Blue Jays
Age Requirements & Student-to-Teacher Ratios
In order to attend the Blue Jays, children must turn 4 by December 31st of the school year they will attend.
The Blue Jays has a maximum capacity of 19 children each day, and the minimum acceptable staff to child ratio, which will be maintained at all times, is 1 to 10.
Classroom Hours & Schedule Options
The Blue Jays is a 9-month program, which runs September-May. The classroom is open daily from 8:45am-1:00pm, with an extended-day option from 1:00pm-3:00pm.
For more information about tuition and Extended Day click here
Daily Schedule
A typical day in the Blue Jays includes…
- indoor free-play and learning centers
- free expression journaling
- guided music and movement
- teacher-guided art, cooking, or science activity
- animal encounters
- morning meeting
- trail walk, exploration, and outdoor free-play
- morning snack and lunch
Overarching Goals of the Blue Jays
In the Blue Jays class, we aim to meet the unique needs of all children through a nature-based program. We facilitate their development through play-based, age appropriate experiences, both inside and outside of the classroom. Children will develop a sense of independence and autonomy by taking charge of their own wants and needs, from cleaning up after themselves, to organizing their belongings and the classroom. We also encourage the children’s social and emotional growth by teaching them how to interact with both peers and adults. We help the children to speak up for themselves by encouraging self-advocacy skills. In the classroom, we teach self-regulation through deep breathing, doing a self-check, hands and bodies to ourselves, eyes on the person speaking, listening ears, and quiet mouths. They will learn conflict resolution as well as appropriate, cooperative play with other children, and develop a positive attitude towards learning and their world around them. To give the children more individualized attention, we break into small groups for intentional learning for specific cognitive, physical, and emotional skills.
Some big picture goals of the Blue Jays include:
- balancing the needs and rights of self and others
- sharing ideas and materials in socially acceptable ways
- communicating effectively with peers and adults
- independently carrying out daily routines and being prepared for transitions
- gaining knowledge of expectations, rules, limitations, and boundaries
- practicing social-emotional regulation
