Objective: To foster a collaborative and supportive relationship between our preschool, families, and external partners, ensuring each child’s success and well-being.

• Director’s Role:

  • Leads all parent communication and engagement efforts.

  • Initiates the school year with comprehensive welcome emails to prepare families and teachers.

  • Maintains communication with parents through BrightWheel, email, and direct interactions during drop-off and pick-up times.

• Teachers’ Role:

  • Connect with parents daily, using BrightWheel to update and engage with families.

  • Provide feedback and communicate any immediate concerns or observations.

• Fall Orientation:

  • Mandatory for all parents to attend.

  • Covers essential information and strategies to set up children for success.

  • Provides an opportunity for parents to ask questions and understand classroom routines and expectations.

• BrightWheel App:

  • Primary platform for teachers to communicate daily updates, share photos, and discuss the child’s day.

  • Parents are encouraged to share relevant updates that may affect their child’s daily experience, such as:

    • Visits from family members

    • Changes in sleep patterns

    • Absences of parents/guardians

    • Transitions (e.g., from diapers to pull-ups, removing a pacifier)

    • Unusual daily events

• Weekly Newsletter:

  • Sent by teachers to outline the week’s activities and upcoming plans.

  • Helps parents engage in their child’s learning and discuss lessons at home.

• Progress Demonstrations:

  • Start-of-year, mid-year, and end-of-year exercises to visibly track and showcase child progress.

  • Examples include a writing exercise where children’s progress is shown across different times of the year.

• Parent-Teacher Conferences:

  • Scheduled twice a year to discuss the child's development and progress.

  • Assessment results are shared in real-time and reviewed during conferences to provide a comprehensive view of the child’s growth.

• External Partnerships:

  • Strong collaborations with Starpoint (OT), Chaffee County Department of Human Services (CCAP), and Salida Early Childhood Center (public preschool).

  • Leveraged to support families with additional resources and services when needed.

• Director’s Expertise:

  • Utilizes former connections and experience with Chaffee County Department of Human Services to access government programs and support services for families.

6. Growing Together: Parenting Strategies Monthly Email

• Purpose and Content:

  • Our monthly email list, “Growing Together: Parenting Strategies,” aims to provide parents with valuable parenting tips, advice, and resources. The content will focus on enhancing family dynamics, offering practical strategies, and sharing expert insights.

• Frequency and Distribution: 

  • Emails will be sent out on the last week of each month. Each email will feature a curated selection of parenting tips and resource highlights.

• Personalization and Feedback:

  • Parents are encouraged to share specific topics or questions they would like covered. Suggestions can be sent directly to Carmel.

• Annual Events:

  • Throughout the school year, we will host a series of events designed to bring families together, celebrate special occasions, and create memorable experiences. These events include:

    • Arcade Night

      An evening of fun and games where families can enjoy classic arcade games and interactive activities, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie.

    • Trick-or-Trunk

      A festive Halloween event where AVP’s staff decorate  their vehicles and hand out treats, providing a safe and enjoyable environment for children to celebrate the holiday.

    • Hap-Pie Day

      A special day dedicated to sharing pies and sharing the things we are grateful for, while bringing families together for a delightful and delicious gathering.

    • The Christmas Gala

      A sophisticated event exclusively for parents, offering an opportunity to unwind, socialize, and enjoy a festive evening together in celebration of the holiday season.

    • Additional Events

      Throughout the year, we may introduce more events and activities that align with our commitment to family engagement and community building. Details for these events will be communicated in advance.

• Continuous Feedback:

  • Families are encouraged to provide feedback on their experiences and the support their child is receiving.

  • The preschool aims to be responsive and adjust practices based on family input and the evolving needs of the children.

By maintaining clear communication, providing regular updates, and fostering strong partnerships, we ensure that our preschool remains a supportive and engaging environment for both children and their families.

Ark Valley Preschool’s Curriculum Policy

Mission Statement:
At Ark Valley Preschool, we strive to create a nurturing and stimulating environment where young children can flourish. Our mission is to support the holistic development of each child by fostering independent thinking, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. Through engaging activities and diverse experiences, we focus on social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth.Our teachers are highly trained in every facet of early childhood education and dedicated to providing exceptional care. Our curriculum integrates the arts, imaginative play, multi-sensory teaching, and daily nature exploration, alongside a rich blend of books, storytelling, music, yoga, and movement. We are dedicated to helping every child thrive in a supportive community that encourages a positive sense of self and respect for others.We are committed to supporting families by offering access to valuable opportunities and community services.

