Programs

The first year of your child's life comes with rapid changes in growth and development.  Our Nursery curriculum is based on knowledge of child development. Every infant receives nurturing, responsive care with respect to individual schedules. As we respond promptly to baby’s needs, a trusting relationship will develop and your child will begin to feel safe and secure with us. 

The babies are encouraged to explore and have fun.  Their attempts and accomplishments are praised so they may feel increasingly competent and self-aware.  Every day caregiving routines such as mealtimes, diapering or sleeping are including in the nursery curriculum as well. 

  As this group continues to develop, exploration will take center stage.  Mobility opens new worlds.  As they play the infants can totally be absorbed in their environment.  Opening, shutting, filling, picking up and dumping are all activities that challenge them as well as their ideas about objects and what they can do.

We have planned activities such as art time, manipulative time, music, etc.  Many activities are planned to increase cognitive development. To develop fine motor skills we do art projects but also include simple pegs, bingo dabbers and playing with toys in our room to help foster these skills.  There is ample time for free play allowing the children to discover things on their own.  

  Babyhood is over when they reach our Toddler Program and another exciting stage of development is about to begin.  Our Toddler rooms are set up in "learning centers", appropriately designed for the children as they move up in each room.

Toy shelves are in the rooms are open, accessible and in the same place each day, so that when the kids come in, they can find their favorites.  The toddlers will be encouraged to participate in meaningful responsibilities such as picking up toys, helping clean up their own spills and learning to serve their own food.  Toddler's exploration of the social world involves conflict.  The most basic is about what is mine and what is yours.  We are prepared to handle conflicts as these children learn about their feelings and how it fits into sharing and cooperate with others. Exploratory activities such as sensory play, painting and play dough are offered daily.  along with physical activity in our large motor room or outside.

Our Intermediate Room was developed as a transition room for Toddlers who will not be 36 months by their school districts cut off. These children will have an extra year with us to learn and grow. In January the classroom will transition into a Preschool classroom and our teaching will adapt to this new age group providing them with new challenges and expanding their learning in a developmentally appropriate way for 3 year old's. We start in the beginning of the year with a strong social emotional foundation from the Pyramid Model that carry on throughout the year. This includes problem solving, friendship skills and learning to recognize feelings in ourselves and others around us. 

Our Preschool 3 program really gets children involved with the day to day schedule of activities. Along with the Creative Curriculum we do units called studies in our classrooms. The studies will take what children already know about a topic and expand on it based on what they want to know and explore. This hands on curriculum is very successful at this age as children really gain the knowledge they seek. We also use the Pyramid Model to teach social emotional skills and teach tools to help identify feelings, relationships and problem solving skills. Teaching Strategies is also used in the classroom for observation and evaluation, this helps us see progress in our students and set individual goals for success. 

  Our Pre-Kindergarten room will provide your child with a warm nurturing, safe and loving environment where self-concepts are enhanced, independence is encouraged and individuality is respected.  Our main focus is on Kindergarten readiness.  Our activities will be developmentally appropriate in physical, emotional and social skills.  Children learn through their experiences with hands-on activities inside and out.  Early literacy will also be a major part of the curriculum.  Emphasis will be placed on learning first names, alphabet, number recognition, and printing.  Your child may also be challenged to enhance listening skills and lengthen their attention span.  Monthly themes will give your child an opportunity to learn about the world around them. We go on several field trips during the year that is theme related to cultural awareness, as well as trips to the local library for readings and to check out books.

  The School Age Program is for children attending kindergarten through 7th grade.  We offer before and afterschool care, as well as holiday and days off - full day care.
Camp Ripen is our Summer Program that runs from about the end of school until the third week in August.  The main "Summer Theme" is chosen for the summer program  Weekly group challenges, art activities, local field trips, and other events are planned.    Enrollment for camp is limited to a first-come, first-served basis as currently enrolled children have top priority before open enrollment begins.  Usually, by mid-May, we have an idea of what is available, but you can always be asked to be placed on our waiting list for the current or following year.