Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.8)

Conducts an open house at start of school year

Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year

Conducts regular parent teacher conferences

Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year

Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year

Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools

Parent's Role Parents are very important to the both the success of the school. Their role at the school is critical. Parents have many opportunities to get involved in their child's learning. Some of the various ways parents participate at The Apple Orchard are listed below: Parent visiting days: Beginning November 1st through the end of April parents are welcome to sign up in their child's classroom to spend the morning with the class. We ask that only one parent sign up per morning. Parent Class Evenings: Parents plan and coordinate these occasions with staff help in October to invite parents to learn more about what actually happens during their child's typical school day. Parents are free to explore the classrooms, materials and/or ask questions about the program. Parent Conferences: Conferences are available whenever a parent or teacher express a need or have concerns about a child. However, they are formally scheduled three times a year for all parents in the program. The first conference is scheduled in November, phone conferences are in February, and a final conference is in April. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend all conferences. Parent Representatives/Substitutes: Parents can also get more involved by signing up to be a class representative or a parent substitute. Parent representatives help coordinate parent evenings, or special events. Parent substitutes may assist in the classrooms whenever a teacher has a planned absence or professional day. Parent Memos: Teachers send home monthly memos to keep parents up to date on what is going on in the classroom. Reminders about special events (Pajama Day), Holidays, and themes being explored within the classroom are mentioned in the monthly memo. New Parent Evenings: In Late May, new parents joining the Apple Orchard community in September are invited to come meet the director and other new parents. This evening is an opportunity to ask questions and also to meet some current parents. Parent Workshops: Informal workshops are run throughout the year. The focus is on the challenges and difficulties that concern families with young and older children. In these groups, parents discuss issues such as sibling rivalry, discipline, effects from divorce, loss, toilet training, local area schools, and a range of other topics. Ref: http://appleorchardschool.org/parents.htm

Separation

OVERALL RATING (4.3)

Beginning of the year separation is handled through:
- Home visits by teachers
- Parents in classroom early on

Director's and Parents' Comments

Director's Comments

First - all new children (except class III) get a home visit from teachers prior to starting school. The 1st few days are condensed (1 1/2 hrs) and with only half the group to make less overwhelming. Parent can linger if needed but Parent Area with coffee provided for mingling and easy teacher access if a child is having difficulty.

Parent #1
Apple Orchard is a unique school as it is surrounded by a working farm. The children go for long walks, hayrides, go sledding and run down the mulch pile! It is a wonderful first introduction to school.

Parent #2
I have had 2 children attend the Apple Orchard and find it to be a fun, loving, nurturning environment. We love all the outdoor time they get. Once they begin Kindergarten there is very little time to play outdoors, especially on a farm and with farm animals.

Parent #3
I feel the school's teachers are very much in tune with each child and where they are developmentally. The teachers nurture each student, emphasizing self confidence and social skills.

Parent #4
Apple Orchard is a tremendously warm and nurturing environment. Their objective is to make the transition to a school environment as easy as possible for you and your family. They effectively achieve that objective.

Parent #5
AO has kindergarden (no elementary)

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (4.9)
Parents' Opinions
Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children: are handled extraordinarily well in a way that not only gives me confidence in the safety of my child but also reassures me that my child (and his/her peers) are learning the early skills needed to socialize effectively with one another

Overview

Director's Description of Approach Toward Discipline

Generally, we use simple reminders to help children remember the rules. If after a few attempts this method is not working, a child may be redirected to another activity.
In a circumstance where a child is physically hurting other children, they may be removed from the situation until they can get their body in control. Parents would be contacted for a conference if behavior is on going.

Director's Response to a Sample Discipline Scenario

Description of how teachers handle the following scenario: Child A and Child B are good friends and usually play together. One day, Child A decides to play with Child C and tells Child B, 'I don't want to play with you today. I'm playing with Child C instead.'

We encourage children to use their words to express themselves and would be pleased with this response if done nicely as not to exclude someone but just making a different choice. Attempts would be made to help "Child B" link up with someone else or become a special teacher helper to help minimize hurt feelings.

Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety

Parent #1
In the beginning of the preschool year, any conflict that arises is usually resolved with teacher involvement. The great thing about this is that the student is given the tools to resolve his/her own conflicts and then by the second semester is able to express his/her feelings about the situation and work on resolving it himself/herself without adult involvement

Parent #2
The school does not have a sign in policy. But, the campus is a contained area and the community is very close knit - a stranger would be noticed and identified immeadiately.

Parent #3
Apple Orchard is a working farm, it's not meant to be a pristine place where the children are dressed up. My kids often come home filthy because they've had so much fun in the farm environment!

Extended Care

Application Process

Admissions Process