Curriculum Overview

Primary Curriculum Focus:

• Fostering a Love for Learning:
  Our curriculum aims to ignite curiosity and enthusiasm in children through a variety of fun and engaging activities. Weekly themes guide our lessons, such as making apple sauce when learning the letter “A” or teaching toddlers about their bodies through practical self-care exercises.

• Diverse Experiences and Cultural Opportunities:
  We expose children to a wide range of experiences and cultural opportunities to broaden their understanding and appreciation of the world.

• Positive Social Development:
  Our curriculum emphasizes building trust, enhancing self-esteem, and encouraging independence and confidence. Children learn to express and understand their own feelings and those of others.

• Structure and Creativity:
  We introduce children to structure and organization while promoting self-expression and creativity through various activities, including drama, literature, art, and dance.

• Healthy Habits:
  We integrate lessons on nutrition, safety, and personal hygiene into daily routines, such as brushing teeth and understanding healthy food choices.

• Nature and Play-Based Learning:
  Our curriculum includes exploration of nature and play-based learning to stimulate cognitive and physical development.

Goals

1. Foster a Love for Learning:
   Create an environment where children are excited to learn and explore new concepts.

2. Introduce Diverse Experiences:
   Provide children with varied experiences to enrich their understanding of different cultures and perspectives.

3. Promote Positive Social Development:
   Encourage positive interactions, trust-building, and self-esteem.

4. Encourage Independence and Confidence:
   Support children in becoming confident, independent learners with a sense of competence.

5. Promote Self-Expression and Creativity:
   Allow children to express themselves through structured activities and creative play.

6. Instill Healthy Habits:
   Teach and model good nutrition, safety, and personal hygiene practices.

7. Develop Emotional Understanding:
   Help children recognize and manage their own emotions and understand others' feelings.

8. Engage in Arts and Cognitive Development:
   Foster an appreciation for drama, art, dance, and cognitive skills through a well-rounded curriculum.

Curriculum Implementation

• Literacy:
  In the Preschool Room, we focus on a letter of the alphabet each week, incorporating related books and activities. The Toddler Room explores weekly themes with corresponding literature to support their developmental stage.

• Math:
  Our math curriculum includes counting, patterns, and basic arithmetic through play-based activities. Children engage in hands-on experiences like counting cubes and using play money, with daily counting activities to reinforce numerical concepts.

• Social/Emotional Development:
  Our approach is research-based, focusing on building early self-esteem and guiding children through social interactions and emotional experiences. We use positive language and interventions to help children understand appropriate behavior and develop self-control.

Physical Activity

• Daily Recess:
  Two outdoor recess sessions daily, in all seasons!

• Yoga and Stretches:
  The Toddler classroom participates in daily stretches and a 15 minute daily yoga class before nap time. The Preschool Class participates in a 30-45 minute yoga class each week. 

• Tumble Time:
  In the Toddler classroom, children enjoy 20 to 30 minutes of "Tumble Time" with foam climbing blocks, tunnels, and balance beams.

• Nature Walks:
  Weekly nature walks to encourage exploration and physical activity.

Assessment and Evaluation

• Teaching Strategies GOLD:
  Continuous, observational assessments are used to tailor instructional strategies to meet each child's unique needs.

• Progress Tracking:
  Regular evaluations and progress demonstrations, such as developmental exercises, help showcase each child's growth throughout the year.

Ark Valley Preschool is committed to providing an enriching, supportive, and well-rounded educational experience that prepares children for future success and fosters a lifelong love of learning.

At Ark Valley Preschool, our approach to discipline and conflict resolution is rooted in respect for each child's developing self-esteem and understanding of appropriate behavior. We recognize that early childhood experiences are foundational and aim to provide a nurturing environment where children can explore, learn, and grow.

1. Respectful and Supportive Environment:

   • We create a safe and supportive space where children feel secure in exploring their boundaries and developing meaningful relationships.

