Summary

Contact Info

Newcastle Preschool Draper Utah
12257 South 800 East
Draper , UT 84020
www.newcastleschool.com

Tel: (801) 553-0622
Fax: (801) 553-0447

Director: Kathleen Jensen
larrysjensen@comcast.net

Admissions Director:
Larry Jensen

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

We enroll beginning dec. 1 prior to the next fall

Wait list

No

Deadline for applications

Rolling

Key Statistics

Total enrollment

400

Student/teacher ratio

10:1

Age cutoff for enrollment

3 years

Extended day

No

School year

-1/-1/-1 - -1/-1/-1

Summer Program

-1/-1/-1 - -1/-1/-1

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

Director survey: Yes

Savvy Source survey: Yes

General Info

Basic Stats

Total enrollment

400

Student/teacher ratio

10:1

Established

1984

Average tenure for teachers

5 yrs.

% of teachers with:

- Bachelors

35%

- Masters

8%

- Teaching credentials

40%

- CPR

100%

- First aid

100%

Transportation and Drop-off Policies

Transportation

- Parents bring their children to and from school

Dropoff Procedure

- Teachers/director meet children at their cars and walk the children into the classroom

- 8:30 AM is the earliest time a parent can drop off a child

Features of the Preschool

Provide a third year

No

Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program

No

Affiliated with a religious institution

No

Some experience serving children with special needs	Yes
• Newcastle typically has several children with mild autism attending. These children often attend with a shadow or tutor.

Accreditation, Membership & Awards

Accreditation by the National Association of Young Children

Yes

Other Memberships

ASCD

Facilities

CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (5.0)

Building, bathrooms, hallway

Classroom equipment and furniture

Facilities Include:

Classrooms (with bathroom attached)

Classrooms (with kitchenette attached)

Music room

Art room

Library

8 Classrooms

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?
For almost three decades, Newcastle has been widely considered the most complete preschool in the State of Utah. For 25 years the school has been at full capacity. It has been awarded a Best of State award each time it has entered. While located in Draper, Newcastle is a regional business with children attending every year from over 20 different zip codes. Yes, we track that annually. Roughly 60 percent of our students come from cities other than Draper. In other words, most of our clients drive past dozens of preschools every day to deliver their child to Newcastle. Drop by for a visit or check out the website... you'll see why.

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
I absolutely LOVE New Castle School! I would recommend this school to anyone. I love that they use Love and Logic as their base of teaching. All the teachers and staff are always very friendly and despite the number of students at the school, they know all of the children's names. The school itself looks like a miniature elementary school. It is perfect.

School Philosophy & Day in the Life

School Philosophy and Mission

In its third decade educating Salt Lake County children, the Newcastle School was carefully designed from the ground up to do precisely what it does today... provide an academic and social stepping stone between the intimacy of the home learning environment and the much larger classes of Utah elementary schools. The school is artfully structured to provide a warm, comfortable environment for learning while at the same time, it is a lively, busy place with just enough activity around to prepare children to thrive in a larger school. Additionally, the school has all the elements to provide a comprehensive, well-balanced academic experience for every child. Newcastle is respected state-wide for its focus on educating the whole child.

Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School

Newcastle's curriculum is build around the attention span of a 3-5 year old. Children and their teacher will spend their day in 4 different areas. 45 minutes in an reading-social studies classroom, 30 minutes in the music room, 45 minutes in a math-art-science classroom and 30 minutes on the playground. Within the class times they spend roughly 10 minutes in circle time and 30 minutes in various, small-group learning centers.

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

For almost three decades, The Newcastle School has offered a comprehensive curriculum that educates the whole child, not just one part. This balanced process requires significant expertise, resources and hard work. The Newcastle preschool experience contains very deliberate doses of all the essential building blocks of Early Childhood Education. Newcastle has a time tested age-appropriate pre-kindergarten academic curriculum that includes social development, pre-reading, social studies, math and science. Newcastle is respected for it's well-structured music and creative art programs.

