Discovery Isle (Carlsbad)

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Summary

Contact Info

Discovery Isle (Carlsbad)
6130 Paseo del Norte
Carlsbad , CA  92011
carlsbad.discoveryisle.com

Tel: (760) 431-7090
Fax: (760) 431-3404

Director:
jennifer@discoveryisle.com

General Approach to Learning

Play-based
Check Mark Play-based with some structure
Predominantly teacher-led instruction
Montessori
Waldorf
Co-op
Reggio-Emilia

Application Information

Applications accepted After a face-to-face meeting at the school
Wait list Yes
Deadline for applications Rolling

Key Statistics

Age cutoff for enrollment 2 months
Extended day Yes
School year Year round program

Parent Ratings

Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents. Four Stars
Quality of teaching Four And Half Stars
Development of social skills and work habits Four And Half Stars
Home-school connection Four And Half Stars
Parent community Two and Half Star
Discipline Four Stars
Facilities Four And Half Stars
Health Four And Half Stars
Safety Four And Half Stars
Handling of separation Four Stars

Survey Information

Number of parents surveyed:  9

Savvy Source survey: Yes

General Info

Transportation and Drop-off Policies

Transportation

- Parents bring their children to and from school


Dropoff Procedure

- Parents walk their child into the classroom

Features of the Preschool

Provide a third year Yes
• Yes
Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program No
Affiliated with a religious institution No
Some experience serving children with special needs Yes

Facilities

CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (4.5) Four And Half Stars
Building, bathrooms, hallway Four And Half Stars
Classroom equipment and furniture Four Stars
Outside play equipment Four And Half Stars

Facilities Include:

Classrooms (with bathroom attached) Check
Classrooms (with kitchenette attached)
Music room
Art room Check
Library
Playground Check

Parents' Comments
Parent #1
Our family loves this school

Parent #2
I enrolled my son in preschool at Discovery Isle after I had major surgery. I had not planned to enroll him at this age since I was a stay at home mom. However once he was in the school and I saw the value and benefit of early education I was convinced that this was a good thing. Initially he went 2 days a week for 2 years and then I increased him to 3 days a week. As an only child I watched him not only learn academically but gain social skills and the ability to manage himself in a group environment that I believe I could never have provided him at home. Most impressive to me is that most preschools have a lot of turn over. Other then one change of teaching in his 2 year classroom, him lead teachers remained the same as he progressed through the 3 and 4 year classes. Since he has a December birthday I was wisely advised to allow him to change classes for his second time through the preschool cirriculum. As I enrolled him in Kindergarten and was given the list of things that he was to be able to do I was amazed that his academic skills way surpassed the expectation. The school is well rounded at providing interesting academics, art, music, physical education and even a Japanesse class that my son not only has learned to love, but now teaches me the songs! The director and assistant director have been consistent throughout our entire 3.5 years at this school, again something that I hear is a bit unusual. There are lots of "extra" activities that you can sign up for. Of great importance to me is that the ratios are always maintained and that there are always "extra staff" scheduled that cover teachers on break and at lunch. I am always impressed by the amount of overall help and the quality of this school. This has been a wonderful experience for us and I highly recommend this school. I know families that change preschools mulitple times and we were blessed that our son had the consistency and feelings of securtiy being in the same place throughout his preschool years. This is not a daycare, this is a preschool for all early aged children!

Parent #3
The teachers at Discovery Isle are very nurturing and caring in the infant - 2 year old classrooms. The children in these 2 classrooms are very well taken care of because the teachers are competent and qualified in the early development stages of children. The teachers make each and every child feel important and loved by spending quality time with each and everyone throughout the day.

Parent #4
Great new curriculum, ensures that each student is getting an introduction to each and every necessary life skill, with practice and support. At the age of 2 1/2, my daughter knew her address & telephone #, as well as when to use them. Her grandparents and others close to her are always amazed at just how much she knows.

Parent #5
My daughter attended this school for 2 weeks. Originally I thought the school and teachers in her class were wonderful, the facility was clean. However, into the 2nd week, my mother went to pick up my daughter from her classroom, and noticed through the window 3 boys) piled on top of another little boy (all 1-2yr olds), all punching him. No teacher standing there at the time. My mother had to f ind a teacher in the hall to remove the pile of kids from punching the little boye. I was so upset about this that I removed my daughter from the class. I spoke with the principle about the situation, and she actually said to me "boys will be boys", and explained that I do not know educational theory to understand at this age kids will act out. I still have nightmares about the little boy that was punched, and I am really concerned that the mother of this child does not know what happened.

