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Austin, TX
Children's Courtyard (Wm. Cannon)
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Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents. |
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Review this preschool |
Telephone: (512) 891-6500 · Website: www.childrenscourtyard.com
Home-School Connection
| OVERALL RATING (4.3) | 
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| Conducts an open house at start of school year | 
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| Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year |
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| Conducts regular parent teacher conferences |
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| Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year |
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| Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year |
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| Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools |
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source:
Director's Comments
Teachers provide daily send-home sheets with info. Also teachers send home weekly updates to parents. We also have a parent involvement group.
Separation
| OVERALL RATING (3.8) |
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Beginning of the year separation is handled through:
- Pre-entry meetings with parents at school
- Extra staff dedicated to handle separation
- Parents in classroom early on
- Abbreviated schedule at start of school year
source:
Director's Comments
Two week transition process for children moving from one class to another. Also parents are encouraged to spend a morning with a child in the begining. We also will have abbreivated days in the begining for children that need it.
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
The school has not recommended kindergarten information yet because my children are not old enough, I am not aware if the school does that or not, but that would be good to know.
Parent #2
My daughter is 3 years old, the teachers help her to become active in the class room so that I am able to continue my day at work. She and my son both will continue at this school until they enroll in public schools near our home.
Parent #3
The Children's Courtyard at William Cannon has an exceptional staff and management team. The center goes above and beyond when it comes to paying attention to the child and family's individual needs as well as, parent communication. The Director has a Master's Degree in Child Development and spends a lot of her time actively being in the classrooms overseeing her teachers and children. When she is not in the classroom, she is writing almost weekly e-mails to parents about events in the school or just things she observed that day. The parents organize things and work with the Director to promote their ideas like one parent decided she wanted to get the school involved in 'Coats for Kids' this past Fall. It is an atmosphere where you know the staff is on your side. You can call at anytime and speak directly with your child's teacher, or they may go out of their way to call you to tell you something about your child. Their learning materials are developmentally appropriate for each age group. They use the High-Scope approach, so when the child starts, he/she receives a symbol to go along with the sound of their name, that follows them from room to room, as well as a portfolio, that is handed to the parent when the child leaves. It is not per say a written evaluation, it is evidence of how they have progressed. If the staff feels the child needs help, they will refer a parent on an individual basis. If a parent wants an opinion on a child dev. issue, it will be addressed, verbally, written or even possibly through a parent training. Having been in the Child Development field myself for many years, I truly believe that developmentally and emotionally, you can not find a better program or place in Austin to drop off your child. There is a lot to be said for high quality care. The best proof is happy the children are.
Parent #4
Questions should not be this restrictive. My daughter's school conducts some of these activities, but not necessarily in the time frames specified.
Parent #5
My experiences have been greatly influenced by changing teachers. One of our teachers was very open and inviting. The other one tries to put restrictions on when I can drop off, visit and pick up my child. She does nothing to ease separation and takes an attitude that the kids should just get over it.
Parent #6
A lot of these questions did not fit for me because my child is only 16 months old and I do not know what the school does in preparing the children for kindergarten.
Parent #7
There is a great transitional program which allows the child to enter into a new class with out fear. They let the child visit a few times a day into the new class then go back to their old class. They stay longer in the new class as long as they tolerate the new faces. The transition lasts between a week or two depending on the child.
Parent #8
disregard two questions pertaining to preschool separation, as I couldn't give an appropriate answer, but was required to answer something.
Parent #9
My child is only 8 months old and has not been enrolled in her school for an entire year at this point. Many of the questions above don't apply to us; however the questions don't include a 'N/A' choice so please note the answers for questions 6-16 are not valid and should be omitted. All other questions are applicable and have been answered to the best of my ability.
Parent #10
My child has not experienced the seperation process yet.
Parent #11
Questions about the separation process 'at the beginning of the year' don't really apply, as my son has been attending this school steadily for years. I don't like being forced to give responses to questions that don't really apply to my situation.
Parent #12
I am not well versed in the preschool class, as my child is still in pre-k.
