Application
Program Overview
The Mansfield Township School District is offering the community of Mansfield a half-day (2.5 hours) collaborative preschool program serving all 3-5 year old children.
To be eligible for the Early Bird Program children must be three years old. This is a developmentally oriented program based on noted preschool curricula, as well as New Jersey Core Standards for preschool. The class will consist of typically developing children and children with developmental challenges learning together in the same environment.
The program will incorporate activities within the classroom based on the children’s individual learning styles. Our goal is to provide an enriched preschool environment that meets the social, emotional, physical and cognitive needs of all students.
Program Design
The Early Bird Program structure is similar to a typical preschool experience, as the teaching of developmentally appropriate skill areas is embedded throughout the school day. Skills will be developed in the following areas:
- Perceptual Motor – Blocks and puzzles
- Social and Language Development – Dramatic Play (i.e. – kitchen & dress up)
- Language and Emergent Literacy – Writing/Alphabet Center/Library/Listening/Story Center
- Sensory Experiences – Sand/Water Table
- Creative Representation – Art Center
- Mathematic Skills – Manipulative Center
The Early Bird Preschool Team meets during the school year for full days to review student progress and plan activities based on the needs of the students, during which time the Early Bird Program will not be in session. Parents will be notified of the exact dates of these planning days during the first week of school, so that they may make appropriate childcare arrangements.
Program Advantages
The classroom will be staffed with highly-qualified teachers and instructional assistants.
The integrated preschool design offers children the opportunity to learn and play with age appropriate peers with and without developmental challenges. While teachers focus on individual student goals, the classroom environment will assist in developing a culture of respect and an acceptance of others’ differences.
Enrollment Guidelines
Typically developing students will be accepted through the application and will be charged tuition. Tuition for the 2011/2012 school year will be $3,000. Children must be residents of Mansfield, three years old, toilet trained, have a current physical and all required immunizations. The child must be three by July 1, 2011