Social Skills & Work Habits

OVERALL RATING (4.7)

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

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	Computer Reading Reinforcement				n/a

Director's Comments

Developed by Kathleen Jensen, the Newcastle curriculum is a comprehensive approach to Early Childhood Education. The school's website summarizes that curriculum. Specifics of the 3-4 Preschool and 4-5 Pre-K curriculum is covered in significant detail in the Curriculum section of that site. The Newcastle curriculum is is a hands-on method of learning which inter-relates concepts as children gain experiences in reading, math, art, science, social studies, writing, music and creative movement. Each program has been carefully designed to teach age-appropriate and developmentally-appropriate academic and social skills. The curriculum is thematic. While children are practicing daily academic skills there is a different and interesting theme with related activities and music for every week of the year. Newcastle teachers are trained to master the basics of the curriculum during a week long training course held during the first week of August each year. In addition, during evening training meetings held the third week of every month of the school year, all teachers are trained specifically to understand and present the following month’s lesson plans. This monthly training also includes classroom management skills development.

Quality of Teaching

Teachers Are:

OVERALL RATING: (4.8)

Full of energy and seemingly happy in job

Patient and affectionate with children

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

Strikes the proper balance between active and quiet play for children

Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching

Individualized Teaching

Description of how teachers work with children who are
"behind," "excelling" or "different" from the majority of students

Every child is different, in his own way. Each has strengths and each has deficits. Newcastle School is for everyone and we have children at all different levels of development attending. Much of our curriculum and learning centers are self leveling. Children can progress at most games and manipulatives their own pace.

It's important for all 3-5 year olds, whether they are reading already or barely able to recognize letters to be exposed to a balanced preschool experience. We have sufficient support staff to assist teachers with children with special needs.

Home School Connection

Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.0)

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

We have mechanisms in place (e-mail) for parents to contact their child's teacher any day. Every teacher makes a courtesy phone call to every students parent during the third week of the school year. Each student has a comprehensive skills assessment at mid year and again at year end. That is shared with parents. Parent teacher conferences are available upon request of either the parent or the teacher. Parents are welcomed and encouraged to visit and participate in theirs child's preschool experience at any time, at their convenience.

Separation

OVERALL RATING (5.0)

Beginning of the year separation is handled through:
- Extra staff dedicated to handle separation
- Parents in classrooms early on

Director's and Parents' Comments

Director's Comments

We hold a two week introductory summer camp for all students and an orientation for parents and students the week before the fall school year starts. Parents and students enrolled in the next school year are welcomed and encouraged to visit during the current school year to try out the restrooms and to play on the playground.

Drop-in Policy

- During school parents are welcomed as the school has an open door policy

General Parent Education

-This preschool does conduct parent education classes

-This preschool does connect parents with services and activities that can help you help your child develop better at home

Parent Community

COHESIVENESS RATING (1.0)

Modes of Communication Between School and Home

- Notes

- Phone Calls

- Special Meetings

- Drop-Off

- Pick-Up

- Regular newsletter/printed updates circulated to the whole school

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

Newcastle is a "Teaching with Love and Logic" preschool. All teachers are trained and skilled at managing student behavior using that program. The director, Kathlee Jensen is a much-sought after teacher and lecturer on Parenting with Love and Logic.

Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
All the classrooms are very neat and tidy. My child's classroom happens to have a loft that he loves to play in. They playground has an actual tree house that is fun and safe.

