Summary

Contact Info

Mosaic School, The
85 Seaverns Avenue
Jamaica Plain , MA 02130
www.themosaicschool.com

Tel: (617) 524-1155

Director: Kim Soderberg
themosaicschool@aol.com

General Approach to Learning

Play-based

Play-based with some structure

Predominantly teacher-led instruction

Montessori

Waldorf

Co-op

Reggio-Emilia

Application Information

Applications accepted

While child is in utero, upon birth, after a phone conversation with the appropriate person at the school, after a face-to-face meeting at the school

Wait list

Yes

Deadline for applications

Rolling

Key Statistics

Total enrollment

24

Student/teacher ratio

1:10

Age cutoff for enrollment

2 years and 9 months

Extended day

Yes

School year

Year round program

Parent Ratings

Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents.

Quality of teaching

Development of social skills and work habits

Home-school connection

Parent community

Discipline

Facilities

Health

Safety

Handling of separation

Survey Information

Number of parents surveyed: 5

Director survey: Yes

Savvy Source survey: Yes

General Info

Basic Stats

Total enrollment

24

Student/teacher ratio

1:10

Established

2005

% of teachers with:

- Teaching credentials

100%

- CPR

100%

- First aid

100%

Transportation and Drop-off Policies

Transportation

- Parents bring their children to and from school

Dropoff Procedure

- Parents walk children into school; children encouraged to enter classroom on their own

- 8:00 AM is the earliest time a parent can drop off a child

Late Pickup Policy: Late fees; we call emergency contacts.

Features of the Preschool

Provide a third year	Yes
• No.

Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program

Yes

Affiliated with a religious institution

No

Teach religious concepts

No

Some experience serving children with special needs

Yes

Accreditation, Membership & Awards

Accreditation by the National Association of Young Children

No

Other Accreditations

No

Facilities

CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (4.5)

Building, bathrooms, hallway

Classroom equipment and furniture

Outside play equipment

Facilities Include:

Classrooms (with bathroom attached)

Classrooms (with kitchenette attached)

Music room

Art room

Library

Playground

Director's Comments

Question to director: Do you have any additional thoughts on what parents should consider when looking at your school? Is there any advice that you would like to provide to prospective parents?
We are a warm, progressive program. Our school is a wonderful place to learn, work and grow in.

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Mosaic offers a theme-based learning approach: every month the school introduces a new theme such as 'Community Helpers.' The songs, art, and books that month are then centered around that theme - parents are strongly encouraged to come in and lead activities, read books surrounding the theme, or surrounding their personal interests.

School Philosophy & Day in the Life

School Philosophy and Mission

The Mosaic School is a small early childhood program that invites children from all families to learn, explore, question and bond. We believe that each child is unique, naturally curious and ready for independence. This step in their development is crucial to the way we approach our curriculum. We look at each group enrolled and find the needs of each student. All children learn in their own unique way. At The Mosaic School we will celebrate their need for autonomy but challenge and support their needs to be social. We feel learning can be fun, challenging and successful. The Mosaic School will promote social growth, respect for one's self, the environment and others. We will use or community as an integral part of your child's experience. We will take planned field trips and use our beautiful outside space.

Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School

8:00 - Arrival/Table choices
8:30 - Morning Meeting
9:00 - Free Choice
9:30 - Toilets
9:45 - Snack
10:00 - Group Act
10:30 - Outdoor Play
11:30 - Toilets
11:45 - Lunch
12:30 - Toilets
12:30 - 2:15 - Nap
2:15 - Toilets
2:30 - Closing Meeting
3:00 - Pick-up

Curriculum & Teaching Approach

General Approach to Learning

Play-based

Play-based with some structure

Predominantly teacher-led instruction

Montessori

Waldorf

Co-op

Reggio-Emilia

Director's Comments

We are a play-based thematic school. We encourage children to explore, question and investigate.

Social Skills & Work Habits

OVERALL RATING (4.8)

This school has increased my child's:

Ability to listen and follow directions

Ability to sit still for longer periods of time

Ability to be a part of a group of children

Self-sufficiency and independence

Awareness of others’ feelings

Cooperation with other children

Curriculum and Teaching Approach


Language					YES
Oral language	-	-		-	n/a
Nursery rhymes, poems, songs	-	-		-	n/a
Storybook reading	-	-	-	-	n/a
Emerging literacy skills	-	-	-	-	n/a

Cognitive Development					n/a
Math and number sense	-	-	-	-	YES
Time & space	-	-	-	-	YES
Sci. reasoning/physical world	-	-	-	-	YES
Music	-	-	-	-	YES

Visual arts	-	-	-	-	YES
Physical activity	-	-	-	-	YES

Other subjects taught	We have a strong social curriculum.				n/a

Director's Comments

It is our belief that all children learn differently. We will adopt enriching philosophies from different theories such as Waldorf, Montessori and Gardner. Children are natural learners. If the environment is rich and full, children will naturally explore and create. At our program, we will foster growth through providing experiences that will be fun and challenging. We will create a warm homelike atmosphere where children feel safe, loved and valued. We will learn about themselves and each other. Accomplishment will be a wonderful feeling for all the children.