   • Our goal is to help children build self-esteem and confidence while understanding and respecting the limits of appropriate behavior.

2. Understanding Child Development:

   • We acknowledge that challenging behaviors often stem from a child’s natural curiosity, need to test boundaries, and experience new emotions.

   • Children are constantly developing mental schemas to make sense of their experiences. Our role is to guide this exploration positively and constructively.

3. Positive and Affirming Language:

   • We use positive, affirming language to help children understand and internalize the limits of acceptable behavior in a group setting.

   • Our communication is aimed at reinforcing desirable behaviors and providing clear, respectful feedback.

4. Natural Consequences and Interventions:

   • We use interventions to help children understand the natural consequences of their actions. This approach helps them connect their behavior with its impact on others.

   • When necessary, we provide gentle prompts to remind children of acceptable alternatives and guide them towards more appropriate behaviors.

5. Encouraging Self-Control and Autonomy:

   • Our strategies are designed to help children develop self-control while promoting their autonomy. We believe that giving children a sense of control over their actions contributes to their overall development and self-regulation.

6. Conflict Resolution:

   • We teach and model effective conflict resolution strategies, helping children to communicate their feelings, listen to others, and work towards mutually respectful solutions.

By adhering to these principles, we aim to foster a positive, respectful, and developmentally appropriate learning environment. Our approach ensures that every child is supported in their growth while learning to navigate social interactions and personal boundaries in a constructive and empathetic manner

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that our preschool provides a learning environment that is inclusive, respectful, and free from bias. We aim to foster an atmosphere where all children feel valued, understood, and supported.

Bias refers to any unfair preference or prejudice that affects how we interact with individuals based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, socio-economic status, or family structure. Our goal is to actively recognize and address these biases to create a fair and equitable learning environment.

We are committed to:

• Promoting Diversity: Integrating diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences into the curriculum and classroom activities.

• Challenging Stereotypes: Actively addressing and correcting stereotypes and prejudices that may arise.

• Encouraging Critical Thinking: Teaching children to think critically about differences and similarities among people.

• Supporting All Families: Recognizing and respecting the diverse backgrounds and family structures of our students.

• Diverse Representation: Ensure that books, toys, and learning materials reflect a wide range of cultures, abilities, and family structures.

• Inclusive Practices: Regularly review and update materials and practices to ensure they are inclusive and non-discriminatory.

• Culturally Relevant Learning: Incorporate culturally relevant content into the curriculum to help children appreciate and understand diverse perspectives.

• Ongoing Education: Provide regular training for staff on anti-bias education, cultural competency, and inclusive teaching practices.

• Reflection and Growth: Encourage staff to engage in self-reflection and professional development to recognize and address their own biases.

• Equitable Interaction: Ensure that all children receive equal attention, encouragement, and opportunities to participate.

• Conflict Resolution: Address any instances of bias or discrimination immediately and constructively, involving children in discussions about fairness and respect.

• Family Engagement: Collaborate with families to understand their cultural values and perspectives, and involve them in the learning process.

• Regular Evaluation: Continuously assess the effectiveness of anti-bias practices and materials in the classroom.

• Feedback Mechanism: Provide opportunities for staff, families, and children to give feedback on the anti-bias initiatives and make improvements as needed.

• Reporting Procedures: Establish clear procedures for reporting incidents of bias or discrimination.

• Response Protocol: Develop a protocol for addressing reported concerns promptly and sensitively, ensuring that all parties involved are heard and supported.

• Partnerships: Build partnerships with community organizations and experts to enhance our anti-bias efforts and stay informed about best practices.

This policy will be reviewed annually and revised as necessary to reflect new insights, feedback, and changes in the community.

By implementing this policy, we aim to create a supportive and enriching environment where every child can thrive and develop a positive sense of self and respect for others.

Toddler Classroom: Sign Language Exposure

• Daily Use: Integrates basic sign language into daily routines (e.g., "more," "please," "thank you") to help toddlers understand and use simple signs.

• Visual Aids: Uses sign language flashcards or posters to reinforce learning.

• Interactive Activities: Incorporates songs and stories that include sign language to make learning engaging.

• Parent Involvement: Provides parents with resources or tips to practice sign language at home.

