Let Us Help Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten and Beyond
YOUR CHILD’S EXPERIENCE IN OUR PRESCHOOL
The Courtyard School’s program brings the best resources and faculty together to provide children with the skills and experiences necessary in order to be prepared for success in kindergarten. The integrated curriculum is filled with math, language, literacy, writing and reading experiences as well as science exploration and music and body movement, while providing positive social experiences throughout the day. In cooperation with the Vineland Board of Education, our school implements High Scope Curriculum.
Regular attendance and being on time for school are both essential in order to allow your child to develop social skills with peers, learn the school routine, feel like they’re part of the group and maximize their learning opportunities. Habitual tardiness interrupts the classroom flow and leaves your child feeling out of sync for the day. If your child will be absent, please call the front office. We track and monitor attendance and submit it to the Vineland Board of Education. If your child is absent more than three consecutive days and we have not heard from you, you will be contacted.
YOUR CHILD’S DAY AND THE HIGH SCOPE CURRICULUM
Large Group Time
Large group time brings children and adults together for action songs, cooperative games and projects, movement activities, group storytelling and other planned learning experiences.
Small Group Time
Children explore, discover and experiment with familiar and new objects. As children describe and respond to their experience, language can develop.
Worktime (Plan, Do, Review)
Children put their activity plan into words. Then they carry out their plan and afterwards share their experiences with the group. Children may share their plan verbally or by writing and/or drawing their experiences. An adult may begin plan time by asking, “What would you like to do today?” As children carry out their plans, adults observe and facilitate the play experiences and extend language.
Playground
Playground time gives children an opportunity to practice cooperative and independent play and exercise large muscles. Large muscle development is essential to a child’s ability to read and write.
Our director, teachers and assistants all participate in ongoing professional development in early childhood, and family workers facilitate parent education and social services.
Registration
Please call us for your personal tour of our school by appointment at (856) 692-0414.
The business office is open from 9:00am to 5:30pm
Courtyard Preschool
Free for Vineland Students
September - June 8:10 AM - 2:10 PM
Transportation available on a limited basis
Wrap Around Program
Fee for service
September - June 7:00 AM - 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Summer Program
Tuition based
July and August 7:30 AM-4:30 PM
Adventure Team: 9-12 years old
Explorer’s Club: 6-8 years old
Discovery Zone: 3-5 years old
If you need financial assistance for Summer and Wrap Around Care please contact us
THE COURTYARD PARENT SUPPORT ASSOCIATION
We invite you to join the C.P.S.A. so that together we can collaborate to succeed in one of the most important aspect's of your child's eduction!
During this important time in your child's life, we encourage you to become as involved as you are able. By getting involved you increase your child's self-esteem, strength the Courtyard School Community, and develop your own leadership skills. Parent involvement is the key to your child's educational success. You are the voice of your children, you know as parents what you want for your child's education, let's join together to ensure your child's school experience leads them to a prosperous future. We are not only looking for parents who want to help in the classroom and for parent nights, we are also looking for leaders. There are many groups in our community that need parents to join and support our children's education. We need leader to represent The Courtyard School. We need you!
See your Family Worker if you are interested in being a part of this wonderful group.
Call (856) 692-0414
GOALS OF C.P.S.A.
WE'LL PROVIDE:
COURTYARD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
The Courtyard Schools program brings the best resources and faculty together to provide children with the skills and experiences necessary in order to be prepared for kindergarten. The integrated curriculum is filled with math, language, literacy, writing, reading, science exploration and music and body movement while providing a positive social experience throughout the day.
CURRICULUM
The HighScope Curriculum is a high quality, developmentally based program, founded on a philosophy of “active participatory learning,” in which children and adults are engaged, interactive partners in the learning process.
With HighScope, learning occurs in a play-based environment where children and adults work together to develop children’s knowledge and skills in problem solving, decision making, and dependence, and to promote their sense of curiosity, persistence, and creativity. Educational materials and the learning environment build on children’s interests, accommodate different developmental and ability levels, and reflect the diversity of children’s family and community backgrounds.
The HighScope Curriculum fully integrates academic and social-emotional learning in its curriculum content and assessment, addressing all domains of development.
CLASSROOM SCHEDULE
8:10 Arrival/Breakfast/Choice Time
8:30 Greeting Time
8:40 Small Group
9:00 Gross Motor Time
9:35 Planning Time
9:45 Work Time
10:45 Clean Up
10:55 Recall
11:05 Large Group
11:20 Lunch Time
11:50 Rest Time
12:50 Work Time
1:05 Story Time
1:15 Gross Motor
1:35 Snack Time/Work Time
2:10 Dismissal
FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
“Children learn in the context of their families. For some children, the term “family” includes
a large number of people, and for other children, family consists of just a parent or grandparent. In
either scenario, family and community have significant influences of young children through cultural background and local values.”
*Grow NJ Kids, Early Care and Education Programs Self-Assessment Tool p. 13
Our Family Workers & the Family Development Program help families foster these strengthening factors:
As your Certified and Credentialed Family Development Workers, we are trained to help strengthen and support your family. We provide information on child development, parenting and family topics, community resources and we help families set goals. We provide resources to our school community and your family. Each year, we tailor our services and parent events to reflect your needs and interests. The Courtyard Family Survey is a way for us to see what we are doing well and if there are areas in which we can improve.
Family Visits
The heart of the family development program is the family visit. As experienced and credentialed parent
educators, we share information on child development, offer age-appropriate activities in various areas of
development for you and your child to do together, tackle daily parenting issues, and help families set and
reach goals. Family visits can take place in your home, our school, or another agreed upon setting. Our goal is
to meet with each family at least three times a year. Family visits need not be more than 15 minutes.
Family Workshops & Programs
Throughout the year we offer parent and family events on such topics as literacy, positive parenting, multicultural
events, parent- child activities (like Dancing’ with Dads) and others, which are tailored to your family’s
needs and interests of our parents. We always provide Spanish translation and childcare by our own staff.
Look for flyers in your child’s book bag and check out the Courtyard School website.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
If you have a need, you can contact these agencies directly or with the assistance of your family worker. If you have a need or interest that is not listed, please see the comprehensive book of community resources located in our office and contact your family worker. We are here to support our families!
*Recall Website: Consumer Protection Agency www.cpsc.gov/en/recalls/
Serving Cumberland County
(609) 888-7400
Serving All Counties
(877) 652-7624
Serving All Counties
(800) 356-1561
Serving All Counties
(856) 451-5600
Serving Cumberland County
(856) 563-0292
610 Montrose St., Suite 1
(856) 794-4000 ext. 4806
Third Wednesday of Each Month from
9 AM – 12 PM
Formerly known as Quality Care, Rutgers CCR&R provides funding for wraparound and summer programs for families who qualify. Inquire at the office for an application for your preschool child. Contact CCR&R for an application for your elementary-aged child.