Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.5)

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

Separation

OVERALL RATING (4.8)

Director's and Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Involvement at school in your own child's classroom is limited, however parents serve as substitute teachers in other classes. This program provides terrific insight into how the day works at this developmental school. Ability to participate in specific class activities (a special cooking or craft activity, guest reader, etc.) increases as the children get older. The childhood development courses comes in the form of weekly group session with the school's director to discuss developmental, behavioral issues that one's child is experiencing. It is a small additional fee and is voluntary. Parents Association has one large fundraiser (an auction in December), also sponsors a pancake breakfast (Dads do this), book fair, carnival, cocktail party at the beginning of the year for parents to meet, new parents cocktail party in the spring, newsletter, cookbook, etc.

Parent #2
Always welcomed to read at story time or cook with the class basically welcomed to share anything of interest with the children whether it be a parent directly or another family member.

Parent #3
Until the entire class has mastered separation, parent visits are not encouraged. Once the class can transition from having one special parent in the class room 'teaching' to that one parent leaving, parent participation is STRONGLY encouraged. We just received a request for participation in my youngest child's class at the beginning of this month (March) - after 'parent's visit the classroom day' that went very well. My child started school this year at 2 years old, is now 3, and attends 3 day a week, 9-11:30. My child had trouble separating at the beginning of the year. It was not until Thanksgiving or so that my child felt comfortable at drop off. Also, though the school is 'play based' the teachers 'teach' skills in that context. Not mathmatics or reading per se but readiness skills, like patterns, etc. Your child's progress reports discuss how your child is doing in readiness - not in relation to the other kids in the class but what your child could/should be doing.

Parent #4
The questions regarding verbal or written guidance are not great. At All Souls there is a constant conversation going on throughout the year between the teachers and I about my daughter. They do not provide formal summaries or reports but the communication level has been excellent in my experience.

Parent #5
no elaboration

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (4.5)
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

Parent #1
In terms of the facilities, the school has been undergoing renovations the past few years and continues to update and improve.

Parent #2
School is located inside a church office building. Screening is informal and done by a church employee at the front door. Parents are strongly encouraged not to bring a sick child to school, and obviously sick children are sent home (or not accepted at drop-off). The real world problem is that often children are contagious before they look sick. I am not aware of staff screening policies but am confident that it is very conservative. Facilities are in a old, land marked church office building and are limited as such. They are newly renovated.

Parent #3
I am not aware of any policy for screening people who enter the building.

Parent #4
I do not know the policy on sceening for criminal records or cleaning the toys. I assume that my answers are correct.

Parent #5
The building that houses the school needs some work but the floors that school are on are brand new. The school has gone through extensive renovations in the last 2 years. The only negative is the elevator in the building is horrible.

Parent #6
no elaboration

Extended Care

Application Process

Admissions Process