2014 - 2015

Welcome to our 2014-2015 Preschool Open House! We are delighted that you have
joined us today a time to learn about the school year ahead and a time to begin
building a network of understanding and support amongst parents and teachers.
We are proud of our program and classroom. We cordially invite you to come visit,
observe, and participate in activities whenever you can.

Our EARJ Preschool program is based on the teachings of Maria Montessori and
contemporary research on how young children learn best. We honor the unique
developmental needs, stages and interests of our students. We balance exploratory
and teacher-directed experiences, within an integrated and thematic approach.

Throughout our preschool rooms, you will see Centers which teachers carefully
prepare and update. In these centers, children learn by exploring, experiencing,
doing and relating. Teachers circulate, observing very carefully, and working
individually and in small groups according to both childrens development and
interests.

CENTERS:

Practical life materials: The practical life exercise, such as spooning and pouring,
seem easy and basic but involve precise tasks and facilitate the childs overall
development. They enhance the childs concentration, independence, order and
coordination.

Sensorial: The sensorial materials, such as building blocks and towers, help in the
education and refinement of the senses. Each material isolates one quality (color,
shape, or size) and prepares the child to observe the world with critical eyes.

Math: This area offers concrete manipulative materials, such as different counters
and numerals, that the children can hold, count, measure, weigh, and reorganize
by groups, thereby learning the significance of numbers.

Language and Literacy: Language permeates our curriculum. Its primary focus is on
auditory and oral development in English preparing the child for reading and
writing. Children explore rhyming words, opposites, and become aware of
beginning sounds.

Natural and Physical Sciences: Children learn to observe, explore, and respect
nature in the process of becoming conscientious citizens.

Calendar: Daily calendar, routines, and birthday celebrations are part of our
program and help students develop a sense of time (yesterday, today, tomorrow,
past and present).




Celebrating Diversity: We begin developing our young students awareness and
appreciation of different nationalities and cultures. We explore continents and
countries and take advantage of our wonderfully international population inviting
parents to make presentations about their countries and cultures.

Art: Young artists use a variety of materials to experiment, discover, imagine, dream,
and express their ideas and feelings in a creative way. Art activities are offered
daily in the classrooms.

Socio-dramatic Play: As children role-play daily situations they participate in
powerful symbolic games that teach and enrich. Social relationships are
established and acted out as children take care of dolls, prepare food, and
organize tea parties. As they set the table they use their Math skills by sorting and
counting dishes and spoons.

Puppet Theater: While playing with puppets, children represent real life situations,
act out stories and practice re-telling stories. Their imagination soars as their English
vocabulary develops.

Reading Corner: Preschool children listen to stories everyday! They can also curl up
in our reading corner and enjoy looking at a book from our wide selection of quality
literature.

Sand & Water Tables: Through playing with sand or water children are predicting,
measuring, observing, seriating, comparing and contrasting.

Computers/Technology: Students are introduced to simple computer skills by using
interactive educational games.











POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Allergies: Please notify the office and the classroom teacher in writing - if
your child suffers from any allergy.

Daily Agenda: It is for our daily communication. It should be checked
everyday and left inside the childs backpack.

Blue Folders are sent home every month. Please check your childs folder
and return it to school empty the following Monday.

Change of Clothes: Your childs backpack should contain a change of
clothes in a plastic bag. You may also include a jacket and a raincoat due
to sudden weather changes. The extra clothes will go back and forth from
home every day and should be labeled (including each sock and their
underwear)

Dismissal: The office needs to be notified in writing - whenever your child
needs to leave school earlier or with a different person.

Medication: We do not encourage administering medication in school. If
strictly necessary, the medication should be handed over from an adult to
the teacher with written instructions. The medication will be administered only
by the nurse.

Punctual arrival: We strongly encourage punctuality. If your child arrives
before the bell rings he/she will have time to socialize with friends and play.
Prompt arrival gives children a sense of security and belonging.

Barra: Supervision starts at 7:00. Bell rings at 7:25.
Gavea: Supervision starts at 7:30. Bell rings at 7:55.

Snacks: Children are offered morning and afternoon snacks as part of our
program. Please do not send individual snacks to school. Only children who
ride the bus or van may bring something in their backpacks to eat after
dismissal.






BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Birthday celebrations are an integral part of our Social Studies
program as they foster an understanding of the passage of time and
honor each child. Please prepare a poster with pictures representing
each year of your childs life (childs timeline). We enjoy
commemorating childrens special day with a very simple candle-
lighting ceremony.

Parents are welcome to send a cake, cupcakes or cookies to
school to be shared with the classroom. Please send birthday supplies
such as: candles, cups, plates, napkins and spoons.

Big parties are not allowed in school. Party invitations for a home
birthday party can only be distributed if all the classmates are invited.
No special invitations will be sent home for classroom celebrations.

If you would like to celebrate your childs birthday at school,
please contact your childs teachers who will arrange the best time in
the school day so that your family and the students can share this
special moment together.

We look forward to hearing from you!








SHOW AND TELL

Show & Tell is our special sharing time that happens every other
Thursday.

We encourage families to help their child choose a meaningful
object to share with the rest of the class. Once a month, the school will
suggest a theme such as Red when students will look for a red object
to bring to the classroom. The child is also free to choose something
interesting such as a souvenir from a trip, a rock, shell, or plant collected
during the weekend, a photograph, and a ticket from a play The
possibilities are endless! Although acceptable, we do not encourage
toys. The themes will be posted on the monthly calendars, so keep
them handy!!

Parents can help by preparing your child to talk about the object.
Ask questions such as Why did you choose this?, Who gave it to
you?, What is it made of?, Where did you find it? etc.

Show & Tell time offers a great opportunity to develop social as
well as oral and listening skills.

Thank you for participating in this family homework!