Programs
​"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world". Nelson Mandela
Preschool Program
Country Day School offers preschool programs for 3 and 4-year-old children. The 4-year-old classes are Monday-Friday 8:30 am-11:30 am or 1:00 pm-4:00 pm. The 3-year-old classes are Monday-Friday from 8:30 am-11:30 am. Preschool starts in September and goes through the end of May. The tuition must be paid each month regardless of absence(s), holiday off days, conferences, or snow days. The tuition is due by the 1st of the month, if it is not paid by the 10th of the month there will be a late charge added on. Our preschool classes follow the Amherst School calendar for vacation and snow days. Verification of our Preschool/Daycare being closed because of weather will be posted on Brightwheel as early as possible. Please do not bring your child to school more than 10 minutes ahead of time and do not pick up more than 10 minutes before class ends. Before preschool classes begin there will be an Open House that your child's teacher will schedule with you. This gives you a chance to meet your child's teacher and go through the yearly calendar with them. Also, the teacher will go over the daily schedule and monthly curriculum with all parents. We offer a well-integrated program for getting children ready for school. There is a balance of quiet and active learning activities during the day which allow your child to make choices and explore on their own. If you would like a conference at times other than the normal scheduled times you may request one with your child's teacher. *Screenings and Assessments will be Informal - we will measure your child's progress and performance with no standard grading criteria. We will do observations, portfolios, anecdotal notes, and checklists to collect information through daily activities in order to identify the individual strengths and weaknesses of each student which will guide your teacher in setting goals for the next steps in instruction. These reports will not be reported to ODJFS.
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Parental Participation
Each parent can feel free to contact the administrator or assistant administrator when assistance when needed with questions or concerns related to the program/center. Each parent should check the Parent Information Board located in the front foyer, your child's folder that's sent home, or their cubbies in the classroom for all important information regarding our program. A monthly newsletter will be given out at the beginning of each month for preschool which will give you information about the different activities that will be going on for the month. Parents are free to come in and discuss their child's progress with the teacher at any time. Individual conferences are set up in January to discuss your child's progress report and another in May. The following are some examples of activities that provide parents opportunities to participate in our program newsletters, notes, open houses, conferences, volunteering for field trips and party days, and the parent information board.
Preschool Schedule
6:00 am – 8:45 am Arrival / Breakfast (Self-Choice Activity)
8:45 am – 9:00 am Circle Time (Pledge, Calendar, Letter of the week)
(1:15 pm – 1:30 pm)
9:00 am – 9:10 am Story
(1:30 pm – 1:40 pm)
9:10 am – 9:30 am Arts & Science
(1:40 pm – 2:00 pm)
9:30 am – 9:45am Snack
(2:00 pm – 2:15 pm)
9:45 am – 10:00 am Clean-up/Handwashing
(2:15 pm – 2:30 pm)
10:00 am – 10:30 am Music/Large Muscle Activity
(2:30 pm – 3:00 pm)
10:30 am – 11:00 am Self-Choice Activities
(3:00 pm – 3:30 pm)
11:00 am – 11:15 am Literacy / Math Activity
(3:30 pm – 3:45 pm)
11:15 am – 11:30 am Prepare to go Home/Departure
(3:45 pm – 4:00 pm)
11:30 am – 12:00 pm Lunch
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Nap Time
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm Snack
2:15 pm – 2:30 pm Clean-up/Handwashing
2:30 pm – 2:50 pm Arts & Science
2:50 pm – 3:30 pm Self-Choice Activities
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm Indoor/Outdoor Gross Motor
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Self-Choice Activities/Dismissal
Daycare Schedule/After-School Care
6:00 am – 8:30 am Arrival/Breakfast
8:30 am – 8:45 am Self-Choice Activities
8:45 am – 9:00 am Circle Time
9:00 am – 9:45 am Story
9:45 am – 10:00 am Snack
10:00 am – 10:30 am Indoor/Outdoor Gross Motor
10:30 am – 11:30 am Self-Choice Activities
11:30 am – 12:00 pm Lunch
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Quiet Activities/Small Group/Literacy
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm Snack
2:15 pm – 2:30 pm Clean-up/Hand Washing
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Indoor/Outdoor Gross Motor
3:30 pm – 6:00 pm Self-Choice Activities/Dismissal
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Swimming Policy
In our Summer program, we may take the school-age children swimming. All swimming sites will meet state and local guidelines for environmental health inspections and will have lifeguards available. There will be 2 staff members to 14 school-age children. All water safety rules will be reviewed with the children prior to participation in water activities. All children will be required to wear a wristband that includes the centers name, address, and phone number. Before children can participate in any water activity a written parental permission slip is required and will be provided for each child.
Infant/Toddler Program
If your child is enrolled in the infant and toddler program you are required to supply diapers, formula/breast milk, and baby food. We also need you to bring in at least two changes of clothes that can be left here in case needed. If your child is 18 months or older and is in the Toddler Room we ask that you bring in a blanket and pillow for nap-time. All items that are brought to the center will be labeled with your child's name and not shared with anyone else. In the Infant/Toddler Program, we focus on fine and gross motor skills and teach basic skills such as the alphabet, shapes, colors, and numbers. We also incorporate Baby Einstein CDs and DVDs which introduce sign language and a variety of different lessons. Daily activities will be posted on Brightwheel for you to see how your child's day is going.