Preschool Classroom: Spanish Exposure

• Routine Phrases: Uses common Spanish phrases during daily routines (e.g., greetings, instructions) to familiarize children with the language.

• Language Games: Includes Spanish language games or activities that help reinforce vocabulary and phrases in a fun way.

• Cultural Exposure: Introduces Spanish-speaking cultures through stories, music, or celebrations to make learning culturally enriching.

Visual Supports: Displays labels or signs in both English and Spanish around the classroom.

We use puppets and books to teach mindfulness, including breathing techniques and emotion management. Classrooms feature cozy corners, family pictures, sensory toys, and expression charts. We practice calming deep breaths, grounding exercises like tapping and identifying colors, and storytelling to ease into rest. Puppets demonstrate ways to handle situations kindly, while affirmations promote self-love and resilience. Educators use these methods for conflict resolution and empathy, and we encourage caregivers to practice similar techniques at home, focusing on breathing, self-appreciation, and emotional check-ins.

Snacks:
Two well-balanced snacks are provided daily, with organic and fresh ingredients whenever possible. The menu is posted biweekly, and changes due to supply issues are communicated promptly. Sugary treats are minimized, and parents are informed in advance of any special treats.

Packed Lunches:
Children bring packed lunches in a single container. We appreciate hearty meals to support their active learning and play. Parents are encouraged to communicate about any food concerns.

Nap Policy

At Ark Valley Preschool, nap time is an integral part of our daily schedule, essential for the well-being and success of both children and staff. Here’s how our nap policy supports a balanced and effective day:

Nap Time Schedule

• Timing:

  • Nap time is from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM every day.

• Purpose:

  • We believe that nap and/or rest time is crucial for maintaining a positive and productive environment. A midday rest can enhance alertness, improve mood, support memory, and reduce stress for children.

For Children Who Nap

• Rest and Comfort:

  • Children are encouraged to nap during this time. We provide a quiet and comfortable space for them to rest and recharge.

For Children Who Do Not Nap

• Quiet Time:

  • Children who do not wish to nap are welcome to sit quietly on their cot for some calm time. They can engage in quiet activities, such as reading or looking at books, during this period.

• Respecting Sleep Needs:

  • If a child falls asleep, we will not wake them up. We believe that if a child is tired, they need and deserve the rest.

For Teachers

• Break Time:

  • Nap time also provides our teachers with a much-needed break. This is often the only time during the day when teachers can:

    • Send photos and updates via BrightWheel

    • Prepare lesson plans and gather materials

    • Complete necessary tasks such as laundry, cleaning, and sanitizing toys

Program Structure

• Meeting the Needs of Many:

  • Our nap schedule is designed to accommodate the needs of all children and staff. It helps maintain a balanced and effective daily routine for everyone.

• Consistency:

  • We have found that maintaining this schedule is the most successful approach for our program. We will not adjust the nap time to accommodate individual preferences if it compromises the overall effectiveness of the program.

Thank you for understanding and supporting our nap policy. It is designed to ensure that all children have the opportunity for restful and rejuvenating time while allowing our staff to effectively manage their responsibilities.

Purpose

To support breastfeeding families and staff members and provide a nurturing environment for continued breastfeeding while children attend our child care center. We aim to educate families about infant feeding choices and their implications.

Supportive Environment

• Welcoming Atmosphere: We foster an environment that supports breastfeeding mothers returning to work.

• Designated Space: A private, designated area (not a bathroom) is available for breastfeeding. Mothers are also welcome to breastfeed in the classroom.

• Support Materials: We display culturally appropriate breastfeeding support materials, excluding those from commercial formula manufacturers.

• Feedback: We regularly check in with mothers to gather feedback and enhance our support.

• Storage: Refrigerator and freezer space is available for labeled, pumped human milk.

• Support for Mothers: Nutritious snacks and fluids are provided to breastfeeding mothers.

Initial Contact

• Policy Overview: Breastfeeding support is discussed with all potential new families. This policy and relevant resources are shared, and a breastfeeding statement is included in the parent handbook.

Staff Training

• Annual Training: Staff receive training on breastfeeding policy and exclusive breastfeeding support annually.

Policy Review: The policy is reviewed and updated annually based on new evidence and practices.