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Apple Tree Nursery School considers offering kindergarten |
| By
Alissa Hammond |
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Nov 19, 2007 |
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Apple Tree Nursery School may be offering a new service to UT students, faculty and staff next year. If there is an interest in it, the nursery will offer a kindergarten for 2008 and 2009.
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| Nico, left, and Jackson recently used construction paper for art projects at Apple Tree. |
The Apple Tree Board of Trustees, led by Apple Tree Director Sherry Roush, is looking into offering a kindergarten class again on Main Campus. The school formerly operated a kindergarten for five years before discontinuing it after Toledo Public Schools moved to a full-day program and the demand for a kindergarten at UT decreased.
Since the program was discontinued, the University community has expressed a renewed interest in bringing it back. The kindergarten would operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the option of before- and-after school care from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The calendar for the class would run in sync with the UT calendar, and those reserved in kindergarten would have reserved spots in summer care. With being located on UT’s Main Campus, it would be convenient for faculty, staff and students, Roush said.
There will be an informational meeting Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m. at Apple Tree. Babysitting will be available during the meeting. Tuition rates for the kindergarten class have not been established yet.
The child-to-teacher ratio for the kindergarten class will be 10 to one, with a maximum group size of 20 children with two teachers. All children must meet the age eligibility requirement, which can be met in one of two ways: child is 5 by Aug. 1, or child is 5 by the date required by the school district he/she will enter in the first grade.
The kindergarten classroom would be arranged with learning centers for the children to explore. Each week teachers will prepare new learning opportunities that are imbedded into learning centers. These learning opportunities are directly tied to the state of Ohio’s Kindergarten Learning Standards, as well as important social, emotional and physical development experiences, according to Roush.
If Apple Tree’s kindergarten returns, the daily routine would be:
9 a.m. — morning meeting
9:30 a.m. — learning centers
11:15 a.m. — outside time
Noon — lunch
12:45 p.m. — body break
2 p.m. — cooperative experience
3 p.m. — dismissal
“Apple Tree is proud to be a part of the diverse University community, and we invite anyone to stop by and see what we have to offer,” Roush said.
Apple Tree Nursery School was one of the first centers in Ohio to achieve a Three-Star Step Up to Quality Award from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services — Bureau of Child Care and Development in 2006. This rating was retained this year, and is the highest award in the system. The Main Campus location became accredited by the Academy of Early Childhood Programs in 1999 and remains accredited.
Registration will be available at the informational meeting, as well as by calling 419.530.1071 and setting up an appointment with the director of Apple Tree. There will be a $35 registration fee and a contract committing to kindergarten tuition for the complete school year to sign when rates are established. The deadline for registering is Feb. 1.
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