Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I send my child to preschool? By attending preschool, your child’s kindergarten readiness improves. Preschool provides the opportunity to integrate social skills and academics in a positive way.
How old does my child need to be to attend preschool? Our program is designed for children ages 2.7 - 5. Your child must be age 2.7 (2 years and 8 months) by September 1st. If your child is potty trained but is shy of the age please contact the school directly for further discussion.
Do you provide child care? No, we are not a child care provider. We operate as a preschool. A preschool’s objective is to focus on both educational and social development. While we do care deeply for your children, our role in their lives is to teach!
What does a typical day look like at Bridges Early Learning? Our day begins with free play as the children settle in, followed by a creative activity based on our focus topic. Next is circle time! This includes saying affirmations, discussing the calendar and topic of the day, reading books, and singing songs. After circle time, we have a movement break, then lunch time, which is followed by center time play. Each day ends with meditation.
Does my child need to be potty trained? Yes, this is a requirement to be able to attend.
What supplies does my child need? Please send your child with a backpack, lunch, and a water bottle. Also, please include a Ziplock bag with a spare shirt, pants, underwear, and socks.
How many days can my child attend? We have three options to best meet your child’s needs: * 2 day T/TR * 3 day M/W/F * 5 days M-F
What is your student to teacher ratio? Our ratio is 1:10 with a current total of 15 children and 2 teachers.
How old does my child need to be to attend preschool? Our program is designed for children ages 2.7 - 5. Your child must be age 2.7 (2 years and 8 months) by September 1st. If your child is potty trained but is shy of the age please contact the school directly for further discussion.
How do you handle family communication? We use email, text messages, and phone calls. Posts and photos are shared on Facebook and Google photos. *Disclaimer- No photos are shared on any media platform without parental consent.
Do you have a vaccination policy? We do not require vaccination records for our students to attend school.
Do you offer extracurricular activities? Yes, we have field trips in spring and fall, show-and-tell and P.J. days! The librarian visits as well as local community helpers. We also celebrate many major holidays with our kiddos!
Do you have a birthday policy? No. If parents would like to send a treat along with their child for their birthday, we welcome it! We'll all sing "Happy Birthday" to commemorate your little's big milestone.
What is your educational philosophy? Our philosophy is that each child is unique, and we aim to provide an environment that highlights their strengths while allowing them the opportunity to grow and evolve. The core Montessori philosophy is at the base of so much of our program. We thoroughly enjoy seeing the light in a student’s eyes when they’ve accomplished something new.
What style curriculum do you work from? We work from themes based on the children’s level of knowledge. For example, we talk about weather conditions, animals, the alphabet, and nutrition. If we were asked to narrow it down to a specific curriculum it would be a blend of HighScope – which is heavy on social and emotional learning through a play-based approach – and the Montessori values which shape the environment of our classroom.
What happens if it snows or there’s bad weather? We follow the Beaver Area School District's weather policies.
Do you provide meals? We do not provide meals or snacks to students. A packed lunch and beverage should be sent along with them to school each day.
Are there any enrichment activities available? Beginning in March we offer a 9-week kindergarten tutoring program. This program is available, for an added cost, for those students who will attend kindergarten in the fall.
What are your operating hours? Drop off is at 9:15am. Pick up is at 1:45pm.