Summary
Contact Info
Chatham School
4359 39th Avenue
Oakland
, CA
94619
www.chathampreschool.com
Tel:
(510) 531-1534
Fax:
(510) 531-5169
Director:
Maureen Vasquez
chatham44@sbc.com
General Approach to Learning
 |
Play-based with some structure |
|
| Predominantly teacher-led instruction |
Application Information
| Applications accepted |
After a face-to-face meeting at the school (tour, conversation with director, etc.) |
| Deadline for applications |
Rolling |
Key Statistics
| Student/teacher ratio |
6:1 |
| Age cutoff for enrollment |
2 years and 5 months |
| School year |
Year round program |
| Summer Program |
07/2008 - 08/2008 |
Kindergarten Placement
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:
9
Director survey: Yes
Savvy Source survey: Yes
General Info
Basic Stats
| Student/teacher ratio |
6:1
|
| Average tenure for teachers |
6 yrs.
|
% of teachers with:
| - Teaching credentials |
80%
|
Transportation and Drop-off Policies
Transportation
Dropoff Procedure
Features of the Preschool
| Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program |
No
|
| Affiliated with a religious institution |
No
|
| Some experience serving children with special needs |
Yes
|
| • Usually speech delay. PM Program learning social skills and words to use in certain problems. |
|
Accreditation, Membership & Awards
| Accreditation by the National Association of Young Children |
No
|
Other Memberships
Facilities
| CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (3.0) |
|
| 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?
Child does not go home clean, children are outside 50% of day rain or shine.
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
My daughter (now 8) went to the 39th st campus and my son is now in the toddler room at Redwood campus. We love it! The kids are happy and safe there. My daughter was shy when she started and really blossomed there. My son who was born early and has some delays was having a hard time in a home based daycare was much happier at Chatham. He is always helped and dealt with with induvidualized learning plan. Moreen and the teachers have been so supportive! We love Chathem!
Parent #2
My kids have all gone to Chatham and love to go there. They are excited to go to school every day. My kindergartener more than ready for school when she started this year. Yes, some disfunction with administration, but there is no question the director and the teachers love and care for my children
Parent #3
We were abruptly dismissed after 6 weeks (along with 10 other families per teacher report) due to the director's overenrollment error (which she admits to having done in the past). We were given 1 day notice by general form letter in our child's folder that was not even addressed to us specifically. The director was not on hand to discuss the situation and no staff addressed either our needs or those of our child's in regard to the transition. The letter did state the there were openings at another facility that was run by the director's friend. The other facility does not seem to have a good reputation per Berkeley Parents Network postings from the recent past.
Parent #4
Strengths: Full time and part time options available, including extended care. Play-based curriculum really helps the 2-3 year old group develop social skills.
Weaknesses: Teachers provide very little and unspecific feedback on child's development and even just day-to-day activities. The school has twice had a history of "over enrolling" and kicking out students with zero notice to the parents.
Parent #5
Our boys have been attending this school for over 4 months, and we received a typed general notice this evening at 6 pm that the school is over-enrolled and the boys are not to come tomorrow or ever again because of their mistake. No phone call, no notice, no nothing. Poor management of the overall program. Disgusting!!
Parent #6
The strengths of this school are the caring,engaged, and experienced teachers. The weakness lies in the administrative operations and management. Parents are not informed of state licensing violations/citations.
Parent #7
The teachers were loving and attentive. The director was dishonest and a terrible communicator. She deliberately over-enrolled the school, and when she had the opportunity to correct the situation, chose not to do so. The developmental program that was promised was not delivered, possibly due to the over-enrollment situation.
School Philosophy & Day in the Life
School Philosophy and Mission
Our goal is to give children the opportunity to express themselves through play, music, art, drama, block building, language, cooking, and science with the support and guidance of nurturing and loving teachers.
Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School
Fun program of drama, music, table toys, art activities, science, sensory, outside play, 2 snacks, lunch, rest.
Quality of Teaching
Teachers Are:
| OVERALL RATING: (3.7) |
|
| 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 teachers do the best job they can with too many students enrolled. My child learned many great songs from the teachers.
