Our Philosophy
Play is child’s work
Social/ Emotional Development
Focus on fostering children’s ability to develop friendships, cooperate with peers, and teachers, follow directions, develop empathy, share, and approach new experiences and challenges with confidence. Circle School supports each child’s growth and development at his or her own pace. Children are valued as individuals.
Imaginative/ Dramatic Play
Teachers guide children in constructive play and provide the tools for play. Adults serve as facilitators and help children to expand their play ideas, experiment with new materials, and use language to engage in a wide variety of play activities in the classroom.
Self-Expression
Teachers provide children ample opportunity for self-expression and allow each student to learn according to his or her own style. Children are encouraged to explore and express themselves through the use of open-ended materials that allow for discovery and experimentation. An emphasis on process over product is an important part of our approach to art in the classroom.
Love of Learning
The classroom program is designed to ignite children’s enthusiasm and foster a love of learning that will last long beyond the preschool years. Topics of interest are used as the basis for curriculum units whenever possible, allowing children to engage in a breadth of experiences across many aspects of the classroom, including books, art projects, songs, games, cooking, group activities, and play materials.
Family/ Community Awareness
Children engage in activities such as gathering food for the Croton Caring Committee, recycling, creating holiday gifts and cards, going on field trips within the community in the 4’s classes, and receiving visits from the community members (doctors, dentists, fire fighters, police, etc.)
Parent/ Teacher Partnership
Parents and teachers work together as active partners in the learning process to support children, the classroom community, and the larger community.
Kindergarten Readiness
Circle School communicates with the local elementary school and structures its programs to ensure that children leave our care ready to reach their greatest potential and have a positive experience in Kindergarten. Our children move on ready to embrace all that elementary school has to offer, prepared for success in their future classroom.