Our Program
The Early Learning Center program is designed for children ages two years, nine months through age five.
Children at the Early Learning Center participate in an inquiry-based program, which means that learning goals are structured around topics of interest that the children wish to pursue in depth. Classroom inquiries range across a variety of disciplines, including science, art, and music, and learning experiences reflect a balance between teacher-directed and child-initiated activities.
Children at the Early Learning Center participate in an inquiry-based program, which means that learning goals are structured around topics of interest that the children wish to pursue in depth. Classroom inquiries range across a variety of disciplines, including science, art, and music, and learning experiences reflect a balance between teacher-directed and child-initiated activities.
Our classrooms are language-rich environments where activities and centers support the development of literacy skills as well as mathematical thinking. Children have numerous opportunities each day to reflect on and explain their thinking processes, to be responsible, to make good choices, and to be positive members of the community. Our curriculum fosters the foundational skills necessary for a successful transition to kindergarten. Upon their child’s completion of the program, parents have the option to apply for admission to Fay School’s kindergarten.
Schedule
Parents may choose from a range of enrollment options, including a three-day (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) program and a five-day program, as well as full and half days. The Early Learning Center will be open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm each day and will serve children year-round.
During the summer, the ELC is closed for two non-consecutive weeks (once in June at the conclusion of the school year and once in August before the next year starts). During the remaining nine weeks of summer, ELC Summer Session is available and families may choose to register for all nine weeks, a four week session, or a five week session. Families that will be returning to the ELC for the next school year also have the option of not registering for ELC Summer Session and their spot will still be held for September. Parents who prefer a “summer camp” experience for their child or who wish to arrange for specific, non-consecutive weeks of care during the summer may register for FaySummer on a week-by-week basis.
During the summer, the ELC is closed for two non-consecutive weeks (once in June at the conclusion of the school year and once in August before the next year starts). During the remaining nine weeks of summer, ELC Summer Session is available and families may choose to register for all nine weeks, a four week session, or a five week session. Families that will be returning to the ELC for the next school year also have the option of not registering for ELC Summer Session and their spot will still be held for September. Parents who prefer a “summer camp” experience for their child or who wish to arrange for specific, non-consecutive weeks of care during the summer may register for FaySummer on a week-by-week basis.
Faculty
Our teachers in the Early Learning Center are trained to address the specific developmental needs of preschool-aged children. They design engaging, open-ended learning experiences that stimulate inquiry and provoke the imagination, and they provide frequent opportunities for children to participate in self-selected activities that promote independence and decision-making. Throughout the day, teachers observe the children closely and help them reflect on their learning to facilitate the development of higher-order thinking skills. In addition to their regular classroom teachers, students meet with Fay faculty for special classes (music, art, P.E., world languages, and library) as part of their regular schedule.
Typical Daily Schedule
The rhythm of each day is carefully crafted to make the most of those times when children are at their most active and curious as well as when they need calm, rest, and reflection. A typical daily schedule includes the following activities:
7:00 am Arrival for Morning Care
9:00 am Arrival; Group meeting
9:15 am Planned curriculum activities
10:30 am Outdoor/curriculum activities
11:15 am Transition and preparation for lunch
11:30 am Lunch
12:15 pm Transition
12:30 pm Story, drama, and conversation
1:00 pm Rest for full-day children
Dismissal for half-day children
Dismissal for half-day children
2:30 pm Transition
2:45 pm Small-group and
individual activities
individual activities
3:45 pm Transition
4:00 pm Outdoor activities
Dismissal for children not
remaining for aftercare program
Dismissal for children not
remaining for aftercare program
4:45 pm Transition, story, reflection
5:45 pm Closing circle and preparation
of classrooms for the next day
of classrooms for the next day
6:00 pm End of day
