Hours
The school is open at 8:30 am, and the doors close at 9:00 a.m. The regular day ends at 3:00 pm. There is optional after school which is run by our art teacher and our assistant teachers, and this takes place in our school from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm.
Open Door Policy
Parents are welcome in the school at any time, and are invited regularly to share their culture, customs or professional experience with children. If parents need to contact teachers they may send a Brightwheel message.
The Child’s Day
8:30 – 9:30 / FREE PLAY
Our day is scheduled so that the children enter a warm and welcoming environment. They are able to choose an activity: Reading, sorting, assembling puzzles, playing interactive games, building with blocks, tiles, or other materials, dressing up, painting, working with clay or playdough, sensory play with sand or water.
9:30 SNACK TIME/BATHROOM BREAK
At snack we eat healthy foods, such as fresh fruit, yogurt, popcorn, pretzels, seaweed, dried fruits, cereal, toast, or food children have cooked, such as breadsticks or scones. Children drink fresh filtered water or a diluted apple juice on occasion. Children may ask for a drink any time they wish throughout the day.
10:00 CIRCLE TIME
At Circle Time we read from the best children’s literature. Books are an important part of our world and we have an extensive library. We listen to children’s observations and responses to the stories, and welcome discussions of feelings and social issues. We encourage frank discussion of negative feelings and suggest ways to handle problems other than acting out. Children come up with wonderful insights on their own, and we like to get them to sort out problems themselves, rather than imposing rules that may not make sense to them. We discuss upcoming events of interest to the children and welcome children’s participation. We do “fingerplays” and other body and hand games. We enact stories and take make-believe journeys together.
10:20-11:20 / OUTSIDE PLAY
We go out in all weathers unless there is heavy precipitation. We have our own private playground in our back yard. This is a fun place to play in the snow or to have our summer play with sprinklers and water tables. On some days we go to Tompkins Square Park, the local library, one of the local gardens, or other local parks.
11:20-12:00 / WORK TIME
Work time is when we get together as a group and engage in table activities. Children engage in Art Activities such as painting with brushes, sponges, rollers, cutting folding stapling, collage, stamping and stenciling, working with clay and dough, building with wood, board or card, sewing, dyeing. They engage in sensory play with sand, water, flour, beans, rice, and other materials. They also engage in cooking, and we have a full size kitchen to accommodate this.
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Each week there are enrichment programs, 2-3 times a week. This year we have Music with Keldy, Dance with Destiny, Soccer with Michael and Japanese class with Chika.
12:00-12:30 / LUNCH TIME
Parents provide lunch, which we can reheat if needed. Children gradually become more and more independent, opening their own containers, putting their lunchboxes away, and so on. However if they need to be fed or helped of course we are always there for them. Once a week we order pizza.
1:00 – 2:30 / REST TIME
Children nap, or rest on their cots, for an hour to an hour and a half each day.