Locations,
Hours,
& Class Size
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In the last school year, there were two Jump Start PreK
classes at Brunner School and two Jump Start classes at
Evergreen School. The schedule generally follows that of the
Kindergarten sessions:
The configuration of classroom locations and number of
classes may change from year to year.
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Transportation
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Families of Jump Start PreK students arrange for their
child's transportation to and from school. Under special
circumstances, arrangements have been made for kindergarten
age children to use the district's bus transportation. This
service is not available for pre-kindergarten age students
and the district's transportation office will not be able to
make exceptions to this policy.
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Instructional
Staff
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Each class is supervised by a teacher certified
in Early Childhood Education who is assisted by a
full-time instructional aide. These teachers have
specialized knowledge of the typical developmental
patterns of four- and five-year olds and they are
also quite familiar with the District's
kindergarten program. The instructional aides are
integral to our busy classrooms and provide an
added measure of nurturing attention for the young
children in their care.
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Daily
Activities
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Each daily session is organized to include both
large and small group activities which provide a
wide range of active learning experiences. Some of
these lessons help the young students to build
physical strength and coordination in large
muscles; others support the development of small
muscles in their fingers and hands. A variety of
language and cognitive skills are also emphasized.
Lots of attention and encouragement is always given
toward socialization and self-confidence.
Each teacher determines the exact daily schedule
which usually includes a mix of the following:
- Circle time
for the whole group to discuss shared
experiences, listen to stories, sing songs, make
music, participate in games, manage calendar
changes, rehearse number and letter skills and
more.
- Individual
free-choice activity period in which
students move freely among areas that are
designed to reinforce important skills sometimes
working independently and other times
cooperatively.
- Activity areas
often include: dramatic play area, blocks, small
manipulative building toys, arts & crafts,
computer, drawing/ writing materials, books, and
science explorations.
Structured activity periods in which the teacher
and aide work closely with
small groups on completing engaging tasks
such as observing a caterpillar, baking cookies,
taking a survey of classmates and making charts
based on their data.
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Field
Trips
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PreK classes go on about ten field trips every year as a
wonderful way to give children memorable and meaningful
first-hand experiences with the world outside their own home
and school. In past years destinations have included: a
pumpkin farm, a planetarium, a grocery store, a children's
museum, a nature center, a theater performance, a zoo, a
farm, train trips and fire stations.
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Curriculum
Guide
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The teachers follow the PreK Curriculum Guide which
outlines the rationale, developmental goals and objectives,
key learning experiences, and assessment components that
guide their classroom practices throughout the year. This
guide was designed by PreK teachers to answer to the
developmental needs of their young students while also
helping to prepare them with skills and competencies needed
to meet the district and state curriculum standards for
kindergarten and later elementary school years. It
incorporates a set of core topics of study and allows for
unique in-depth topics that often arise from the students'
own special interests.
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Assessment
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Teachers use a clearly defined set of progress
indicators to guide the assessment of their young
students through observational note-taking and the
collection of work samples for each student's
portfolio. A weekly newsletter from the teachers
provides parents with general information about
typically developing skills and competencies for
this age group and gives suggestions on how to
promote and sustain them at home.
Individual
feedback is provided first at the parent-teacher
conferences held in mid-November in keeping with
the district's elementary school calendar. In
February, PreK classes are canceled for two days in
order to arrange another set of conferences between
parents and teachers. At this time parents receive
the first of two detailed progress reports for
their child. A final progress report is provided at
the end of June and their child's completed
portfolio is brought home.
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