Parent #2
Except for one or two teachers, the rest are nice enough, however they seem to just socialize with one another and let the kids run amuck. They never provide feedback on my children and when asked, they rarely provide any detailed information on how my children are doing.
Home School Connection
Home-School Connection
| OVERALL RATING (3.5) |
|
| 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
Newsletters, report cards, parent/teacher conferences, education classes, notes going home, open house, Chatham at a glance weekly, field trips on weekends.And also actively advised parents on which kindergartens and elementary schools might provide the best education for their child and works to secure a slot for their child. Many private schools are for certain type of child. Usually with guidance the parent picks the right school.
Separation
|
|
-
Parents in classroom early on
|
|
-
Extra staff dedicated to handle seperation
|
|
-
Pre-entry meetings with parents at school
|
Director's and Parents' Comments
Director's Comments
Pre visits, parent hangs around few days, then cut the strings.
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
I'm not encouraged to drop in, but I'm not discouraged, either.
Parent #2
There is very little interaction between families at Chatham. There are only two school events, one during the holiday season, and one at the end of the year. The school does not communicate effectively with the families.
Parent #3
The initial adjustment period at the beginning of the school year is not handled well due to a large number of children to staff available. I was never sure if anyone would attend to my crying child. I felt like the environment was chaotic and disorganized.
Parent Community
| COHESIVENESS RATING (1.7) |
Parents:
Modes of Communication Between School and Home
Discipline, Health and Safety
Discipline
| OVERALL RATING (3.4) |
|
| 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
Redirection, win/win problem solving and given the words to get their needs met safely.
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.'
Teacher would help child B to find other choices and friends. Explain to them that their turn will come to play with friend A later. It is OK. Steer away from rejection.
Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
The sand sometimes had an unpleasant odor. This school was recently cited for a serious over-enrollment issue. The site was licenced for 44 children, but had 83. Some of the students were part-time so I'm not certain how many children were there at one time but there were significantly more children than Chatham has room for. As a result, there was over-crowding, both inside and out. The children were made to eat outside (covered but open to the elements) in very cold weather because they had no room for all the students inside. The space simply wasn't adequate for the number of students on-site.
Parent #2
Water fountain and bathroom sink was broken and it seems the only reason why she finally fixed them were because of complaining parents.
The outdoor play area is on a steep slope so several accidents occur with children falling when running. Also, the playground is in a sand pit, so the children get filthy.
Health
| OVERALL RATING (3.7) |
|
| Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable |
|
| Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided
|
|
| Toys and furniture are cleaned regularly |
|
Food Allergies
Medications
Safety
| OVERALL RATING (3.3) |
|
| 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
5 months
to
6 years
|
22 |
Mon 7:30am - 6:00pm
Tue 7:30am - 6:00pm
Wed 7:30am - 6:00pm
Thu 7:30am - 6:00pm
Fri 7:30am - 6:00pm
|
$850/Month |
Extended Care
Notes on Schedule and Extended Care
Notes
PRESCHOOL FULL TIME 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM AM PROGRAM 8:45 AM - 11:45 AM OR PM PROGRAM 12:45 PM - 3:45 PM KINDERGARTEN EXTENDED CARE 12:00 NOON - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
FULL TIME 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Four Days - $657.00
Three Days - $555.00
Two Days - $432.00
AM PROGRAM 8:45 AM - 11:45 AM OR PM PROGRAM 12:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Five Days - $554.00
Four Days - $441.00
Three Days - $330.00
Two Days - $220.00
HALF DAY PROGRAM WITH LUNCH 8:45 AM - 12:30 PM OR 12:00 NOON - 3:45 PM
Five Days - $683.00
Four Days - $587.00
Three Days - $439.00
Two Days - $294.00
KINDERGARTEN EXTENDED CARE 12:00 NOON - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Five Days - $455.00 $634.00 Four Days - $366.00 $534.00 Three Days - $270.00 $396.00 Two Days - $183.00 $267.00
Children enrolled in a half day program may stay for lunch for $5.50 provided there is space available. Fees subjected to change with 2 months notice.
Calendar Year
School Year
Summer Program
Application & Admissions
Application Process
Admissions Process
Director's Comments
Comments
Visits are strongly recommended
