8:30am Group Time
During the first two weeks of the new school year, the teacher often starts the day with a group time to include a variety of activities such as singing, finger plays, stories, discussions, or Grace and Courtesy lessons. Once the class is established, sometime within the first month, the children will arrive and immediately choose work with classroom materials instead of starting the day with a group activity unless something special is planned such as a birthday celebration.
Children are excused to choose work with the classroom materials. The Head Teacher gives individual and small group lessons throughout the morning work time. Snack is available for the child to prepare throughout the morning class time. In addition to snack, food preparation activities are also available in the Practical Life area of the classroom. The child independently makes choices throughout the morning work time with the guidance of the Head Teacher. To support the development of concentration, we strive to provide an uninterrupted three-hour work period in the morning. Included in the child’s morning classroom work choices is work in the outdoor vegetable and flower gardens and gross motor activities with special equipment.
Children are invited to put away work and join a short group time that might include a variety of activities such as sharing, songs, stories, movement games and Grace and Courtesy lessons, etc., with the Head Teacher or the assistant.
11:30am Outdoor Play
Outdoor Play for children who go home at noon, as well as 1st year students with a 3:00 or later dismissal time.
11:55am-12:00pm Dismissal for Half Day Students
Children with a noon dismissal line up and prepare to go home. The children are dismissed to the parents one at a time. 1st year students with a 3:00 or later dismissal time return to the classroom for lunch.
11:30am-1:00pm Lunch and Outdoor Play
The 2nd and 3rd year children who stay for the afternoon have lunch and clean up in their classroom. After lunch, the children go outdoors for play.
1:00pm Nap and Afternoon Work
Nappers transition to the Pre-Primary classroom for naps. Students who have recently stopped napping participate in the Restorative Program with additional outdoor music, movement and art activities. The remainder of the children return indoors and begin the afternoon work time with a relaxation activity such as stories or quiet music with the Head Teacher.
The afternoon work session includes individual and small group lessons as in the morning.
One afternoon each week our Spanish teacher gives small group lessons throughout the afternoon work period.
2:50-3:00pm Clean Up
The children clean up the classroom so it is ready for the next day, and often end the day with a short group time.
3:00pm Dismissal
The children are dismissed one at a time when a parent arrives to pick up. Children who stay at school after 3:00 are walked to AfterCare and are supervised by the afternoon staff.
3:00-6:00pm AfterCare
AfterCare begins with indoor activities which include art projects, baking, music and singing. In addition to indoor activities, the children also have the opportunity to play outdoors each day. A snack is served each afternoon after 3:30pm. Children are also given the opportunity to finish eating any uneaten food from their lunch box. After-school enrichment classes are offered some afternoons. Information about these classes is available in the front office or here.
