On half days your child(ren) must bring in a bagged lunch if your child(ren)s school does not provide lunch. Please remember that we are a Peanut/Tree Nut Free Facility due to severe allergies. We will provide milk.
The School Age Program is divided into three groups according to grade and/or birth year. The youngest (usually 5 yrs to 7 yrs) is called "The Bears". The middle group (approximately 8 yrs to 10 yrs) is called "The Bulls". The oldest group (approximately 11 yrs and up) are "The Bearded Dragons" The children will be divided according to these age groups during most days off of school and for most meal times when they are here.
Below is the Flexible Daily Schedule:
For safety concerns, please walk your children down to the classroom when you are dropping off and in the evening when you are picking up. We CAN NOT allow the children to leave the room or building without seeing the person picking them up. The children must also sign out when they leave.
A full day is provided on school holidays and closings. Special activities and field trips are planned for certain days off and during Holiday Breaks. A list of when your child(ren) does not have school will be posted. Surveys are used throughout the year, please fill them out and return them so we can get a general idea of how many children to expect.
Preschool 4's:
Our Pre-Kindergarten room will provide your child with a warm nurturing, safe and loving environment where self-concepts are enhanced, independence is encouraged and individuality is respected. Our main focus is on Kindergarten readiness. Our activities will be developmentally appropriate in physical, emotional and social skills. Children learn through their experiences with hands-on activities inside and out. Early literacy will also be a major part of the curriculum. Emphasis will be placed on learning first names, alphabet, number recognition, and printing. Your child may also be challenged to enhance listening skills and lengthen their attention span. Monthly themes will give your child an opportunity to learn about the world around them.
Our day will be balanced with structured activities and free play, indoor and outdoor activities, active and quiet times. We want to create a partnership with the parents so we can all work together. If you have any ideas, questions or concerns, please feel free to talk with us or give us a call.
We go on several field trips during the year that is theme related to cultural awareness, as well as trips to the local library for readings and to check out books.
There will be a featured "Letter of the Week" posted in the hall on our class bulletin board. Every child will be encouraged to bring in pictures of things that begin with that letter. A journal is also given to each child so we can monitor and watch how much your child has changed and grown in preparation for kindergarten.
The Nursery:
The first year of your child's life comes with rapid changes in growth and development. Our Nursery curriculum is based on knowledge of child development.
Setting achievable, but challenging goals that are age, individual and socially appropriate are important factors to our program. The babies are encouraged to explore and have fun. Their attempts and accomplishments are praised so they may feel increasingly competent and self-aware. Everyday caregiving routines such as mealtimes, diapering or sleeping are including in the nursery curriculum as well.
A daily Nursery Form is filled out when you drop off your child. The left side is filled out by you to let us know how your baby's day has started so far. The right side will then be filled out by us to let you know how the rest of your baby's day goes. The communication with parents is very important. We have phones in all the classrooms so you can call and check in anytime you want.
Trust is a very important factor for infants. In the nursery, infants are allowed to follow their own individual routines for feeding and naps. As we respond promptly to your baby's need for food, sleep or comfort, that trusting relationship will develop so your child will feel safe and secure with us.
School Age
The Nursery,
The Infants,
Head Start Infants
Please notify School-Age Staff with any specific instructions (ex. change of clothes, homework first, etc.) upon filling out the questionnaire when registering.
"Ripen With Us"
Child Care Center, Inc.
Preschool 3's,
Preschool 4's
The Toddlers:
Babyhood is over when they reach our Toddler Program and another exciting stage of development is about to begin. Our Toddler rooms are set up in "learning centers", appropriately designed for the children as they move up in each room.
Toy shelves are in the rooms are open, accessible and in the same place each day, so that when the kids come in, they can find their favorites. The toddlers will be encouraged to participate in meaningful responsibilities such as picking up toys, helping clean up their own spills and learning to serve their own food. Toddler's exploration of the social world involves conflict. The most basic is about what is mine and what is yours. We are prepared to handle conflicts as these children learn to defend themselves, share and cooperate with others.
Our program provides a variety of structured activities and free time for your child. Exploratory activities such as sensory play, painting and play dough are offered daily. The use of large crayons, watercolors, markers and large paper help with the total art experience. Other activities include puzzles, blocks, shape sorters, shaving cream and various manipulative's. Music, storytime and circle time with games are also planned into our daily activities.
The Infants:
As this group continues to develop, exploration will take center stage. Mobility opens new worlds. As they play the infants can totally be absorbed in their environment. Opening, shutting, filling, picking up and dumping are all activities that challenge them as well as their ideas about objects and what they can do.
We have planned activities such as art time, manipulative time, music, etc. Many activities are planned to increase cognitive development. to develop fine motor, we do art projects but also include simple pegs, bingo dabbers and playing with toys in our room to help foster these skills. There is ample time for free play allowing the children to discover things on their own. Many of the activities and projects are based on themes of the month. Every day is an adventure and of course, your ideas and input are always appreciated and encouraged.
Every day each child will receive a daily sheet. Parents need to fill out the top portion and we will fill out the bottom as the day goes on to keep you informed of their activities, meals, nap times, etc. Progress reports are also done in January and June to let you know how your child is doing. Parents can even set up a conference at any time to discuss any questions or concerns that you may have.
18 months to 36 months: cared for in groups of one staff to five children.
3 years to 5 years: cared for in groups of one staff to seven (Pre 3) and eight (Pre 4) children.