Health

OVERALL RATING (4.5)

Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable

Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided

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 (4.5)

Screen and identify all visitors
• All staff have BCI checks prior to horing

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 4 years to 5 years		Tue 12:15pm - 3:15pm Thu 12:15am - 3:15pm	$126/Month
From 4 years to 5 years		Tue 8:45am - 11:45am Thu 8:45am - 11:45am	$126/Month
From 4 years to 5 years		Mon 12:30pm - 3:30pm Wed 12:30pm - 3:30pm Fri 12:30pm - 3:30pm	$190/Month
From 4 years to 5 years		Mon 12:15pm - 3:15pm Wed 12:15pm - 3:15pm Fri 12:15am - 3:15pm	$190/Month
From 4 years to 5 years		Mon 8:30am - 11:30am Wed 8:30am - 11:30am Fri 8:30am - 11:30am	$190/Month
From 4 years to 5 years		Mon 8:30am - 11:30am Wed 8:30am - 11:30am Fri 8:30am - 11:30am	$190/Month
From 3 years to 4 years		Mon 12:15pm - 3:15pm Wed 12:15pm - 3:15pm Fri 12:15pm - 3:15pm	$190/Month
From 3 years to 4 years		Tue 2:30pm - 3:30pm Thu 2:30pm - 3:30pm	$126/Month
From 3 years to 4 years		Tue 12:15pm - 3:15pm Thu 12:15pm - 3:15pm	$126/Month
From 3 years to 4 years		Tue 8:45am - 11:45am Thu 8:45am - 11:45am	$126/Month
From 3 years to 4 years		Tue 8:30am - 11:30am Thu 8:30am - 11:30am	$126/Month
From 4 years to 5 years 60 months		Tue 12:15pm - 3:15pm Thu 12:15am - 3:15pm	$126/Month
From 3 years to 4 years 48 months		Tue 12:15pm - 3:15pm Thu 12:15pm - 3:15pm	$126/Month
From 3 years to 4 years 48 months		Tue 8:45am - 11:45am Thu 8:45am - 11:45am	$126/Month
From 4 years to 5 years 60 months		Mon 8:30am - 11:30am Wed 8:30am - 11:30am Fri 8:30am - 11:30am	$190/Month
From 4 years to 5 years 60 months		Tue 8:45am - 11:45am Thu 8:45am - 11:45am	$126/Month
From 4 years to 5 years 60 months		Mon 8:30am - 11:30am Wed 8:30am - 11:30am Fri 8:30am - 11:30am	$190/Month
From 3 years to 4 years 48 months		Mon 12:15pm - 3:15pm Wed 12:15pm - 3:15pm Fri 12:15pm - 3:15pm	$190/Month
From 3 years to 4 years 48 months		Tue 2:30pm - 3:30pm Thu 2:30pm - 3:30pm	$126/Month
From 4 years to 5 years 60 months		Mon 12:30pm - 3:30pm Wed 12:30pm - 3:30pm Fri 12:30pm - 3:30pm	$190/Month
From 4 years to 5 years 60 months		Mon 12:15pm - 3:15pm Wed 12:15pm - 3:15pm Fri 12:15am - 3:15pm	$190/Month
From 3 years to 4 years 48 months		Tue 8:30am - 11:30am Thu 8:30am - 11:30am	$126/Month

Extended Care

- This school does not have extended care

Notes on Schedule and Extended Care

Notes

Ten Month School Year: Mid August to Mid June.

Calendar Year

School Year

-1/-1/-1 - -1/-1/-1

Summer Program

-1/-1/-1 - -1/-1/-1

Application & Admissions

Application Process

Applications are accepted: We enroll beginning dec. 1 prior to the next fall

There is no wait list for upcoming school year.

Parent visits tours are: Recommended

Child interview process: None

Deadline for applications: Rolling

Application fee: $50.00

Admissions Process

Acceptance criteria: First-come basis

Notification occurs: Immediately

Financial aid is not available.

Director's Comments

Comments

Newcastle is one of the largest single-location preschools in Utah with over 400 students enrolled at any given time. We start enrolling on December 1 and we are generally full by about May for the upcoming August school year. You can enroll on line or in person. Don't get discouraged if you are on a waiting list. If you are patient, everyone always gets in by the time the school year starts.

Age/Child Requirements

Child must be 3 years to enroll.

Child must be potty trained to enroll.

Inquiries accepted from December 1 onwards.

Director's views on diversity:
We love children an parents of all race, creed, color and religion. Everyone is welcome.

Kindergarten Placement & Tips

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