Food/Bottle Preparation
All children who are using bottles or eating baby food are required to bring them from home. Bottles must be prepared at home and brought into the center labeled with your child's name and the date it was prepared. If using breast milk the child's name, date pumped and date when the bottle was prepared must be on the bottle. No storage for breast milk is available other than for each day the child is here. No food other than formula/breast milk will be served to infants under 4 months of age, unless written documentation from a physician. Baby food also must be labeled with their name. On the first day of attendance, an Infant Schedule Form must be completed and reviewed by your Child's Primary Caregiver. This form goes over bottle feedings, eating schedules, and any other tips to help keep your child on the same schedule as you. In the Toddler Room, we will provide cups for your child to use while at our center. Please do not bring in any unless your child is unable to use the ones we provide. If your child is eating regular snack and lunch items we will provide snacks and lunch to them. A monthly snack and lunch menu is prepared and posted in the front foyer. There are also extra copies for you to have. *Nursing Mothers - If you would like to breastfeed or express milk at the daycare center a quiet and private location will be made available.
Infant Schedule
6:00 am– 8:00 am Arrival/Free Play 11:30 am – 12:00 pm Lunch
7:30 am– 8:30 am Breakfast 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Free Play
8:30 am– 9:30 am Free Play/Circle Time 2:00 pm– 2:30 pm Snack
9:30 am– 10:00 am Snack 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Art Activity
10:00 am– 11:00 am Outside/Large Motor 3:00 pm– 6:00 pm Free Play
11:00 am– 11:30 am Free Play/Circle Time
Toddler Schedule
6:30 am– 8:30 am Arrival/Free Play 11:15 am – 12:00 pm Lunch
7:30 am – 8:30 am Breakfast 2:00 pm– 2:30 pm Table Toys
8:30 am– 9:00 am Circle/Toileting 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Circle/Toileting
9:00 am– 9:30 am Outside/Large Motor 3:00 pm– 3:30 pm Snack
9:30 am– 9:45 am Snack 3:30 pm– 4:00 pm Outside/Large Motor
9:45 am– 10:15 am Free Play 4:00 pm– 4:30 pm Story
10:15 am– 10:45 am Art Activity 4:30 pm– 5:00 pm Circle/Toileting
10:45 am– 11:15 am Circle/Toileting 5:00 pm– 6:00 pm Departure/Free Play
Transition Process
When transitioning into our program we encourage parents to make a few visits with their children before their first day and to come at different times each visit to get them familiar with the center and the daily schedule. We also recommend bringing comfort items from home (such as blankets, stuffed animals, or family pictures) It's important to talk with their teachers to make them feel safe here while their parents are gone and have it be a positive thing with them being here. When transitioning within the program from room to room we will develop a time schedule for your child to slowly change rooms. We will give each child the time they need. Some may need days and others can take two weeks. We will provide you with a transition form that you will have to sign and agree to before we can begin the transition process. We know this can be difficult for the children and parents, and we hope that this process will aid your child in transitioning into their new room.
When transitioning out of the program we encourage parents to give a two-week notice to make it easier on their children. Their child's teacher will discuss their leaving with the class and will make them feel special on their last day with a goodbye card from their class and treats to share with their class. When children graduate from Preschool we will have a picnic with the class on the last day and a graduation ceremony the following day. We also provide all the information to parents for Kindergarten sign-up and the dates/times of registration.
Week One
Monday
Drop off in their present room, and stay there until 8:30. At 8:30 go to their new room and remain there until 9:30.
Tuesday
Drop off in their present room, and stay there until 8:30. At 8:30 go to their new room and remain there until 9:30.
Wednesday
Drop off in their present room, and stay there until 8:30. At 8:30 go to their new room and remain there until 10:00.
Thursday
Drop off in their present room, and stay there until 8:30. At 8:30 go to their new room and remain there until 10:00.
Friday
Drop off in their present room, and stay there until 8:30. At 8:30 go to their new room and remain there until 11:00.
Week Two
Monday
Drop off in their present room, and stay there until 8:30. At 8:30 go to their new room and remain there until 11:30.
Tuesday
Drop off in their present room, and stay there until 8:30. At 8:30 go to their new room and remain there until 12:00.
Wednesday
Drop off in their present room, and stay there until 8:30. At 8:30 go to their new room and remain there until 2:30.
Thursday
Drop off in their present room, and stay there until 8:30. At 8:30 go to their new room and remain there until 2:30.
Friday
Drop off in their New Room for the day!
*When it is time to transition your child you will be provided with a transition form that you will have to sign and agree to before we begin the transition process. We hope that this process will aid your child in his or her transition to their new room. If you have any questions please feel free to ask any of your child’s teachers.
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