Summary

Contact Info

Brookline Early Education Program - Devotion School
345 Harvard St.
Brookline , MA  02446
www.beeppto.org

Tel: (617) 713-5471
Fax: (617) 713-5503

Director: Principal: Vicki Milstein

Admissions Director:
Lisa Marie Pedro

General Approach to Learning

Play-based

Play-based with some structure

Predominantly teacher-led instruction

Montessori

Waldorf

Co-op

Reggio-Emilia

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:  1

Savvy Source survey: Yes

Parents who send their child to this preschool also like the following preschools:

• John Winthrop School

General Info

Facilities

CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (4.3)

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

School Philosophy & Day in the Life

School Philosophy and Mission

Our program planning and implementation are guided by the following major themes:

1. Parents as Partners. A main point of the Brookline Early Education Project is the importance of parents and teachers working closely together.

2. Individual Programming. General program goals are adapted to meet the needs of individual children through a four-step process: observation, individual goal-setting, implementing strategies, and evaluation. The following developmental areas are considered as we organize our curriculum: planning skills and work habits, problem solving, perceptual skills, cognition, language, physical development, and socio-emotional growth.

3. School Competence. A fundamental aim of the program is to enhance each child's opportunity for success in school.

4. Classroom Environment. The class is organized to encourage the child to plan, work independently and successfully complete activities. Teachers are concerned with establishing a cheerful, caring atmosphere in which adults care for children and children care for each other.

4. Staff Team. Our classroom teaching teams consist of a teacher, assistant teacher, and one or more aides, supported by a team of early childhood specialists.

5. Respect and Support for Diversity. We offer inclusive early childhood classrooms which serve children with diverse cultural backgrounds and a wide range of developmental needs. Teachers strive to create a classroom atmosphere that enables children to comfortably explore similarities and differences.

Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School

A sample schedule for the BEEP program includes:

Arrival Time
Circle Time
Activity Time (children make choices among interest centers, which may include Art, Writing/Literacy, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Library/Quiet Reading, Puzzles and Put-Togethers, Easels, Science/Discovery, Games and Math, Sensory, Sand/Water Table, and Computers)
Playground or Music and Movement
Snack
Quiet Reading or Small Groups
Goodbye Circle
Dismissal

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 (5.0)

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					n/a

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
The school has 8 'stations' and a theme used throughout. The theme changes every 3 weeks or so. They use individual guided time at the stations and small groups to explore the various skills.

Quality of Teaching

Teachers Are:

OVERALL RATING: (5.0)

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
I couldn't be happier with the teachers.

Home School Connection

Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.3)

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

Separation

OVERALL RATING (5.0)

Beginning of the year separation is handled through:
- Abbreviated schedule at start of school year
- Extra staff dedicated to handle separation
- Pre-entry meetings with parents at school
- Small group sessions

Drop-in Policy

- During school parents are not encouraged to drop-in

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

Health

OVERALL RATING (4.7)

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

- Ordinarily, medicine will not be administered by the staff. The only exceptions to this policy will be in individual cases where a physician's prescription indicates that the medicine is necessary during school hours and the parents have signed a consent form in advance witht a doctor's written instructions on administration of such medication. We also need a doctor's note on file to administer inhalers. No aspirin or other non-prescription medicines will be administered by the staff.

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

Application & Admissions

Kindergarten Placement & Tips