Questions:  What hours is the school in session?

Answer:  Classrooms are determined on year-by-year basis taking into consideration the number of children enrolled in a particular age group. Classes are not formed until the summer for the following fall. Currently (2007 School year), our primary group attends school from 9-12 on Tuesday and Thursday.  The Pre-k class is in session Tuesday- Friday from 9-2 each day. Transition classes are in session from 9-2 Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Because we try to meet the needs of our families, the times school is in session will vary from year to year.

Question:  What are the ages of the children in the school?

Answer:  The children in our primary group begin at 2 years 9 months (2.9) by September 1^st.  If we have enough children that will spend three years at Rocking Horse because of the September 1^st Kindergarten cut-off, we have a Transition class.  These children are 3 years 6 months (3.6).  The Pre-k children are children who are 4 years or older by September 1^st.

Question:  What is the difference between the Primary Class, the Transition Class and the Pre-k class?

Answer:  Besides the ages, the only difference between the classes is the curriculum. It is geared so it is age appropriate.  We have weekly themes, which the entire school follows.  How these themes are carried out will vary.  Usually the children who enter the Primary group, this is their first experience in a “school setting”.  Social skills and basic gross and fine motor skills are emphasized.  When the children enter the Transition and Pre-k classes, there is a little more emphasis on learning and skill building.

Question:  What are some of your themes for the year??

Answer:  We try to keep our curriculum fresh by adding different themes from year to year, however, some of the themes this year have been “Apples”, “Pumpkins”, “Native American Life”, “Transportation”, “Solar System” and “Insects”

Question:  Are parents allowed to come in and help out in the classroom?

Question:  Are parents required to help out in the classroom?

Answer:  Unlike a co-op program, we do not require our parents to help out in the classroom if they do not desire.  However, parents who have the desire are most welcome and can make arrangements with their child’s teacher.

Question:  What other things are offered at Rocking Horse?

Answer:  We have a music and movement teacher who comes on a weekly basis, a nature specialist who comes in twice a month and a music teacher who comes on Wednesdays and plays the piano for the kids to sing along with.  We walk to the library once a week, weather permitting of course.  Here we have a “story time” and the children are given the opportunity to check out a book that will stay in the classroom.  We have full access to the “big room” for gross motor play on those days where we cannot get out to the playground.  And we have full access to the kitchen where we can bake or cook with the children.

Question:  Do you supply a snack? 

Answer:  Yes, the children do not need to bring a snack.  We provide a healthy snack each morning. We are, however, a peanut-free school due to a large number of children having allergies.

Question:  Do the children get outside much?

Answer:  Yes, we try to get out each day depending on the weather.  If the playground is muddy or wet, we will usually take the children into the big room for some alternative gross motor play.  If the temperature is above 33 degrees we will take the children out.

Question:  What are your teacher’s qualifications?

Answer:  All of our teachers are Office for Child Care Services certified.  Some of our teachers hold degrees as well.  All of our teachers are CPR and pediatric first aid certified.

Question:  What are the classroom sizes?

Answer:  The maximum number of children in our pre-k classroom at one time is 13 children with one teacher and an aide.  Our Primary and Transition classrooms hold between 7 and 8 children with one teacher and a floating aide. 

Question:  How many days should my child attend?

 Answer:  The Pre-k children usually have a bit more experience with “school” and can handle attending several days with ease.  Each child is different, of course.  You can start your child off with fewer days and if space permits you can add days to their schedule.

Question:  What is your discipline policy?

Answer:  We are not big advocates of  “time-out” and use this method only in extreme cases.  All of our teachers are great at “diffusing” situations and redirecting the children to more appropriate behavior.