Parent #6
The teachers are open to suggestions that I have brought up. The teachers are warm and really seem to care about the infants and their development.

Parent #7
This school has a hard time getting quality teachers in their two year old program. If I were to recommend this school, it wouldn't be for that age group. In both the 3 and 4 year old program, they have long term, dedicated, quality staff.

School Philosophy & Day in the Life

School Philosophy and Mission

We expertly combine academic learning experiences and structured play in a fun, safe and nurturing environment. We engage children in a variety of ways that help them discover, explore and learn to their fullest potential. Children are given plenty of room here for their bodies and minds to grow. After all, both are growing at the same time. This is their introduction to a lifetime of learning, and it's a journey that should start out on the right foot.



Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School

We balance playtime with structured learning experiences that include preparation for reading and math, beginning Spanish, computers and a wellness program. Our preschool provides a safe, nurturing environment, and our caring teachers are dedicated to creating lifelong learners. Our Links to Learning Curriculum is an integrated series of programs that take advantage of a child's readiness to learn through fun, challenging and meaningful activities. We link parents to their child's classroom experiences by providing a monthly summary of their child's work and suggestions to continue the learning at home. It's part of a communication progress that keeps parents truly involved.

Curriculum & Teaching Approach

General Approach to Learning

Play-based
Play-based with some structure
Predominantly teacher-led instruction
Montessori
Waldorf
Co-op
Reggio-Emilia

Social Skills & Work Habits

OVERALL RATING (4.8) Four And Half Stars
This school has increased my child's:
Ability to listen and follow directions Four And Half Stars
Ability to sit still for longer periods of time
Four And Half Stars
Ability to be a part of a group of children Four And Half Stars
Self-sufficiency and independence Four And Half Stars
Awareness of others’ feelings Four And Half Stars
Cooperation with other children Five Stars

Curriculum and Teaching Approach

Free Play Free Play Free Play with Some Structure Free Play with Some Structure Free Play with Some Structure
Language -
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 - - Predominantly teacher-led instruction - -
Time & space - - - - -
Sci. reasoning/physical world - - - - -
Music - - - - -
Visual arts - - - - -
Physical activity - - - - -
Other subjects taught n/a
Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Because I have an Infant many of these options do not apply. The overall curriculum in the program is well run

Parent #2
I feel my daughter is acheiving all of her milestones successfully.

Parent #3
This school is mostly teacher led however it does include a lot of creative ways of teaching and including the children in the teaching through the use of stations each day to teach the lessons. Also, the children are highly participative in all the activities, such as circle time where the kids go through a routine of singing songs, going over spanish words, learning the dates and months as well as the weather. Children are given jobs each day such as door holders and line leaders and weather watch. It is a highly creative environment.

Quality of Teaching

Teachers Are:

OVERALL RATING: (4.7) Four And Half Stars
Full of energy and seemingly happy in job Four And Half Stars
Patient and affectionate with children Four And Half Stars
Talks with children and listens carefully when they are talking with him/her Four And Half Stars
Praises children for accomplishments and good behavior Four And Half Stars
Provides feedback on what my child does during the day Four And Half Stars
Shares insights on my child that are helpful and accurate Four And Half Stars
Identifies my child’s strengths and weaknesses Five Stars
If necessary, provides additional support to my child during pickup and drop-off Four And Half Stars
Resolves disputes quickly, calmly and fairly in a manner that allows children to learn from the dispute Four And Half Stars
Notices children who are not on task and/or engaging with other children appropriately and quickly reengages them Four Stars
Manages the energy level of the children so that all children feel safe and able to learn Four And Half Stars
Provides additional support to a child when s/he is clearly failing in her/his efforts Four And Half Stars
Strikes the proper balance between active and quiet play for children Four And Half Stars

Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
My child's first teacher was a nightmare. Luckily administration understood there was a problem and moved my child to another classroom. The move was a great success. I can't say enough great things about my child's teachers after the move.

