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Calendar:
Academic school year ... September through June
Summer Camp ... July and August
Hours:
AM Program ... 9:00-12:00
PM Program ... 1:00-4:00
Full day program ... 9:00-4:00 (pick up between 3:00 and 4:00)
We offer extended hours (8:00-6:00) for working parents.
Flexible attendance:
Ages 2 1/2 to 4 ... minimum two half days per week.
Age 4 ... Pre-K ... minimum three half days per week.
Age 5 ... Kindergarten ... five full (or half) days per week.
You may reserve schedules ranging from "minimums" up to full time.
Choose your days & mix mornings, afternoons, and full days.
Extended hours may be changed each month.
Potty training:
For the school year starting in September of 2009, potty training is not required for children born after 6/1/06.
Tours:
We strongly encourage private tours and recommend you bring your children.
Tours are "by appointment" from Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 11:00am.
Tuition policy:
Tuition is payable in ten equal monthly installments.
Parents who wish to reserve space must submit an application with a "one month" deposit
and annual registration fee. We try hard to keep our tuition affordable for working parents.
Sept-June ... full time students pay as little as $4.04/hour.
Summer ... full time students pay as little as $3.41/hour.
Our philosophy:
We believe every child has the potential for outstanding academic achievements.
The key to unlocking this potential is the self-confidence that goes with a positive self-image and good inter-personal skills.
We strive to help every child develop an enduring confidence in their own abilities.
We accomplish this by creating a nurturing environment where children can explore who they are and how to get along with other children.
Children who are self-confident expect success. Expectations create reality.
Advanced academic program:
Our academic program is one year ahead of public school (we use Kindergarten texts in our Pre-K and first grade texts in Kindergarten).
We use "Land of the Letter People," "Saxon Phonics," and "the Oxford Reading Tree" to teach reading ...
and Saxon Math (with a wide variety of manipulatives) to teach arithmetic. Textbook work starts in Pre-K but last only 30 minutes of our 3 hour morning.
Our Pre-K learns entire Kindergarten curriculum in only 1 1/2 hours/week.
Our program makes children want to learn
We accomplish this by harnessing the basic dynamics of human nature and linking our learning targets to activities that are fun, interactive, and relevant.
Material is presented at the child's level so it is consistent with his perspective. We drive learning with the enthusiasm of play behavior and make
the process inter-active by having children do something physical that reinforces what we are trying to teach.
Our top priority is socialization
All our activities are designed to nurture inter-personal and communication skills. Our monthly themes are intended as a catalyst to give your children
something to talk about. During the regular school year these themes revolve around real life (feelings, growing things, home sweet home, changing seasons, etc).
During the Summer, we have adventures (Dinosaurs, Pirates, Magic, Kids in space, etc.)
We teach respect for other people's feelings
This process starts with learning to "share" and the related ability to identify and talk about one's own feelings.
These skills evolve through empathy exercises where children dramatize emotions and role playing exercises where they act out opposing perspectives.
We teach children to solve thier own problems
Our teachers have been professionally trained to use Prof Myrna Schure's "I Can Problem Solve" program which teaches
pre-schoolers the skills to resolve inter-personal conflicts without adult intervention. This program really works
and has been adopted by several States for use in their public school system. (See Schure's books on "I Can Problem Solve"
designed for parents to use at home).
We teach children to be responsible
This is accomplished using programs like "Adopt a Bear" where older children take turns caring for the class
mascot, "Mr. Fuzzy" (a teddy bear that they take home and bring to school every day). The process includes changing
the bear's clothes, brushing his teeth, and keeping a daily journal (with parent help).
We teach children to work together
Inspired by training intended to teach team spirit to executives, we have designed various projects that require team work
and collaboration to accomplish shared objectives. This program includes both physical exercises and use of "cooperative board
games" (where children win or lose as a group).
Physical education program
Fine motor skills are nurtured thru daily craft and art projects which require finger painting, play dough modeling, cutting,
drawing, block building, puzzles, and frequent use of a wide variety of manipulatives.
