New Extended Day Program at Sandcastles Montessori Preschool
The Extended Day Program at Sandcastles began in January, 2010 and is available to all the Sandcastles children, ages 18 months to 6 years, from 11:30 to 3:00, Monday - Friday, on the days that they have school.
The morning teachers spend more time with the children in the structured environment. The children bring their lunches and eat with their friends. There is time for working in the classroom and social interactions. The children enjoy staying longer and like having more time to be with their friends at school.
The Extended Day program is a success because it based on the Montessori Method of Education and the children and teachers are comfortable in this calm, creative, organized environment. Many social values are taught here and are carried with the children for the rest of their lives. As Maria Montessori said, "The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six". The curriculum areas are Language Arts, Science, Mathematics, Sensorial, Geography and Culture, Practical Life, Art, Music, Movement, and Spanish. The children are able to choose the materials to work with that they are interested in. They may also choose to work alone or with other children. The children are naturally enthusiastic to learn and work at their own pace. The Montessori Method of Education allows children to learn to concentrate on their work, become independent, and be able to communicate their ideas.
The philosophy of the program focuses on respect for one's self, respect for others, and respect for the environment. The children are able to use the hands-on materials as they are being taught a lesson. With individual lessons, the children can immediately use the materials to learn the skills being taught.
What the children and parents tend to love so much about Sandcastles Montessori Preschool is the nurturing, care, and special attention that can be given to each student because of the high teacher to student ratio. The certified teachers provide a challenging and individualized curriculum in the prepared child-sized environment with specialty hands-on materials that build self esteem within the children.
Many Sandcastles parents believe that the positive language and specific routines that the teachers use with the children carry over into the home. "My child is polite, helpful, and respectful," wrote one mother on her evaluation of the school. "I believe it is really from his school environment." "Sandcastles Montessori Preschool is wonderful!", commented another mother. "I can't believe how much my child has learned and how much he really enjoys it!"
The Extended Day Program from 11:30 to 3:00 includes the Montessori philosophy, materials, and structure of the morning programs in a nurturing and loving setting. The children have their lunch, playground time, story time, and work time during their extended time at school.