Swallow Class Preschool
This sweet classroom is for our youngest learners ages 2 to 4 years old at the time of enrollment. Class size is about 12 children per day, with 3 teachers.
The Preschool classroom is meant to feel like a Home away from Home. The warm colors and natural materials allow children to feel welcome and comfortable. The preschool program strives to emulate a loving and healthy home life, with a curriculum focusing the life arts of purposeful work such as simple food preparation (children make bread and soup together for their snack), tidying up after play, self-care through dressing and pottying, and care for each other in play. Each day holds lots of outside time for exploration in oak groves, and a chance to help in the little school garden. Children listen to stories and fairytales daily, enriching their language and ability to focus.
The teachers use songs to transition between activities, and a peaceful tone to guide the children rhythmically through the day, creating an atmosphere that feels comfortable and inviting. This safe space allows the children to grow into themselves with a sense of ease, predictability and trust.
About the Program
Children ages 2 years old to young 4 year olds at the time of enrollment
The school day is from 8:20am until 12:30pm for the morning program, and 8:20 to 3:30 for full days. We are seeking to add an Aftercare option for families, extending the day to 4:30pm. Let us know if you are interested in that option!
Tuition Schedule packages of 2 and 4 day options, half or full days offered: Monday and Tuesday, or Wednesday and Thursday, or all Four days.
Rhythm of the classroom — weekly and daily
Rhythm is an important element of the early childhood curriculum, and the Teachers hold a gentle and predictable daily flow. Though routines may change slightly with the Seasons, here below is how we generally hold our days.
There is a Weekly Rhythm: Our regular weekly activities become the cornerstone of how the children orient to their school days, and they often begin to refer to each day according to its grounding activity (i.e. “Today is painting day!” or “It’s soup day today!”).
Mondays: Watercolor painting
Tuesdays: Soup day - vegetable chopping
Wednesdays: Bread day - dough kneading
Thursdays: Watercolor painting
and there is a Daily Rhythm:
Morning Program:
8:20am - Arrival, greetings and hand washing
8:30am Folding Laundry and getting settled
8:45am - Seasonal Circle with movement and songs
9:00am- Imaginative Play/Weekly Rhythm Activity
9:40am- Clean Up time “There once was a dusty gnome, he said, it’s time to clean our home”
10:00 - Seasonal Storytelling/Puppet Play
10:15 - Morning Snack/Children help set the table and do dishes
11:00 - Outside Play and Nature Explorations
12:00pm- Lunch
12:30 - Half day children pick-up
Afternoon Program (for full day children):
12:30pm - Transition to nap/quiet time
For children who nap:
1:00 - Nap- Back rubs, lullabies
3:00 - Wake Up- “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine…”
3:15 - Snack
3:30 - Goodbye song
For children who do not nap:
1:15 - Quiet Time and picture books/seasonal story
2:00 - Outdoor Play and seasonal crafts
2:45 - Hanging Laundry/putting nap mats away
3:15 - Snack
3:30 - Goodbye
