Preschool
and
Pre-Kindergarten 
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Tuesday/Thursday
Half-Day Preschool Programs:
For children who are two years, nine months and older, the two day
program provides a comfortable time frame for younger children,
especially if they are just beginning their preschool experience.
Preschool children participate in a class with fifteen children and two
teachers. Goals for three-year-old children are similar to toddler goals
but more refined. In addition to promoting creativity, self-esteem,
gross motor development, and physical life skills, three-year-olds are
encouraged in their increasing verbal self-expression, small motor
development, and developing ability to share and negotiate. Separation
remains an issue for many three-year-old children beginning preschool.
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Half-Day Preschool Programs:
We have a number of classes to accommodate three, four, and young
five-year-old children who may be ready for three days of school. Class
size varies according to room size, with thirteen to sixteen children
accompanied by two teachers. Some Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes are
geared toward three-year-old children and their age-appropriate goals.
Older classes would focus on goals for four and young five-year-old
children, such as becoming more independent in dressing oneself,
following directions, focusing longer and cooperating more easily in
group activities. Four-year-olds and young five-year-olds begin to
develop a concept of numbers and an awareness of the relationships
between sounds, symbols, words, and meanings, as well as an interest in
the alphabet or writing their name.
The goals for our Pre-K and
Preschool programs for older fours and young fives are similar in their
expectations for children and curriculum areas. Each program plans
activities around themes related to the children’s interests and
developmental levels. Three-day and five-day programs both offer
activities that make use of a rich array of cognitive skills, hands-on
discovery, and opportunities for verbal and printed communication. It
is not necessary to attend Pre-K to be prepared for Kindergarten, and
the majority of children who attend GCS proceed from a three-day
Preschool program to a Kindergarten program the following year. For
some children, five days of school can be too much and might keep them
from getting involved with other enriching activities.
Pre-Kindergarten
Morning and Afternoon Programs:
We offer the morning or afternoon Pre-K Classes for four-year-olds and
younger five-year-olds who would benefit from the continuity of a
five-day program. Four-year-olds, who turn five in the fall just
missing the cut-off date for Kindergarten, are good candidates for
Pre-K, and can then go off to Kindergarten the following year.
Some five-year-olds enjoy and benefit from another year of preschool
before Kindergarten, and Pre-K serves them well in all areas of their
development. Pre-K classes share similar goals with a three-day
Preschool program geared to four-year-old and younger five-year-old
children, which include increasing abilities with making transitions,
working in a group, developing math concepts and experimenting with
writing. Children in our Pre-K programs participate in
greater depth with our handwriting program, Handwriting Without Tears®,
and also utilize the corresponding workbook.
A five-day schedule offers Pre-K children a continuity of structure and
opportunities for increased exposure to curriculum areas. Projects can
be extended over time for in depth investigation and multiple
opportunities to practice cognitive skills. Five classes a week allow
teachers to know the children well and tailor the curriculum to their
needs. Likewise, children tend to develop strong bonds with the group
as they have ample opportunity to pursue friendships and learn skills in
social interactions. Fours and young five-year-olds are beginning to
function more independently than younger children, but still need
practice in cooperation and group interactions. Many projects are done
with partners or in small groups where children can learn to cooperate
and work more independently.
Full-Day
Program:
Our Full-Day Program is a mixed age class for children who are two
years, nine months and older. Full-day care is provided between the
hours of 7:30 AM and 5:30 PM. For children who attend school full time,
this class provides the advantage of a self-contained, family-type
grouping with teachers whose hours overlap for the major portion of the
day for added continuity. Curriculum goals in our Full-Day Program are
consistent with our half-Day Programs and incorporate age appropriate
activities for each child. The number of participating families varies
(depending on the numbers of children attending two, three, or five days
per week), but the total class size is comfortably limited to fifteen
children with at least two staff members. Children who attend five
full-days often go on to morning Pre-K or Kindergarten from Full-Day
when they are age appropriate, using the Extended Day Program for
additional hours.
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