PHILOSOPHY
We believe that the child constructs knowledge by his/her interaction with their physical and social environment. Further, we believe that appropriate instructions for preschool children should be informal, interactive, and individualized. Young children have a right to a curriculum which demonstrates that we value and recognize each child's unique social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development as well as his/her cultural and linguistic background. Thus, developmentally appropriate practices are the keystones of our program in encompassing the curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Since we believe that the home provides the primary environment for learning, parents serve as our partners in designing the most appropriate program for their children. In addition, we believe that supportive health and social services are necessary in order for children to derive the greatest benefit from their preschool experience.
PROGRAM GOALS
The goals of the JUSD Head Start/Preschool Program are to enhance the total growth of each child and ensure that children and families achieve six broad desired results that have been defined as conditions of well-being for children and families:
DR1: Children are personally and socially competent
DR2: Children are effective learners
DR3: Children show physical and motor competence
DR4: Children are safe and healthy
DR5: Families support their child's learning and development
DR6: Families achieve their goals
In order to achieve these goals, children and families will participate in a variety of activities. Each preschool teacher will develop unique activities based on his/her assessment of the needs of the children and desires of the family.
Within the Head Start classroom, teachers will plan activities that support the development of school readiness goals in the following domains:
- Approaches to Learning
- Social and Emotional Development
- Language & Literacy
- Cognition
- Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development
