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

At beginning of school year: Ice cream social with families, Back to School Night for parents, 'Get to Know Your Child' written form. During school year: teacher and school newsletters, Parent/teacher communication file informal talk with staff at beginning or end of day, access to teachers by e-mail or phone, parent or teacher scheduled talks, conference with teacher in January and April/May, parent ed nites. At a scheduled conference time we discuss with the parents our observations and what we recommend for their child and why. It is always the parents' decision on where and when their child is ready for kindergarten.

Separation

OVERALL RATING (4.2)

Beginning of the year separation is handled through:
- Abbreviated schedule at start of school year
- Pre-entry meetings with parents at school

Director's and Parents' Comments

Director's Comments

Processing the children for leaving is especially important since their world dramatically changes when they leave our school to go to another. Throughout the school year the teachers increase their behavioral, social, emotional, and academic expectations. We especially encourage children to solve their own social issues with peers and phase our other social and emotional teacher guidance in favor of having them learn to solve problems on their own.

Parent #1
The non-profit Saratoga Presbyterian Preschool offers a developmental Christian preschool program in which play is the most important avenue to learning. The school is small with a student-teacher ratio of 6 or 7 students to 1 teacher. The campus is tree-lined, spacious and has excellent equipment. The parent education has been focused more on kindergarten readiness as opposed to development of a specific child. Parent-teacher conferences are held once prior to the child leaving for kindergarten. The teachers are extremely professional and warm, welcoming to both the child and parents. They are easy to get to know and loving. Both of my children thrived in this developmental preschool program and were hands-down ready to deal with the social and academic requirements of kindergarten.

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

Overview

Director's Description of Approach Toward Discipline

Discipline is the positive and loving guidance given to a child who is constantly learning what behaviors are acceptable and appropriate in everyday situations. In peer conflict, peer interaction and problem solving behaviors are taught. Some other techniques are gentle hand on the shoulder, quiet verbal reminders, or re-direction to another activity. Communication with child, and parent if needed, is key.

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.'

A teacher observing this situation would first see if children can work this out on their own, and continue watching. If a child is upset, then the teacher would intervene. The teacher would gather the three children and ask for each of them to explain what is going on. After each is heard, the teacher would ask about how each is feeling; the teacher may need to help a child verbalize their feelings. Then she would ask all of them how they might all solve the problem, giving suggestions only if needed. She would also continue to observe and/or check in with the children later to finish processing.

Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety

Parent #1
This campus has a beautiful enclosed, fenced courtyard. The classrooms are situated around this. It is a small school with an intimate environment at a church. Therefore there is no formal screening of visitors, but it is not an issue at this campus.

Extended Care

Application Process

Admissions Process