The First Congregational Church Nursery School was
founded by the First Congregational Church of Darien in January 1960 to
provide an early childhood education program for the children of members
of the Church. It soon
expanded to include children from the surrounding community and
currently provides a rich preschool experience for more than 100
children, ages three to five.
Calling all
Prospective Nursery School Parents! Teri Manning is conducting
tours of the nursery school from 11/28/2011 – 1/12/2012 for the
school year beginning September 2012. If you or someone you know
has a child who will be 3 years old by 12/31/2012, please call
203-655-3150 to schedule an appointment. Church members receive
priority placement!
WHAT DO WE TEACH?
Research has shown that
preschoolers learn best through play and that many hands-on experiences
are necessary before children are ready for symbols (letters, numbers).
At First Congregational each classroom is organized in centers –
science, woodworking, an easel, small manipulatives, dramatic play,
block building and a story corner. The teacher plans the
curriculum knowing what she needs and wants to accomplish but keeping in
mind the interests of the children. The posted daily schedules afford
opportunities for children to choose and explore and thereby learn in
different ways - auditory (hearing and speaking), visual (seeing and
perceiving), and kinesthetic (touch and movement).
We use an Emergent Curriculum
approach to teaching - a way of planning for what goes on at school that
takes advantage of both the children’s interests and the teacher’s
passions. Although we are keenly aware of the skills needed for
making a successful transition to kindergarten, we also know that
children learn best when what goes on in the classroom is relevant.
To facilitate this, teachers observe and note the general interests of
the children and then plan ways to sustain and enrich this.
For example, after a snow day
the children may come in bubbling over with talk of snow. During
“Morning Meeting” we may discuss the physical properties of snow –
under what conditions it melts, what individual flakes look like, how it
can be used to make snowmen and forts. Later, scoops of snow might
be brought in to the classroom and played with in the water table.
Paint can be added to ice cube trays and then the cubes used to paint
pictures. Evergreen branches may become paint brushes. There
might be a discussion about animals and how they survive in the winter
which might lead to learning about hibernation. We might make snow
cones. We learn what the word “snow” looks like. How is
it spelled? We learn to write that word and other words we’re
using (ice, cold, flake….). Teachers will be noting and planning
for all this, bringing in books to share and songs to learn. This
approach requires a great deal of flexibility and creativity on the part
of the teachers, but it is also more exciting and relevant to the lives
of the children.
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PROGRAMS
FOR 3 YEAR OLDS
For
many 3 year olds, nursery school is their first real group experience
away from a parent. We offer
3 classes for 3 year olds:
Monday,
Tuesday, Friday
Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday
Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday
Classes
run from 9:15-12:00. There
are 16 children in each class and 2 co-teachers.
In addition, we have a minimum of 2 “floating” teachers on
staff every morning who provide an extra pair of hands where needed.
We
use the Connecticut Preschool Curriculum Framework as a guide in
designing a flexible program. This includes opportunities for
personal and social development, physical development, cognitive
development, and creative expression/aesthetic development.
In
addition, 3 year olds work very hard at learning to follow directions,
work in a group, and develop self help skills.
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PROGRAMS
FOR 4 YEAR OLDS
Our
4 year olds attend school 5 mornings a week from 9:00-11:45.
There are two classes with 18 children and 2 co-teachers as well
as one class of 9 children with one teacher.
The “floating” teachers on staff assist in the 4 year old
classes as well, if needed, but 4 year olds, as a rule, operate more
independently and need less assistance with daily routines and projects.
The
Connecticut Preschool Curriculum Framework is used as a guide in
designing, as with the 3 year old curriculum, a flexible program.
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TUITION
Tuition
for 2012-2013:
Applications for scholarship are available.
The
First Congregational Church Nursery School does not discriminate on the
basis of race, religion, national or ethnic origin and family
configuration.
Contact
Information: Phone: 203
655-3150 Fax: 203
656-0264
Email: fccns@sbcglobal.net
