Philosophy - The Park House Preschool is a Reggio-inspired school for children seeking to be part of a community of learners. In this community children co-create their curriculum based on their interests and passions. The curriculum emerges through the careful observations of the children by caring teachers and parents, working together. A child’s uniqueness is encouraged and respected. Children learn through their exploration and inquiry of an enriching environment. The environment in a Reggio-inspired school acts as a teacher. As children interact with natural objects, rich art materials, dramatic play items, math manipulatives, and sensory tables, they find a sense of wonder. In this wonder, they ask questions and inquire about their world in an authentic way. This is how children learn naturally!

Is this an art school? While SAA’s mission includes the increase of public understanding and practice of the arts for present and future generations through education, preschool children use art (as we all do) as a form of communication. Their paintings, sculptures, and drawings may not be a “picture,” but a story they want or need to tell. It may be an expression of emotion, or an exploration of their environment through materials. Students at The Park House Preschool will receive instruction in the basics of visual art, and meaningful experiences in music, movement, and dramatic play, but the arts act as a backdrop to the curriculum, and as a tool for children to communicate and express themselves.

2012 schedule, tuition and fees

Tuition:

4 days/week - $290/month

3 days/week- $220/month

2 days/week - $180/month

Enrollment fee: $50 (Students enrolling for the March-June 2012 partial year will have their enrollment fee waived for the 2012-2013 school year)

Open Dates – 2012 partial year meets Monday March 5^th through June 14. School will start on September 4th for the 2012-2013 school year. (We use the same calendar of holidays as SFSD)

The Reggio Emilia Approach is an educational philosophy focused on preschool and primary education. It was started by Loris Malaguzzi and the parents of the villages around Reggio Emilia in Italy after World War II. The destruction from the war, parents believed, necessitated a new, quick approach to teaching their children. They felt that it is in the early years of development that children form who they are as individuals. This led to creation of a program based on the principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment based on the interests of the children through a self-guided curriculum.

The city Reggio Emilia in Italy is recognized worldwide for its innovative approach to education. Its signature educational philosophy has become known as the Reggio Emilia Approach, one which many preschool programs around the world have adopted. The Reggio Emilia philosophy is based upon the following set of principles:

·         Children must have some control over the direction of their learning;

·         Children must be able to learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, seeing, and hearing;

·         Children have a relationship with other children and with material items in the world that children must be allowed to explore and

·         Children must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves.

The Reggio Emilia approach to teaching young children puts the natural development of children as well as the close relationships that they share with their environment at the center of its philosophy. Early childhood programs that have successfully adapted to this educational philosophy share that they are attracted to Reggio because of the way it views and respects the child. (Reggio information from Wikipedia)