Head Start Infants:
Welcome to our Head Start Infant Room. This is a very exciting stage of development for your child. Many changes are taking place, some overtime and some daily. We plan our day accordingly to based on developmentally appropriate practices through purposeful pay throughout the day. Play is the key to helping our children understand their world and to help expand on their experiences.
Social and emotional skill growth is huge when working with older infants. They are learning how to express their emotions and feelings appropriately. They are laughing and smiling when they are happy and learning how to use gentle hands and touches when they are frustrated. Simple communication between the children and the adults flourish at this age.
Every day each child will receive a day sheet. Parents fill out the top portion and we fill out the bottom during the day. Progress reports are done in January and June. Themes for the month are planned and broken down into weekly themes and then projects are planned to keep the children busy. When the weather doesn't allow us to go outside, the children go to our Fitness Room to use those gross motor skills daily.
5 years to 12 years: cared for in groups of one staff to ten (5yr-9yr) or one staff to fifteen (10yr-12yr) children.
Our Classrooms:
Head Start Twos:
Our program provides activities that are developed for your child's age. Songs, dancing, storytime, dress up are just a few of our daily activities. Art activities will be open-ended; for example, water painting, finger painting and gluing different materials. Every child will be given time to express their own feelings while working on their artwork. Projects may have no beginning or end time because each child will choose their participation.
Themes are based on the seasons and celebrations. Activities for the year will include colors, shapes, science, weather, animals, stories and songs that will all blend together. Seasonal celebrations will be kept simple. We will also be doing simple cooking projects as well.
Outdoor activities will include walks, sand tables, water tables (weather permitting) and riding toys. We use our indoor fitness room when the weather becomes inclement or doesn't allow us an opportunity to go outside anymore. Children must wear sneakers every day to participate in physical activity. Sandals, dress shoes and jellies might be pretty, but they do not protect my feet and mark up the floor! Children can also bring in a favorite blanket and soft stuffed animal for nap time. It must be taken home on Friday (or last day of attendance for the week) to get washed.
Camp Ripen is our Summer Program that runs from about the end of school until the end of August. The main "Summer Theme" is chosen for the summer program and the three (3) age groups will be re-named according to grade and/or birth year for the summer only. Weekly group challenges, art activities, local field trips, and other events are planned. The children also go swimming every day at one of the Ken-Ton outdoor swimming pools, so a pool pass is required during the summer. Enrollment is limited to a first-come, first-served basis as currently enrolled children have top priority before open enrollment begins. Usually, by mid-May, we have an idea of what is available, but you can always be asked to be placed on our waiting list for the current or following year.
Head Start Toddlers:
This is a year of change for both you and your child. They are no longer a baby and are trying to figure out what being a child is all about. They say that children learn by doing so we want to give them the chance to do so in our classroom. The children may cook in our kitchen area, build with blocks, or relax in the reading corner.
The children need to experience activities that stimulate all of their senses. We will use different art mediums, shaving cream, play dough, watercolor, etc.
We will be working on sharing with friends and how we communicate needs appropriately. These are all skills that young children need to be modeled many times as they learn. The toys in our room are age-appropriate and we try to have multiples to decrease conflicts.
Let's Introduce the Rooms:
- 6:30 AM - 9:00 AM Arrival and quiet free play. Breakfast will be available for the children before they depart to their various schools. On full days, breakfast is served at 8:30 AM and lunch will be served at 12:00 PM.
- 2:15 PM - 5:00 PM Children Arrive from various schools. Bus times vary from day to day. Children sign in as they arrive.
An afternoon snack is provided every day for the children. Outside food is not allowed for snacks (Center is also a Peanut/Tree Nut Free Facility due to severe allergies). We will play outside whenever the weather is appropriate. Please make sure they have the appropriate clothes or a change of clothes for any circumstance.
On days we can't go outside, the Bears will be in their room (Bears and Crafts), some children will be in the Homework and More room and some will be in our Fitness/Exercise Room when it is available. Children will rotate in and out of rooms when space allows. Homework children get first priority in the Homework and More room. - 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Quiet table games. computers and reading as the children are picked up.
Camp Ripen
Preschool 3's:
Welcome to our class and a new school year. This year will prove to be fun for you and your child. The program will provide a warm, nurturing, safe and loving environment where self-concepts are enhanced, independence is encouraged and individuality is respected. A large part of our curriculum will focus on social and emotional growth, giving each child tools to help identify their feelings and the feelings of others. This will also help with problem-solving skills and vocabulary when confronted with challenges.
There will be monthly themes that will allow your child to explore and discover new topics of interest. To accomplish this, we engage in a developmentally appropriate curriculum. The day will be balanced with structured activities and free discovery, indoor and outdoor activities as well as active and quiet times. This unique balance allows the children time to process and get a better feel of their environment. Show and Tell/Share days are Every Friday, so it will never be out of the ordinary or missed. There is one major field trip planned at the end of the year in May to the Farm! Details will always follow with a permission slip.
When the weather changes, we have an indoor fitness room, but we also go outside when proper clothing and accessories are brought in. Sneakers are a daily must in our room. You may leave a pair here so your child is always ready for physical activity.
6 weeks to 18 months: cared for in groups of one staff to four children.
School Age/Camp Ripen
Your Child's Home Away From Home since 1974
The Toddlers,
Head Start Toddlers,
Head Start Two's
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