Dear Parents:
When you visit the Pre-K classroom, the teachers will be busy interacting with children. To make the most of your pre-enrollment visit to the program, we would like to provide you with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions ahead of time, so that you can be free to observe your child in the active environment. If you have further questions, the teachers will gladly answer them at the end of the session, or will call you at the end of the day.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is the philosophy of the school?
Somerset Early Childhood Center was established in 1982 and has a strong child development emphasis based on a wide range of research. The classroom is divided into learning centers such as language, math, science, computers, blocks, music, art, sensory tables, gross motor play, and dramatic play. The building of language, social, physical, and cognitive skills is achieved through participation in these centers.

The teachers guide and encourage children to explore and learn in each of these areas while implementing the curriculum through meaningful play. As teachers supervise and participate in children’s play, both modeling when appropriate and refraining from interfering when appropriate. Pre-K children achieve specific learning outcomes, develop problem solving strategies and enhance their curiosity and sense of discovery.

2. How does this philosophy encourage learning?
We know from child development research that children construct knowledge through “hands on” experience. Our program provides materials and equipment appropriate to the children’s developmental levels. Our daily schedule provides appropriate time for learning including an outdoor program which we consider an extension of the classroom. We participate in outdoor play each day, including winter time, unless the actual temperature including wind chill is at or below 20 degrees.

3. What are the qualifications of the teachers and staff at Somerset Early
    Childhood Center?
The teachers are highly qualified educators with training, experience and education in Early Childhood Education. Our teachers have degrees in the fields of education, early childhood education, psychology and other related fields. Our teachers provide an environment of trust, care, respect and individuality for each child.

The founders of Somerset were both on the Early Childhood Education faculty at Oakland University and our Executive Director has a Masters Degree in Child Development.

In addition to their academic training, the staff also participates in ongoing training and development with retreats, monthly planning meetings, professional association conferences, reimbursed college courses and encouraged visits to other schools and centers. All employees are CPR and First Aid Certified.

4. Is Somerset Early Childhood Center accredited?
Somerset is licensed by the State of Michigan meeting the requirements for all preschools in the state. In addition to this mandated licensing, Somerset is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This is a very challenging and involved process and only the very top schools in the country achieve this accreditation. We adhere to all of the NAEYC guidelines in the areas of children, families, colleagues, and community/society.

5. Do the children have group times?
Each program has periods when all of the children come together to share experiences, have music, movement and story time. The length and number of these group times depends on the age and interest level of the children in the group.

6. What is the teacher/child ratio in the Pre-Kindergarten?
In the Pre-K, the ratio is one adult for every eight children. Our ratio is substantially lower than the State of Michigan requires for Pre-K programs.

7. What is the discipline policy of Somerset?
It is normal for Pre-K children to be egocentric and to act from their own perspectives. We talk with children about how their actions affect others and encourage them to verbalize their feelings. It is a slow developmental process, but children learn to respect the rights of others and to become caring, thoughtful learners and friends. By respecting and honoring children’s rights and feelings, we have learned that children eventually show the same respect to others.

At this age children also begin to be interested in rules. At the beginning of the school year children participate in the development of the classroom rules which will make sense based on their own experiences. Being a part of the process of creating classroom rules helps children understand the purpose and origin of rules.

All Somerset teachers use redirection with children when there is a conflict over toys or materials and encourage children to use language rather than physical means to express their needs and wishes. We are interested in building self-control and self-direction in the children. Physical punishment or “time out” is never used in disciplining children at the school. In discipline situations our goal is to enhance the child’s ability to function appropriately and self-regulate, not to punish.

8. Is there snack time or lunch time for children?
Each program provides healthy snacks for children during each morning and afternoon session. Children may stay for lunch as part of their school session on a space available basis. Lunch is provided by the child and the lunch period is from 12:00-12:30 with an additional quiet or resting time from 12:30-1:00 , if staying a full day.

9. Are there toilet training requirements?
Your child needs to be toilet trained to attend the Pre-K Program.

10. What if my child doesn’t speak English?
We have had hundreds of children at Somerset who did not speak English when they first came to us. Communication with Pre-K children, even those speaking English, is often done in a nonverbal manner. Children show us by their faces, hands, and other nonverbal cues what they are wanting and needing. Our teachers are very sensitive to this type of communication. Children quickly learn English by listening to other children and by the teaching, modeling and caring of the teachers.

11. What is the curriculum in the Pre-K program?
The Pre-K Staff, in accordance with the philosophy and curriculum goals of the school, provide carefully planned activities in the cognitive, social/emotional, physical and language areas.

Social and emotional development is nurtured through interactions with others. Social skill development includes sharing, cooperation and following rules.
Pre-math concepts such as color and shape recognition, object sorting and classifying, patterning, rote counting, number identification and number concepts are learned through weekly planned centers and activities.
Science concepts, including estimating, predicting and observing physical changes and growth are learned through weekly planned centers and activities.
Pre-reading is encouraged by having a “print rich” environment, reading stories, making up rhymes and journal writing. Through these activities, the children learn to associate oral language with the power of the written word.
Fine motor development is learned in activities such as cutting, sensory experiences, scissors handling, tracing and utensil control in art and other manipulative activities.
Imagination develops through pretend play, where children are offered the opportunity to imitate and make sense of situations and people in their world.
Large muscle development is achieved with outdoor playground play, indoor and outdoor climber and creative music and movement activities.

12. How are “separation problems” handled with children?
Parents are encouraged to introduce their children to a consistent staff member, especially one to whom she or he seems comfortable. It is important to tell the child you are leaving and will return in a short time to pick him/her up. It is best to keep “good-byes” sweet and short. Lingering good-byes can be painful to the child.

We will contact the parent by phone if the child remains upset and is unable to participate in the classroom activities. We will inform the parents if we feel the child needs a shorter day or other adjustments made to make the separation easier.

13. How does Somerset communicate with parents about their children?
There are numerous ways that we communicate with parents. We talk with parents daily about the children when they are brought into the program and again when the parents pick children up at the end of the session.

Monthly newsletters are provided to parents with information about the daily program, concepts and themes being introduced in the learning centers, songs and rhymes being taught to children and special events and activities that are being planned.

Conferences with parents occur twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Teachers, however, will share information with brief notations on the sign-in sheets along with verbal exchanges on a regular basis, encouraging open communication with parents. Parents are also invited to participate in the classroom when they desire. The staff can suggest ways in which parents may participate.