We are excited to be able to care for your little one!! We realize that one of the most important things an infant learns in the first year is that the world is a safe and wonderful place to be. We can provide lots of individual attention, cuddling, playing, and interesting learning activities. The rooms are designed to encourage your baby’s curiosity and learning. There are plenty of colorful mobiles and pictures to look at, age appropriate toys to play with, and equipment designed to support their physical development. Parents fill out a daily infant sheet when they arrive with pertinent information regarding the last feeding, the last diaper change, and any special instructions. We continue to fill out the form throughout the day so you will know when your baby napped, when and how much they ate, diaper changes, and any other important information. We look forward to caring for your child.

The teachers prepare weekly lesson plans using our High Reach Curriculum that focus on art, science/sensory, fine and gross motor, and language. Other toys, activities and games are provided throughout the day also. Weekly lesson plans are posted outside the classroom for your reference. Language development continues to be emphasized. The children continue to use “Baby Signs” but are continually encouraged to use their words as their vocabulary begins to explode! Engaging conversations can continually be heard in this room. The Tiny Tots classroom has a flexible daily schedule. Twice a day they venture outside to our Toddler playground which is designed for this age. As a result, the Tiny Tots are required to wear hard-soled shoes all day. The children in the Tiny Tots are served breakfast at 8:30 and lunch at 11:00, with a snack around 2:30 after they wake from nap. We belong to the Colorado Adult Child Food Program which requires us to serve 2/3 of your child’s daily nutritional requirements. If your child has a food allergy, please speak to the Teachers and the Office to see how we can better accommodate this. Most of the curriculum such as an age-appropriate “circle time” with songs and stories, followed by art and sensory is done in the morning around 9:00. We have the learning centers open all day and free play is encouraged throughout the day. We encourage more independence for your Tiny Tots while they are in this room. At mealtimes, children will learn to use forks, spoons, and sippy cups (regular cups in Tiny Tots 2). They will receive milk at their meals and we have periodic water breaks throughout the day. The Tiny Tots will also sleep on small cots that are about 2 inches from the ground. Please provide a crib sheet and blanket for your child to use. These items will be sent home on Fridays to be washed and returned the following week. Because your child will be sleeping on a cot, he will be learning independence with his sleeping habits as well. Hand washing is another thing that we highly encourage independence on. Your child will be learning how to turn the faucet on and off and how to properly wash with soap and water. You can help us and your child by assisting them and encouraging them with these items at home.

Our Early Preschool class operates on a semi-structured schedule in order to prepare the students for Preschool. There is a “circle time” where we implement our Theme Based Curriculum through stories and finger plays that are enjoyed as a group. Singing songs and reading stories help the children lengthen their attention span. Through our curriculum, teachers plan language activities, sensory and science explorations, beginning math concepts (like shapes and matching), manipulative activities, art, and extended thematic activities for the playground. There is also a dramatic play area for dressing up, puzzles and play-dough to develop small motor skills, and musical instruments. The Early Preschoolers are becoming more independent—cups and child sized forks/spoons are used. You can help us with this transition by encouraging your child to use these at home as well. Early Preschool eats breakfast at 8:30, lunch at 11 and enjoys a healthy snack at 2:30. We venture outside twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, to enjoy the beautiful Colorado weather. Potty Training is a focus in this classroom and children are encouraged to sit on the potty throughout the day. When your child shows signs they are ready for “big kid” underwear, teachers and parents work together to make this transition a success. We work on and support the children’s budding self-sufficiency. Caregiving, as well as free play times are used for learning; children wash their own hands, bus their own plates, and are encouraged throughout the day to expand communication skills. Your child will also engage in our Bible Curriculum, Gospel Lights. During this time, they will learn about and read the major stories in the Bible and participate in a variety of activities that go along with the stories.

In this classroom children are more independent and self-sufficient. Children are potty-trained, wash their own hands, serve themselves around a “family-style” meal, and begin to learn the concept of lining up and walking independently to and from the playground. Teachers model and instruct children regarding safety and social issues, and enable children to work out problems themselves. Children’s attention spans and listening skills are expanded through activities in preparation for Pre-K, and ultimately elementary school. This class has a structured preschool time each day from 9-11:30. Preschoolers have a circle time where stories are read and finger plays are enjoyed as a group. During circle time, children will engage in calendar time, classroom job assignments and learn about the theme of the week/month through our Theme Based Curriculum. This is followed by a small group time twice a week, used to develop targeted skills. The students will also engage in a lesson from our Handwriting Without Tears curriculum in which they will begin practicing proper letter and number formations. Children then have a free choice time of going to different learning centers. Each center has a different activity revolving around the theme. These areas include science, block building, writing, library, sensory table, dramatic play, manipulative, listening center, and/or art. Afternoons are planned with more fun learning activities, but are less rigorous than the mornings. In addition to the academic curriculums, your child will engage in our Bible Curriculum, Gospel Lights. During this time, they will learn about and read the major stories in the Bible and participate in a variety of activities that go along with the stories. Character development and socially appropriate behavior are ever present objectives in our preschool class. We give positive feedback and encourage children for their effort, thinking, and problem-solving skills. We create a supportive environment by embedding friendship opportunities, using books, and scripted stories. We help children control anger and handle disappointment, as well as provide words for their feelings. We believe that giving children this strong social-emotional foundation will benefit them throughout their lives.

Our Pre-K program provides the opportunity for your child to learn through a variety of curriculum and authentic experiences. At 9:00 we have breakfast together “family style” as we share in conversation and use our proper table manners. Circle time begins at 9:30 and includes calendar time, class jobs, learning about our theme of the month/week through our Theme Based Curriculum, reading stories, playing educational games and introducing the centers for the day. Our centers incorporate our theme and offer activities for each child’s learning style including: writing, math, science, sensory, dramatic play, language arts, block building, manipulatives, art, and/or cooking activities. In addition, small groups of children will be pulled for more individualized attention working on specific skills ranging from the alphabet and phonemic awareness to beginning math skills. The students will also engage in a Handwriting Without Tears lesson in which they will learn about proper letter and number formation as they continue to explore letter sounds, read common sight words and complete simple math problems. In addition to the academic curriculums, your child will engage in our Bible Curriculum, Gospel Lights. During this time, they will learn about and read the major stories in the Bible and participate in a variety of activities that go along with the stories. Evaluations are done twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Children are evaluated on skills needed for school with strengths and weaknesses identified so teachers and parents know where further work is needed. Children continue to develop reading and writing skills with letter recognition, sounds and sight words. In math, children work on number recognition, one-to-one correspondence simple addition and subtraction, matching and estimation. Socially, problem-solving skills are modeled and taught. When appropriate, children are encouraged to work out problems themselves. Ultimately, children are encouraged to explore and thoroughly enjoy the learning process. Character development and socially appropriate behavior are ever present objectives in our Pre-K class. We are excited for the new adventures in learning your child will have in the Pre-K class!