire for life-long learning. Each step is documented using various medium, allowing for re-visiting and reflection by the children, staff, families and community.
The Playroom Environment
We feel each playroom should be a canvas that shows who "lives: in each setting - children, families and staff combined.
With this in mind, we encourage everyone's year-long participation by adding aesthetically pleasing additions to make for a sensory-rich, naturally beautiful space that develops an appreciation for the world around us.
Teachers are Partners in Learning
The Teacher's role is as a resource, a listener, nurturer, partner and instigator for further development. Teachers and co-teachers make observations, listening and observing each child, using these understandings to be used as future resources.
Teachers can then ask questions and discover the children's ideas, hypotheses and theories. This continual research and reflection is key to ongoing discussions with other Playschool colleagues. This ultimately leads to interacting closely with the children and their ongoing growth within their playschool experience.
The Learning Environment
At Small Hands Great Treasures Playschool, we believe that children learn best
- Through play, at a rate unique to themselves.
- Through repetition, building through past experiences and through the use of all their senses.
- In a creative and investigative environment where teachers and staff work together to create a
beautiful and amiable play-based environment meeting the needs of the whole child, while understanding
the importance of each family's role as the child's first teacher. - When they feel a sense of achievement and self-worth while feeling physically and emotionally safe and
secure.
A Wide Range of Experiences
Our playschool experiences cover a wide range including:
- Gym and outdoor activities.
- A daily “Meeting Place” time to come together to sing, read books and build community.
- Open-ended art.
- Family get-togethers throughout the year.