Novato

The Novato campus is located in central Novato, just minutes from 101. It is a beautiful, spacious campus with lots of room for children to run, play, learn and be creative.

Infants - Cocoon Class (6 weeks to 18 months) A warm, loving atmoshere that allows for the growth of a positive self-image which will be the secure, emotional doorway for future development and learning. Opportunities for development, exploration and learning. Variety of age appropriate activities that will stimulate the senses and brain activity are offered in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment.

Toddlers - Caterpillar Class (12months to 24 months) A creative, stimulating atmosphere that encourages learning and exploration. Generous and genuine feelings of acceptance, praise and loving kindness. Age-appropriate activities and curriculur components that promote physical growth and social cognative interaction in an environment that fosters self-esteem and develops feelings of independence in each child.

Advanced Toddlers - Butterfly Class - (18 months - 30 months) A classroom for children who are ready to move on from our infant/toddler program, but are not quite ready to move into our preschool program. This class offers the best of both worlds. It offers all the love, nurturing and security of our toddler program along with new and exciting stimulation and challenges designed to smoothly transition them into the preschool program.

2 Year Olds - Bumble Bee Class - (24 months - 36 months), Young 3 Year Olds - Cub Class - (2 years 9 months - 3 years 6 months), 3 & 4 Year Old Class - Panda Class - (3 years - 4 years 6 months)

GOALS for these Classes To provide opportunities for children of all ages to be successful so that they build a strong basis for further learning, emotional security and positive self-esteem.

To provide an excellent plan for each child that focuses on hands-on learning and phonics based language activities as well as common sense, Highreach and Saxon math activities.

To provide a secure, healthy, creative and developmentally appropriate atmosphere.

To provide many opportunities for children to express themselves both verbally and creatively.

To provide parents with immediate feedback as to their child’s skills and abilities so that no part of their development is overlooked and to give parents every opportunity to take part in their child’s early education.

To prepare children for the world of elementary and secondary education with an early, excellent “frame of reference”.

To provide children with appropriate guidance and give them every opportunity to assert their independence in a positive, productive manner.

1. Gross Motor Development - (use of large muscles) Your child’s motor skills will become more defined during the next few years. We will provide the children with many opportunities to increase their coordination. They will participate in games and activities such as climbing, jumping, hopping, swinging, throwing, catching, exercising and dancing.

2. Fine Motor Development - (use of small muscles) To increase the strength in your child’s hands and to further their hand-eye coordination, your child will consistently use scissors, pencils, crayons, small pegs, and string smaller beads. He/she will explore constructing with small blocks and a variety of manipulatives and art materials. They will be introduced to the proper way to hold a pencil and crayon and encouraged to use them in preparation for future writing experiences.

3. Language Development - (increase vocabulary and expression) Your child will be encouraged to use language to describe experiences and feelings. The children will be asked to speak in full sentences, to ask questions and focus on listening. Many books will be available to them.

4. Cognitive Development - (acquiring and using information) We will expand your child’s “frame of reference” through many exciting, educational experiences. He/she will recognize the alphabet phonetically and number symbols, which will lead to successful pre-reading and math skills. Computers will be used to reinforce learning and learning will be in the areas of science, health and safety, cooking and dramatic play as well as math, social studies and reading.

5. Social and Emotional Development - (social-awareness and a positive self-esteem) Your preschooler will continue to learn acceptable behavioral guidelines and respect the feelings and the property of others. He/she will learn to share and to cooperate while developing self-control. While they are learning to respect others they will become more independent and caring human beings.

READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS
Teaching your child to read and write are the most fundamental academic skills that your child will experience in kindergarten. Our Saxon Language Arts Curriculum is an emphasis on comprehension and the appreciation of reading and books. The children are directed in the process of seeing, hearing, reading and writing, learning to identify main ideas, the sequencing of ideas and recall of facts. Practice reading is through the use of our Core Knowledge series, the student’s poetry or song and their personal chosen material.

We integrate beginning penmanship through handwriting instruction, beginning grammar, and vocabulary skills using the Shirley Method. Also integrated into our language arts program is group language experiences, sharing of ideas and planning, and oral and visual expression.

MATHEMATICS
We use SAXON to help your children learn math. This program gives your child a wide variety of math skills through fun, meaningful, hands on learning experiments and experiences. Early math concepts such as sorting, graphing, classifying and the use of many math manipulatives are focused on to give your children a better understanding of the every day use of mathematics. The children will learn to understand cardinal numbers, odd and even, ordinals, simple fractions, subtraction and addition.

After School - Dolphins - (Kindergarten - 3rd Grade) Drop off and pick up at selected Novato public schools (school sites included change year to year based on need)

Our after school program provides homework support, computers, arts and crafts, games, social interaction and physical exercise. We also provide full day care for days when the public schools are closed and we are open.