Lambs Infants (ages 6 weeks to 1 year)
Our Lamb teachers provide a safe, caring environment for these very little ones who quickly move from their long days of sleep to lots of floor play and movement around the room. Teachers are on the floor with the babies, singing, talking, and interacting. Observation plays a key role as staff strive to provide the appropriate stimulation and activity to meet the needs of each baby.
The schedule is developed around the needs of the children, with time set aside each day for music, reading, and very simple art projects. Feeding and napping schedules are individualized. We also take the babies outside every morning and afternoon for a carriage walk or stroll around the campus. As they get older we introduce them to the toddler playground.
RETURN TO TOP Ramblers Young Toddlers (ages 1 to 2 years)
Known as Ramblers, these little ones are off to explore the world. Over the bench, under the rail, they spend a large portion of the day developing their gross motor skills, both inside and outdoors. Outside play is a must for these little ones. They have use of the campus at large, as well as a toddler play area where they can dig in the sand and play safely on size-appropriate equipment.
Their morning routine includes many hands-on art and sensory experiences as well as music and a lot of floor and playtime. Children move around the room freely, often stopping to enjoy a few minutes of storytelling on a teacher’s lap. The children bring lunches from home, which they eat together around a low table. Morning and afternoon snacks are provided by the school. Children rest each afternoon for several hours on low cots. Continual observation by the teachers remains key to providing an appropriate environment for these little ones.
RETURN TO TOP ButterfliesOlder Toddlers (ages 2 to 3 years)
These two- and three- year-olds have just gotten their wings and love to explore the George School campus. They become great hikers as they journey down to the mulchy playground or to the barn to visit the horses, bunnies, and cats. Buckets, shovels, and trucks are only a few of the tools we use at the sandy playground. These busy toddlers work on their large motor skills on the bike path, too. Each morning, the children gather to say hello and plan their day. There is time for music and movement through dance, and plenty of time for dramatic play with trucks, dolls, and dress ups. They are learning to gather for short periods as a group with stories and table-time activities.
Puzzles, play dough, simple manipulatives, and a wide range of other activities are used during center time. They enjoy experimenting with scissors, crayons, markers, and a variety of paper and textures as a part of their daily "creating" time.
These young toddlers thoroughly enjoy interacting with their friends and teachers, their vocabularies and self-expression growing by leaps and bounds as the year progresses. Diaper time and potty time are an important part of the toddler routine. Our philosophy is to listen to the child and try to respond appropriately to his or her development cues in this and other readiness issues. These children are on the go.
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Sunbeams Preschool (ages 3 to 4)
Sunbeams! What a descriptive word for our group of three-year-olds. Full of adventure, a desire to investigate their world and the need to move, these three-year-olds enjoy a day filled with activities and learning.
As friends arrive, they are greeted by name and welcomed to make a choice from many developmentally appropriate activities going on throughout the room. Some children choose large or small motor activities. Friends can be found working on art projects with scissors, paints, paper, or play dough at the art center. Meanwhile, other children are working together with games and puzzles or using manipulatives like pegs or lacing shapes. At the block center, there are structures in process as several of the Sunbeams stack and move a variety of blocks to make wonderful creations from their imagination. Today, some of the children are discovering the world of science with magnets, scents, colored glasses, and measuring tools. Nearby, a few children sit quietly reading books, playing with magnets, or writing on dry erase boards. Of course, the dramatic play area is in full swing with children pretending to cook, dress up, dance, and move. Another popular choice is the texture table. A few children may work with water, sand, or other mediums, moving and experimenting with tools from a large bin nearby. A while later, the children come together for circle where they share in songs, finger plays, stories, and activities before moving outdoors to investigate the large campus or play at one of the playgrounds.
Conversations are overheard everywhere, as the children plan their play, work out problems, and collaborate in activities. As the Sunbeams play, they are working hard to discover more about their world, develop language, and express their feelings. The teachers serve as models and provide a supportive role as they encourage play and develop strong and secure relationships with the children.
RETURN TO TOP ExplorersPreschool (ages 4 to 5)
The pre-kindergarten Explorer program is designed to let children learn through experimentation, exploration, and collaboration. Our curriculum frequently evolves from the interests of the children and often grows into a long-term project. Creative arts, science, beginning reading, and math skills are interwoven to help children make sense of the new concepts they are learning. If the children are learning about sea life, you may see a child-made fish made from recycled water bottles and tissue paper hanging from the ceiling, or if they are learning about the body, a labeled human-size skeleton made of paper towel tubes may startle you as you enter the room.
The children are learning to work together, becoming aware of the rights and feelings of others. Through teacher modeling and guidance the children learn to solve problems and resolve conflicts by expressing their feelings in socially appropriate ways.
Circle time offers an opportunity to learn new vocabulary, name and letter recognition, and use the calendar to introduce the concept of time and numbers. The children also practice listening attentively to others and begin honing their public speaking skills during sharing and circle times. There are lots of activities going on in this busy room where children can move freely from one activity center to another.
Outdoor time is essential for growing children. Exploring the many acres of the campus, we may investigate insects, tree sap, leaves, and puddles, or visit the horses at the barn on our campus walks. On our playground the children strengthen their climbing and balancing skills on the monkey bars or refine their hand-eye coordination while filling buckets with sand, using spoons or shovels.
RETURN TO TOP Extended Day Program 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Center opens at 7:30 a.m. for our full-day program. Children are free to explore the various centers (including dress-up play and blocks) or enjoy a story on a teacher’s lap. At 8:30 a.m. our more structured morning begins and the older groups meet for a welcome. At 11:45 a.m. we wash for lunch. Children bring their own lunches. (Snacks are served mid-morning and after nap each day). After lunch the children are pottied and diapered as they prepare to relax for storytime and nap. Children usually rest for approximately two hours. After nap, snack, and some casual play, the children prepare to go outside. We use a variety of outdoor play spaces in the afternoon. The children enjoy this block of uninterrupted playtime—plenty of time to explore, dig in the sand, race a wheel toy in our riding area, or kick a ball around the grass. The center closes at 5:30 p.m. sharp! Another day of adventure has come to a close!
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