Our Infant program is for children between the ages of six weeks and 18 months. Our teacher to child ratio is 1:4 with a maximum of 8 infants in the classroom. The infant room has been designed to provide your baby with a happy, safe and nurturing environment. Our daily schedule is based on the individual needs of your baby and includes developmentally appropriate activities for the age of your infant. Some examples of the activities are:
- Music and movement
- Cause and effect toys
- Singing songs and finger play
- Exposure to soft blocks, nesting and sorting toys
- Reading books
- Tummy time
- Lots of love and attention
- Outside time in our infant/toddler play area
Warm and nurturing interactions that include hugging, singing, rocking and playing are part of our everyday care. We encourage communication as we talk and sing when we diaper, feed, play and comfort your child. At Imagination Station ELC, we understand that every infant has an individual schedule. We do not force set schedules for our infants. We work with the parents to develop a schedule that works best for your baby. Daily conversations, telephone calls, newsletters and infant reports are all communication tools used to keep you informed and involved. Each day the teacher will write a personalized infant report about your baby’s day including nap times, feedings, activities engaged in, diaper changes and any supplies needed. Parent teacher conferences will be offered to discuss your child’s progress.
Our Toddler program provides care for children 18 months-three years. Our teacher to child ratio is 1:6 with a maximum of 12 toddlers in the classroom. The toddler program at Imagination Station ELC is designed to offer young children a loving and educational, hands-on school experience. Our goal is to create an environment where toddlers can use all five senses in activities which encourage the child to discover, explore, learn and share. Toddlers follow a curriculum to encourage their natural curiosity and willingness to try new things. The program is planned based on goals and developmental milestones appropriate for each child. A typical day includes child-choice activities, self-directed play, circle-time and projects organized by the teachers. Some milestones we focus on in the toddler room include:
- Increased language development
- Interest in joining groups of children
- Developing fine motor control
- Learning songs
- Increased ability to communicate verbally
- Introducing colors, shapes and letters
- Ability to problem solve
- The need for routine
- Demonstrating independent skills
- Awareness of self and others
- Desire to explore freely
- Potty training (when applicable)
Communication is an important part of our toddler program. Parents receive “Toddler Talk” daily reports each day that will let them know how their child’s overall day was including, eating, sleeping and diapering information. Monthly newsletters will be sent home so parents can share in their child’s growing experiences. Child assessments are completed two times per year. These reports will provide a detailed listing of the developmental milestones your child has achieved and where your child falls on the continuum of learning in all domains. Parent teacher conferences will be offered to discuss your child’s progress.
Our Preschool program is for children ages three to four years. Our teacher to child ratio is 1:9 with a maximum of 18 students in the classroom. This program promotes your child’s independence, imagination and creativity. Three year olds are becoming interested in activities with structure. It is our hope that we can develop in each child a positive self-image and a love of learning and school. In the three year old class we provide many activities to do just that. The curriculum is planned intentionally starting with a goal or focus and working backwards to create a developmentally appropriate environment that aligns with the RI Early Learning and Developmental Standards. The mixture of teacher directed activities, facilitated child initiated experiences and easily accessible centers are designed to allow for large group play, small group interactions and individual experiences. The curriculum and environment are structured to engage children in open ended activities, free choice options and purposeful play. Some of the developmental milestones we focus on in the preschool classroom include:
- Patterning
- Sorting by shape, color and size
- Basic counting
- Understanding cause and effect; beginning to problem-solve
- Making predictions
- Recognizing own name and other letters in print
- Showing a genuine interest in reading books with adults
- Speaking in front of small groups (show & tell)
- Artwork becoming more refined and beginning to resemble symbols
Each month, the teacher will post and send home a newsletter so parents can follow classroom curriculum and special events that are taking place. Child assessments will be done throughout the year. These reports will provide a detailed listing of the developmental milestones your child has achieved and where your child falls on the continuum of learning in various curriculum areas. Parent teacher conferences will be made available to discuss your child’s progress.
Our Pre-K program is for children who turn four by September and for children who miss the kindergarten cut-off date. Our teacher to child ratio is 1:10 with a maximum of 20 children in the classroom. Milestones we focus on in the Pre-K classroom include:
- Patterning and sequencing
- Simple math
- Basic counting
- Understanding size differences (big, small, more, less)
- Counting, printing and recognizing numbers
- Verbally spelling and printing first name and introducing last name
- Recalling events from a story
- Speaking in front of a group of peers (show & tell)
- Attempting to spell and read simple words
- Using problem-solving skills in a group
- Independent problem-solving
- Confidence in school setting
- Secure separation from parents
- Reinforcing self-help skills
- Enhancing social skills with peers and adults
As your child continues to grow through early childhood, their world will begin to open up. They will become more independent and begin to focus more on adults and establish friendships outside of the family. In our four-five year old program, we recognize the importance of preparing the children as well as the parent for kindergarten. Beginning kindergarten is a huge milestone for your child. Not only do we focus on the academics but also on the social, emotional and communication skills. We want your child to feel confident and independent by giving them the skills and information that they will need in order to ensure that their first year of school is a success. The curriculum is planned intentionally starting with a goal and working backwards to create a developmentally appropriate environment that aligns with the RI Early Learning and Developmental Standards. The curriculum includes components for physical health and motor development, social and emotional development, literacy, language development, cognitive development, mathematics, social studies and creative arts. The mixture of teacher directed activities, facilitated child initiated experiences and easily accessible centers are designed to allow for large group play, small group interactions and individual experiences. The curriculum and environment are structured to engage children in open ended activities, free choice options and purposeful play.
Each month, the teacher will post and send home a newsletter so parents can follow classroom curriculum and special events that are taking place. Child assessments will be done throughout the year. These reports will provide a detailed listing of the developmental milestones your child has achieved and where your child falls on the continuum of learning in various curriculum areas. Parent teacher conferences will be made available to discuss your child’s progress.
Our school age room is designed for children that are at least 5 years of age and enrolled in kindergarten to children age 12. The ratio of teachers to children is 1:13. The hours of operation are 6:30am – 5:30pm. Our program is run by a Site Coordinator who is responsible for curriculum, overseeing the program and supervising the children. During typical school days, children will be enrolled before and/or after school. Johnston School Department will provide transportation to and from schools in the surrounding area. It is the parent’s responsibility to arrange transportation with the school department and inform us of bus the number and times of pick-up/drop-off. Children will be provided with an afternoon snack and drink in the school-age program. During school vacations and summer, our school-age program runs full day.
Bus Transportation
Johnston Public School transports children to and from our center from the following schools:- Early Childhood Center
- Sarah Dyer Barnes
- Winsor Hill
- Thorton Elementary School
- St. Rocco’s
- Ferri Middle School