Parent #2
I have no complaints about my daughter's teacher. They were wonderful. I believe the problem was that at a higher level, not enough was done to remove the aggressive child(ren) from the classroom to make it safe for my child and other children

Parent #3
They have many extracurriculur activities, but I wish they had Gymnastics on site.

Parent #4
I am 100% happy with the teachers in my daughter's classroom.

Parent #5
I can't say enough positive about the teaching staff. It seems like a lot of them work there and stay there because they themselves have kids in the school and want them there. Also, the school requires lead teachers to have 30 units in childhood development and 15 for the assistant teacher. Plus they do continuing edcuation for the teachers during the year. These are not just people off the street that are trained but rather people who have formal education.

Home School Connection

Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.5) Four And Half Stars
Conducts an open house at start of school year Five Stars
Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year Four And Half Stars
Conducts regular parent teacher conferences Four Stars
Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year Four And Half Stars
Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year Four And Half Stars
Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools Four Stars

Separation

OVERALL RATING (4.4) Four Stars

Director's and Parents' Comments

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Regarding the question...At the end of the year, my son/daughter?s preschool provides me with (check one): I received a portfolio at the end of the year, however, it consisted of a few drawings and pictures. It did not show the growth over the year. For an academic based school I hoped for more.

Parent #2
We are happy with the home school connection.

Parent #3
I was very impressed by the open door policy of visiting the school. School also has a webcam in each class which made me feel much safer about leaving my child as well as knowing that the teachers know that they are being monitored.

Parent Community

COHESIVENESS RATING (2.8) Two and Half Star

Parents:

- Are able to visit the school anytime we want

- Receive newsletters


Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Not much of a parent community

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
Dailies

Discipline, Health and Safety

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (4.3) Four Stars
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

Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
The school looks clean and refreshing

Parent #2
I was concerned about the safety of my child after the incident, and worried that the school was not doing enough to remove aggressive acting boys from the classroom and concerned that parents were not informed about what occurred.

Parent #3
Toys are continually rotated and classroom decor changes, which is fun for me to see and have my daughter "explain" to me.

Parent #4
I feel very confident that my daughter is very well taken care of when I leave her at Discovery Isle. She is always happy to see her teachers when I drop her off and that is a really good feeling.

Parent #5
I wrote most of my comments in the previous section.

Health

OVERALL RATING (4.7) Four And Half Stars
Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable Four And Half Stars
Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided Four And Half Stars
Toys and furniture are cleaned regularly Four And Half Stars

Safety

OVERALL RATING (4.6) Four And Half Stars
Screen and identify all visitors Four And Half Stars
Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others Four Stars

Ages, Schedule & Tuition

Ages, Class Size, Days & Tuition

Ages Class Size Days Tuition
From 3 years to
5 years
$105/Week
From 3 years to
5 years
$146/Week
From 3 years to
5 years
$202/Week

Extended Care

- This school does have extended care

Notes on Schedule and Extended Care

Notes

We are open from 6:45am to 6pm M-F. Breakfast and snacks are included in tuition cost. 10% sibling discount.
We are a full day/full time center...our "part-time programs" are either a full 2 day or full 3 day program.

Infant & Toddler Care available. Please call the center for more information.

Additional fees (per family):

Registration: $75.00
Materials: First year -- $35
Thereafter -- $75
Nap Mat/sheet -- $30

Fees are due on the first day of each month. A late charge of $50 is added if tuition is not paid by the 5th.

(Rates effective from 09/01/06....excerpted from purple handout)

Calendar Year

School Year

Year round program

Application & Admissions

Application Process

Applications are accepted: After a face-to-face meeting at the school

There is a wait list for upcoming school year.

Parent visits tours are: Mandatory (in order to receive application)

Child interview process: None

Parent interview process: Director-parent

Deadline for applications: Rolling

Application fee: $0

Admissions Process

Acceptance criteria: First-come basis  

Notification occurs: Rolling

Financial aid is not available.

Age/Child Requirements

Child must be 2 months to enroll.

Child does not need to be potty trained to enroll.

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
Any child can gain admission if space is available and tuition can be afforded.

Parent #2
no, it was open

Parent #3
n/a

Parent #4
No

The Savvy Source for Parents © 2006
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