Welcome

• Greetings to children & caregivers with a “We’ll see you later” wave
• Songs and reminders…”Hold onto the railings and don’t let go!” as we prepare to move to our classroom or to Fellowship Hall for bike riding
• Backpack & Outdoor clothing placed in cubbies
• Wash hands, settle in, gather on rug
• Morning circle… welcome songs, attendance and numbers all around us
• Center Play… Blocks, Dramatic Play, Toys and Games, ART, Library, Sand & Water, Music & Movement, Cooking and more!
• Group Exploration…Monthly topics with books, stories, open-ended questions & answers, investigations, charting and illustrating of topics such as: trees, buildings, human and animal communities, water, nutrition, plants, insects
• Physical Activity…Out of Doors or Indoors: playground/nature adventures or bikes/balls, balance beam and other small or large group games
• Snacks (provided by school)
• Lunch/Rest Time (Pre-K 3 and 4 only)- each class on their own schedule
• Goodbye Circle… songs, stories and get ready to see your grown-up
• Backpack and Outdoor clothing… ” Have a wonderful afternoon!

We have special visitors who come to our school regularly.

• Our music teachers visit each of the classes monthly for a time of Listening, Singing and Movement.
• Our Yoga teacher meets with each three and four year-old class monthly to
  practice body mindfulness with stretching and breathing exercises.
• We invite Parents and other relatives to visit the classroom as a Mystery Reader during “Read to Me Month” in March. We also host a Book Fair during March. Sometimes we have local authors who are connected to our community: school alumni and grandparents of students offer to bring their published work and share their stories.
• We invite visitors from The Staten Island Children’s Museum, The Staten Island Zoo and
  school parents to visit and tell us about their work.
• We celebrate Outdoor Days and Read Aloud Days when the entire school participates in events throughout the day

Licensed by the NYC Department of Health, the preschool is required to follow all of the regulations of Article 47 of the Health Code including:

• Teacher qualifications: Teachers hold a NYS license in early childhood education
• Appropriate teacher/child ratios

o 2 year old classes: 1 teacher & 1 teacher assistant to no more than 12 children
o 3 year old classes: 1 teacher & 1 teacher assistant to no more than 16 children
o 4 year old classes: 1 teacher & 1 teacher assistant to no more than 18 children

• The Moravian Church is the oldest Protestant denomination in the world. As a Christian church all of the sacraments are practiced such as baptism, communion, marriage and confirmation.
• Children in our tuition based program will be exposed to Christian values and will say prayers, participate in celebrating Christian holidays and attend devotions once a month in church. Parents will be invited to join their child periodically. Children in Pre-K & 3-K For All will be offered a Christian curriculum.

Yes. Both 3-K and Pre-K for All are 5 full days a week for 6 hours & 20 minutes per day. Visit MySchools.nyc.

• Families are an important part of our preschool. Teachers and administration are available for parent conferences as well as day-to-day communications.
• Opportunities for parents to be involved include:
  – Parent orientation.
  – Parent-Teacher Conferences to discuss your child’s developmental portfolio.
  – A visit during a typical day to the class may be arranged with your child’s teacher.
  – Parenting Workshops.
• Family events such as the Halloween Walk, Christmas Sing, Easter Egg Event, Family Picnic, Family Worship, Church Services, Mother’s Day, and Mystery Readers.

Safety is the highest priority for each child.

• All doors in the building are locked and alarmed. Parents/caregivers and guests are buzzed into the preschool.
• Children are only released to an adult who is listed on the emergency card completed by parent. A picture ID is required to be shown.
• Safety drills such as fire drills, and emergency evacuations drills are practiced regularly.

In September, the children will come to class on a shortened schedule with smaller groups in class. The classes are then extended slowly until it reaches the full schedule with all the groups combined. We also allow one parent to remain in the classroom on the first day for the 3 year old program, and the first week in the 2 year old program. If your child is still having a difficult time separating, the teacher will work with you on an individual basis.

Two and three year old children are not required to be toilet trained. All staff are prepared to change diapers, assists with bathroom accidents and help children pull up pants and change clothing.

Open Registration for our tuition based programs begins on Friday, January 31, 2025 from 9:00-11:00am on a first come, first served basis. On that day you will need to fill out and sign a registration form and make a tuition deposit of $600 plus a $100.00 registration fee payable by check or cash.

Morning classes generally do fill up more quickly, but if you are flexible, you will not have a problem registering. If your program is full, your child’s name will be placed on a wait list.

The advance tuition payment is non-refundable & non-transferable.

No, just tuition deposit and a one-time registration fee.

Whenever you have a question, concern or suggestion, just call the preschool office at 1 (718) 442-5350. The preschool director, administrative staff or teachers will be happy to help – either now, or when you become a member of the Castleton Hill Moravian Preschool family.