Parent #13
My children are not in preschool, but this survey does not allow me to skip this section.
Parent #14
Teachers are fantastic in addressing child and parent separation. Teachers will call me after drop off if my child was having difficulty to let me know that he was o.k. The teacher has also taken pictures on a day he was having difficulty and had them developed immediately to show me that he was having fun-even though separation may have been difficult. The teachers in my sons classroom always take the time to talk to me. Most importantly, I truly feel that they value and appreciate my child.
Parent #15
Please note that my daughter has been enrolled in the Children's Courtyard since early December 2006, so many of these answers were supplied based on knowledge of how things work. Children's Courtyard is FAR superior to the other center I had my daughter at. I am so happy to have my daughter in this facility!
Parent #16
Our kids have been in day care since 4 months of age, so no pre-school related separation issues to deal with.
Parent #17
Lots of email communication from the director that keeps everyone up to date on what is happening. Sometimes we receive emails that simply tell us about an exciting event that occurred in the classroom that day. Emails go to us talking about the curriculm goals and preparing everyone for kindergarten.
Parent #18
don't have more
Parent Community
| COHESIVENESS RATING (2.7) |
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Parents:
- Are able to visit the school anytime we want
- Receive newsletters
source:
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
We are encouraged to participate in events for the children so that parents within a classroom can be involved, know each other's children and better facilitate communication between class parents.
Parent #2
Receive weekly e-mails.
Parent #3
Participate in a Parent Support Group or be a room-mom that helps promote teacher appreciation to maintain staff. As well as, participate in social events held by the center, and can optionally donate door prizes for the annual teacher appreciate picnic that the school holds to honor the teachers, as well as, we can optionally donate prizes for the schools annual teacher in-service training day. The school also hosts 'Parents Night Out' once a month where you can drop your child off on a weekend evening from 5:30-10:30PM and the center will feed them and play with them or put them to sleep (whatever you specify) for $25 and $10 for siblings. Any child can come even if they do not attend the center. During the holidays, they had a parents day out to allow for holiday shopping.
Parent #4
Receive daily reports on how my child did during the day and anything specific he may have learned that particular day.
Parent #5
I have provided breakfast and lunch for the teachers on several occasions to express my appreciation.
Parent #6
Assist with holiday parties for our children and/or the teachers.
Parent #7
Donate, enjoy visiting with the other children also.
Parent #8
Fundraising is typically parent lead and organized and used for teacher gifts around holidays or birthdays or end of the year.
Parent #9
None
Parent #10
Parents night out.
Parent #11
None
Parent #12
NONE
Parent #13
School parties/events
Parent #14
None
Parent #15
Not applicable
Parent #16
None of the above apply
Parent #17
Not involved with other parents at the school.
Parent #18
None
Parent #19
None
Parent #20
Offers extracurricular classes
Parent #21
N/A
Parent #22
We really don't have much of a parent conmmunity.
Parent #23
None
Parent #24
Social events in school
Parent #25
Hold birthday parties and invite the kids in the class.
Parent #26
Nothing
Parent #27
None
Parent #28
Nothing I know of
Parent #29
Parents of after-school children do not have any methods for communication with each other that I am aware of.
Parent #30
None above
Parent #31
General parent communication. We are all working parents and this is not a mother's day out program where parent's have an opportunity to volun teer in the classroom on a weekly basis.
Parent #32
None
Parent #33
N/A
Parent #34
Pairs old parents with new parents
Modes of Communication Between School and Home
- Notes
- Phone Calls
- Voice Mail
- Special Meetings
- Two or More Regular Conferences
- Drop-Off
- Pick-Up
- Regular newsletter/printed updates circulated to the whole school
source:
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
Whenever I want by whatever means is convenient - I set it up with the teacher and my contributions are appreciated.
Parent #2
The preschool is open to communication almost anyway a parent prefers and that difference across parents. It's great they are that flexible.
Parent #3
I feel that my son's teachers would be open to any form of communication with them that I wanted to use
Parent #4
Only enouraged to let the director know of problems in school.
Parent #5
One parent/teacher conference per year.
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