The center has a monthly theme based curriculum and a "by age" set of goal sheets created by the Owner of the center. From these theme sheets and the goal sheets, the teachers create a lesson plan for the month for the children's activities that are developmentally appropriate. The highlights of the activities are then put on a calendar for the parents as well as the inclusion of a parent-teacher letter. Twice a year the teachers hold formal conferences with the parents to let them know exactly where their child is developmentally. The center publishes a newsletter each month. There is a Back to School Night held every fall. In the Pre-kindergarten program, there is a formal written Progress Report that goes home with the parents after each conference. A nice tool to determine whether a child is ready for Kindergarten at the local public or private school. There are parent bulletin boards in each classroom with pertinent information posted each month. We feel informed parents make better decisions about their child's educational future.

Director's and Parents' Comments

Director's Comments

We feel that children need and crave consistency in their lives. To be able to predict what comes next brings comfort and security. So we encourage all of our new students to "visit" with their parent in the weeks prior to their staying by themselves. Make the calendar at home and talk about when they go to school by themselves when mom/dad goes to work/school/etc. EYCC staff works with parents to set a consistent schedules for their child as soon as possible. Same time drop off and pick ups. Creating a routine of "good bye". Then we patiently wait for the parents signal to "intervene" if necessary. We dont want to rush any parent and child saying goodbye, but we dont want to help you create a dramatic goodbye every day either. We take our lead from the parents. We also encouragge parents who left with a sobbing little one to call the center in a few minutes to check up on their little one. We encourage our parents to call the staff as often as they need during the teachers prep time to discuss their child's needs, prograss and successes.

Overview

Director's Description of Approach Toward Discipline

We feel first and formost that discipline is not an action by a philosophy. To disciple is to teach. We are teaching the children how to interact with other children and adults in their small community. We hold children to simple laws of society with simple consequences for their actions. For example: If you throw sand, you will have to leave the sand box for a while. Throwing sand is dangerous to our friends as it gets in their eyes and can hurt very badly. Then if the child throws sand, we remove them frm the sandbox for a period of time reinforcing what they did and what we would like them to do the next time. Then when the proper time is up , we ask them if they would like to try it again, reinforcing them not thowing sand, catching them playing the correct way and praising them for a good choice. But when all else fails, and our methods are not being supported by the child, we take away privileges for a longer period of time, age appropriate of coarse, or a consultation with parents over more major issues. Our time outs are for the sole purpose to calm down a child and last as long as the age they are, with verbal feedback on what we would like to see them do. We are also not afraid to make "no" statements. Children dont know how to navigate grey areas, they see black and white initially. So a "no hitting, kicking, biting or spitting at our friends" rule is quite appropriate.

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.'

Children need to learn that their lives are full of wonderful experiences. Sometimes they are with the same friends and some days they are with new friends. Children need to be able to say no to things they can control and they need to learn their friends have the right to say no too and it is to be respected. It doesn't mean they wont play with you again , just not right now. So now you can go play with another friend and have just as much fun.

Extended Care

Notes on Schedule and Extended Care

Notes

Early Years is open year round Monday through Friday. We observe 10-11 holidays per year, with one teacher in service day annually in August. Our center opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 6:30 p.m. This allows us to offer full and part day attendance on a 5 day, m/w/f or t/th schedule. Our students are 2 years through the summer following fifth grade completion. Our school age program offers before and after school care or after school only care to Alisal, Walnut Grove, Phoebe Hearst or Valley View Elementary Schools.

Application Process

Admissions Process