Programs

Sunnylea offers two age appropriate programs for both two and three year olds. The capacity for the two year old program is 10 children offering a morning class twice a week. The three year old program is offered three times a week in either in the morning or afternoon with a maximum capacity of 16 children in each class. Each class has two teachers and one duty parent always in the class with the children.

Overview

The main philosophy of the Sunnylea Cooperative Nursery School is learning and socializing through play. The playroom is well-equipped, offering numerous choices for playing/learning activities. There are many opportunities for learning within the Sunnylea program through weekly themes and routine daily activities. The children become very comfortable with the familiar daily program that includes free play (both indoors and outdoors), snack time and circle time. Every week there is a new theme that is worked into the class and the craft for the week. These themes include music, farm animals, harvest, winter wonderland, five senses, Christmas, etc. The school also hosts special events throughout the year where the child's family is invited to participate, such as a Christmas Party, Halloween Party, pumpkin hunt, Easter egg hunt, Mother's Day tea, Father's Day Open House, Easter Egg Hunt, etc.

Each day's structure encourages the children to familairize themselves with the school setting providing free play, table work to develp their fine motor skills and imagination, snack time and circle time. The weekly theme is incorporated into the daily program. We have a library in the classroom and the toys and books are changed every week in accordance with the theme. Our school also encourages a gentle approach to separation anxiety for the child and caregiver. We understand that the first school setting may be intimidating for a child and we allow parents to stay as long a necessary during the first part of the year to alleviate the child's anxiety. The parent/caregiver will work closely with the teachers to facilitate a gentle separation.

Daily Schedule

Each day begins with a welcome from the teachers at the door and free play for the children. During free play the children are encouraged to become involved in one of the areas of the playroom. The children can engage in dramatic play with dress-up costumes and other imaginative play in the home centre consisting of a fully stocked toy kitchen. Dinosaurs, a sand table, paint easles, a water table, trucks, building blocksand a workbench are available for more imaginative play. There is a drawing table for picture drawing, letter drawing, scribbling and invented spelling. Other quiet play activities include puzzles, books and games.

Weather-permitting the children occasionally start the day outdoors, where they have outdoor free play. The children are encouraged to use large muscle movement by playing with sports equipment, riding toys and a large outdoor sandbox. The Sunnylea Junior School gym is also available to the nursery school during scheduled times for sports play.

Tidy-up time follows free play. The children are encouraged to assist with tidying up of the toys in preparation for snack time. A nutritious snack is provided by the duty parent, while the duty child takes pride in assisting and handing out the snack to his/her friends. Following snack, the children participate quietly in reading books in anticipation of circle time.

During circle time the children participate in discussions regarding the theme for the week, the daily calendar and letter and number recognition. The children also learn and sing songs as well as hear a story during this time. The parents or caregivers are then invited to come join the circle for the good bye song and ending comments/observations by the teachers.