Gross motor skills are developed thru daily dance, music, and calisthenics. Students use a wide variety of indoor gym equipment
including tumbling mats, balance beams, climbing cushions, etc. Leapfrog offers off site gymnastics and instructional swimming.
Older children have yoga every week.
Strong computer program
We have computers in every classroom plus a "Computer Center" in our main room. We have an extensive library of educational
software (over 100 titles) and add to our inventory every year.
We design our own curriculum
The themes are the core of the Leapfrog experience and are designed to get children excited about being here and anxious to learn
more. Once your children discover that Leapfrog is available to entertain them, they will want as much as they can get.
Annual evaluation for speech problems:
All children enrolled in leapfrog are evaluated annually by professional speech pathologists ("Speech Start" - Middletown).
These evaluations are done on Leapfrog premises during regular school hours. Our experience confirms early intervention is
essential in resolving speech related problems.
Monthly calendars
We make it easy for parents to follow what their children do here through detailed monthly calenders which highlight daily activities.
(See Samples)
Outstanding staff:
We nurture every child, every day with individual attention and encouragement. 80% of our staff have professional teaching degrees
and are State certified. All staff members (including director) are certified in pediatric first aid and CPR. All staff members have
been trained by a registered nurse in use of an Epi Pen. Teacher tenure >> Average time working at Leapfrog is 7.2 years.
Average time working as professional teacher is 12.6 years. We subsidize ongoing staff training in Princeton and local colleges.
Teacher feedback on student progress:
Parents have individual one-on-one teacher conferences every Spring to review their child's progress. Parents may seek daily teacher
feedback concerning developmental issues.
Parent "outreach" programs to help at home:
Leapfrog has a variety of resources that we make available to parents who are struggling with common problems at home. We have a lending library
that includes books, DVDs and our favorite magazine articles/reprints off the web. These resources deal with some of the most common
parenting challenges ... like potty training, aggresion, biting, refusal to go to bed, problems sharing toys, etc. etc.
Our head teacher, Miss Maureen, is always available for private consultations at no extra charge.
Indemnity for lost Deposits at another school
We will pay you up to one month's tuition if you lose a deposit at another school because you transferred to Leapfrog mid-year.
(documentation required).
How to reserve space:
Parents who wish to reserve space must submit an application along with a "one month" deposit and a registration fee.
Desposits are intended to pay for your last month of tuition (June 2010). If your requested schedule is not available,
we will offer alternative days or a "waitlist."
Orientation visits before school starts:
All children are invited to attend orientation sessions immediatley prior to the start of the school year in September.
These visits last one hour and give our students a chance to meet their new teacher and other new classmates before school
officially starts. There is no separation anxiety because parents stay with their children during these visits.
Field trips:
Field trips are generally snychronized with our monthly themes and parent participation is optional (mandatory for children
under age four). Parents ride on the bus with their children and may bring children who do not attend Leapfrog. Past trips
have included the Bronx zoo, the Museum of Natural History (NYC), the Metropolitan Museum (NYC), Novins Planetarium,
Jenkinson's Aquarium, Sandy Hook, the Paper Moon Puppet Theater, the Count Basie Theater, etc.
Transportation:
Transportation is provided by the Wehrle Bus Company (all vehicles have seat belts and are driven by commercially
licensed, professional drivers).
Facilities:
6,000 sq ft divided into four spacious classrooms separated by a large central area containing an art/craft center,
a computer center, and an indooor climbing maze. Special features include a Kindergarten reading loft and a separate
music room with a piano.
Outdoor facilities include two fenced playgrounds (total 12,000 sq. ft) with spectacular, new $40,000 play habitat.
Medical policy:
Maintaining a healthy school environment is a responsibility that all our teachers diligently monitor. Leapfrog meets or
exceeds all guidelines established by the Health Dept and the Dept of Youth & Familiy Services. When children are found
to be sick, parents (or another care giver) must pick up the child promptly. Children with a fever are not
permitted back in school until 24 hours after their temperature has returned to normal without medication.
Professional portrait photographs:
Slayton Studios is the official Leapfrog photographer and visits Leapfrog every Spring. All children are photographed
both individually and in class groups. Photos are printed and submitted to parents for review but you are under no obligation to purchase anything.
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