Mission
Statement
History
Programs and Schedules
Admissions
Curriculum and Assessment
Professional Development
Teaching Opportunities
The Children's School is a recipient of the NAIS's (National Association
of Independent Schools) Leading Edge Honoree Award.
The Children’s School celebrates the boundless potential for growth during early childhood. This is the moment when fingers, legs and toes take flight and when eyes start deciphering the world in all of its beauty and complexity. It is the moment when the heart reaches out, asking to be loved and to love, and when the human conscience takes root, guiding the child’s treatment of others. It is the moment when the mind awakens to the senses, to language, to the glorious work of the hand.
It is the mission of The Children’s School to nourish and support this unfolding in each child. It does so by offering a varied, carefully-prepared learning environment staffed with committed, well-trained teachers. This is a place where every child is known, his or her individuality is celebrated, and where teachers, and the art of teaching, are honored by being given time for self-reflection and growth. It is also a community of parents and educators coming together in the shared belief that the early years are full of endless possibilities that require the utmost care and attention. This is a School that takes young children seriously.
So it is that under loving eyes… with sufficient rules and structure to build character and sensitivity… given an environment that encourages curiosity and excites the imagination… in a room filled with challenging materials and countless opportunities for problem-solving and self-expression… that the child begins to lead as well as learn, begins to teach as well as explore. This is the beginning, the foundation upon which everything else is built in a child’s life. It is also the reason why The Children’s School was founded: to nurture in the emergent child an appreciation of his or her own gifts as well as those of others.
HISTORY
The Children's School, an independent primary school for about 100 children
ages 3 to 8, was founded by Margaret Skutch in 1964. In her book To
Start a School, Skutch describes how and why she developed an early
childhood education program which balances challenge with self-esteem.
What she accomplished in creating the School was to balance and integrate
thinking skills, creative expression and free play within an environment
where the development of children's self-esteem and joy in learning are
the first priorities. This, in part, is why the Ford Foundation published
a report and funded a film about the School's innovative methods. Starting
with the philosophy and curriculum of Maria Montessori, which is very
much skill-based, and adding theories of others such as Piaget and Dewey,
Skutch developed her own hybrid approach to teaching and learning which
places the warm, positive relationship between teacher and child first.
There are several strategies teachers use with children to build self-esteem and a love of learning. The language that teachers use to communicate with children is one of these important strategies. It is always positive, encouraging and supportive: "I like the way you created that pattern." "You can do it." "You really rose to the challenge - good work!" Teachers' language always demonstrates respect for the children and reflects the fact that, at this school, children are taken seriously. (Skutch's second book is entitled Taking Children Seriously.)
Maureen Murphy, Director of The Children's School since 1984, has maintained the underlying philosophy and mission of the School while augmenting the curriculum by integrating new information regarding educating young children. Ms. Murphy has taught at schools in England and New York as well as The Children's School (formerly, the Early Learning Center). She holds an M.A. degree in early childhood education and a post graduate degree in computer education from Bank Street College. Ms. Murphy is currently working on her Ph.D. in Private School Leadership at Columbia University.
The award winning school building was designed by architect and educator, Egon Ali-Oglu to meet the founder's requirement for a learning environment that was completely child-centered. Built in 1967, it is one large room with many areas for different activities including art, science, computers, blocks, as well as many low cases filled with beautifully designed learning materials and nooks, lofts and cubbyholes where the children may read or play. At one end of the carpeted area is a lowered pit, "forum", where children gather once or twice a day for group activities. Two sets of double doors lead to the outside play yard which features many child-appropriate play structures, including a real wooden boat and a "treehouse" climbing structure.
The Children's School
is incorporated in the State of Connecticut and governed by an independent
Board of Trustees. It is approved by the Connecticut State Department
of Education and holds an affiliate membership in the Connecticut Association
of Independent Schools.
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PROGRAMS
AND SCHEDULES
The Children's School was designed and developed to offer a rich exposure
to all types of learning through a stimulating, carefully-planned, physical
environment. Developmentally appropriate learning materials are available
for the children to explore throughout the day. In addition to exploration
of the physical environment, each child has an in-depth, individualized
lesson with a teacher each day. Through the afternoon program, the four
and five year olds spend part of their time exploring concepts from different
curriculum areas in small groups. These areas include art, science, music,
movement, Spanish, problem solving social studies and writing. The six
through eight year olds¹ day begins 50 minutes before the rest of the
children allowing time for intensive language arts work with a 3:1 student-teacher
ratio. The rest of the morning is spent on group language arts and math
instruction, listening to stories and books, and exploration of the classroom.
The six to eight year olds spend an hour each afternoon studying science
or social studies followed by a "special" ranging from Spanish to computers.
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ADMISSIONS
One of the best ways to learn more about the school is to schedule a visit.
Prospective parents may observe our program from 9 to10 am weekday mornings
by appointment. We do not interview children. Applications require a $50
non-refundable deposit. Please call for further information. The Children¹s
School admits children of any race, color, national or ethnic origin or
religious preference.
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CURRICULUM
& ASSESSMENT
The curriculum of The Children's School has been developed with the mission
of the School at its core; the environment invites learning and achievement,
and, therefore, the children leave school each day with a sense of accomplishment
and significance. The learning materials are presented in a carefully
planned environment wherein self-discovery and individualized lessons
are combined to maximize growth, independence and, ultimately, learning.
In addition to daily notes and observations taken for each child and portfolios
accumulated for the children, each student at The Children's School is
the subject of a yearly "Video Portfolio". One material is chosen from
each area and throughout the course of two weeks, the child is videotaped
in each of the designated lessons. The teacher then studies this footage
and other shots of the child throughout the classroom and edits a 20 minute
tape. This audiovisual representation of what the child can do is extremely
powerful and an invaluable assessment tool for teachers as well as parents.
The use of individualized records, portfolios and video shows the whole
child in a concrete, realistic way that is second only to spending a complete
year getting to know an individual child.
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PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
The Children's School was founded as a center for early learning as well
as professional development. The School offers training workshops to educators
interested in learning about, implementing and modifying the techniques
that are at the core of its philosophy.
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