This class will be graduating pre-kindergarten and entering Kindergarten as a group.  The four-and five-year old children in this group are energetic, enthusiastic and imaginative.   They enjoy planning and discussing who will do what when playing in groups.  They especially enjoy dramatic play.  They are often times impatient and silly, self-confident and proud of their accomplishments.  They demonstrate a willingness to try new adventures yet cannot quite estimate their own abilities accurately.  We took all of these characteristics as well as the most up to date research on learning styles and brain development into consideration when we developed our curriculum.  Our Pre-Kindergarten students enjoy a plethora of learning experiences that are designed and implemented with the whole child in mind.  We pay particular attention to each child's developmental abilities and gauge our activities to incorporate the various learning styles that are prevalent in the group.  The children enjoy activities that teach skills and concepts in math, science, language arts, social studies, music, fine and gross motor development, art, and social development.  We continue the experiences with the foreign languages (French, Spanish and German) through the Muzzy Program for the purpose of tonal development which will make learning the languages later in life easier.  They may learn some basics from each language such as numbers, colors and days of the week.  Three times per year parents receive a progress report on the skills/concepts on which we work all year to achieve mastery.  We work diligently to ensure each child's success which will inevitably make for a smooth transition into Kindergarten. Questions & Answers What does the center provide for my child each day? Mats, sheets, blankets Age appropriate toys and learning materials and manipulatives Individualized learning experiences as outlined above Lots of love and affection What do I need to bring for my child each day? A single change will be stored in the cubby, but please change them out with the seasons and sudden growth spurts (PLEASE include socks and underwear) A supply list will be provided at registration and supplies need to accompany your child on their first day of attendance Can my child bring personal items from home? We discourage children from bringing in items from home unless for special projects because it is easy to get items confused in terms of to whom they belong.  Do the children take naps?  The schedule allots for a two hour rest period in which most all of our children will nap.  In the event that your child is a non-sleeper, he/she will be provided with quiet activities. Can I visit my child? Although we value parental involvement, at this age it may be very difficult for your child to see you and then you leave without them.  It is really an individual, case by case situation. Is there a set time for arrivals? Yes, your child needs to arrive no later than 9:00AM to begin their day.  We begin our structured learning time in the morning and it is kicked off with Circle Time at 9:00AM.  It is also at this time that we complete counts for snacks and lunch and adjust staffing as necessary.  If a late arrival is necessary, we simply ask that you call prior to 9:00AM so we include the child in all counts. Is there a particular curriculum used for this class? No, we believe that there is no one set curriculum that will teach all children what they need in the way it should be taught.  We plan off a weekly theme incorporating activities for auditory, visual and kinesthetic learners.  We have developed an age-appropriate skills and concepts list by which teachers are able guide their instruction to insure mastery of those skill and concepts on which we will build at each level. How will I know how my child is doing on a daily basis? The Sophisticated Scholars participate in a behavior incentive program which your child's teacher will explain The teacher will also be available to give brief details upon your child's departure or arrival the following day If a lengthy discussion is necessary, it will require a conference to be scheduled. We encourage parent/child communication about the particulars of the child's day and encourage parents to not accept "Nothing" as a response from thier child Weekly Newsline will outline the activities for the week