Quality of Teaching

Teachers Are:

OVERALL RATING: (4.8)

Full of energy and seemingly happy in job

Patient and affectionate with children

Talks with children and listens carefully when they are talking with him/her

Praises children for accomplishments and good behavior

Provides feedback on what my child does during the day

Shares insights on my child that are helpful and accurate

Identifies my child’s strengths and weaknesses

If necessary, provides additional support to my child during pickup and drop-off

Resolves disputes quickly, calmly and fairly in a manner that allows children to learn from the dispute

Notices children who are not on task and/or engaging with other children appropriately and quickly reengages them

Manages the energy level of the children so that all children feel safe and able to learn

Provides additional support to a child when s/he is clearly failing in her/his efforts

Strikes the proper balance between active and quiet play for children

Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
The school has African drumming, Kung Fu, Yoga and cooking. Parents volunteer and cook in the classrooms. The school also takes one field trip a month.

Home School Connection

Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.9)

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

Director's Comments

Daily email; Newsletters; Private teacher/parent journals; Phone calls; Parent nights; Two conferences; and Two evaluations. We host an independent school fair and a Boston Public School fair.

Separation

OVERALL RATING (4.7)

Beginning of the year separation is handled through:
- Home visits by teachers
- Abbreviated schedule at start of school year

Director's and Parents' Comments

Director's Comments

We have a schedule that supports transitions. The curriculim is carefully planned to support the first week of school. We are very skilled at helping children.

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
I felt like all of the educators at Mosaic School were co-parents---deeply loving and engaged adults who had my child's best interst always in mind. A fantastic place!

Parent Community

COHESIVENESS RATING (3.3)

Parents:

- Fundraise

- Are able to visit the school anytime we want

- Go on field trips

- Volunteer in the classroom

- Receive newsletters

- Encourage play dates out of school

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Form and sit on PTA meetings

Parent #2
Mosaic is very open to parents visiting in the classroom

Parent #3
Gets together at PTA meetings

Modes of Communication Between School and Home

- Notes

- Phone Calls

- Voice Mail

- Email

- Special Meetings

- Two or More Regular Conferences

- Drop-Off

- Pick-Up

- Regular newsletter/printed updates circulated to the whole school

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
PTA meetings

Parent #2
Daily emails and individual notebooks for each child

Discipline, Health and Safety

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (5.0)
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

This is not an issue for the age group. Children are hear to explore, learn and grow. We use these moments as teaching moments. Occaisionally friends are asked to relax and take time to themselves.

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.'

See approach to discipline above.

Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
We all wish for upgraded playground equipment at the Mosaic School and it is a priority for our Director. The teachers are very creative with additional toys/activities they offer on playground in addition to the dated climbing structure. The children have planted a tree, a veggie garden and several pots of flowering plants which started as seeds indoors. The kids don't seem to care that the play structure is old, they all love the open space to run around. The space of the playground is more than adequate, the equipment just needs to be upgraded!

Parent #2
The Mosaic school has beautiful classrooms. The outside space is very residential. It has two gardens, a sandbox, swings and a climbing structure.

Health

OVERALL RATING (5.0)

Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable

Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided

Toys and furniture are cleaned regularly

Food Allergies

- We do not allow certain foods in the classroom

- We keep special snacks for allergic children

- We ask parents to provide child-safe snacks for their allergic child

Medications

- We keep their medication on hand at all times

Safety

OVERALL RATING (5.0)

Screen and identify all visitors

Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others

Ages, Schedule & Tuition

Ages, Class Size, Days & Tuition

Ages	Class Size	Days	Tuition
From 2 years 9 months to 5 years 60 months			$925/Month
From 2 years 9 months to 5 years 60 months			$800/Month
From 2 years 9 months to 5 years 60 months			$350/Month
From 2 years 9 months to 5 years 60 months			$250/Month
From 2 years 9 months to 5 years 60 months			$300/Month
From 2 years 9 months to 5 years 60 months			$890/Month

Extended Care

- This school does have extended care

Notes on Schedule and Extended Care

Notes

The school day begins at 8:30am. Children can begin arriving at 8:00am. The school day is over at 3:00pm. The afterschool program begins at 3:00pm and ends at 6:00pm.

Calendar Year

School Year

Year round program

Application & Admissions

Application Process

Applications are accepted: While child is in utero, upon birth, after a phone conversation with the appropriate person at the school, after a face-to-face meeting at the school

There is a wait list for upcoming school year. • When they call

Parent visits tours are: Recommended

Child interview process: None

Parent interview process: Director-parent

Deadline for applications: Rolling

Application fee: $50

Admissions Process

Acceptance criteria: First-come basis

Notification occurs: Immediately

Deposit required: one month's tuition

Financial aid is available.

Age/Child Requirements

Child must be 2 years and 9 months to enroll.

Child does not need to be potty trained to enroll.

Director's views on diversity:
Our school is extremely diverse. We have families that represent all different groups. We strive to maintain diversity with our students and or staff.

Kindergarten Placement & Tips

Kindergarten Placement

Kindergartens that preschoolers from this school are now attending

Director and Parents have not yet submitted this information to the Savvy Source.

Parents' Admission Tips

Advice from Parents to Prospective Parents on Admissions

Parent #1
We visited the school a lot to show our interest; at the time of our admission it was in Mosaic's first year and it was first-come, first-served. I think that's still the Director's policy. In addition, siblings have priority.