2015 Family Survey
This week, we ask that you complete our parent survey. This survey is just one of the methods we use to take a look at our overall program. We take your feedback very seriously and use it to reflect on our strengths as well as areas where we can improve. The survey can be completed anonymously, and your answers are strictly confidential. You can access the parent survey via email, or you can wait for a paper copy which you'll find in your child's cubby. Electronic copies can be emailed right to Sarah at info@mountainvillageschool.com or you can turn in paper surveys here at school; there will be folders affixed to the walls in the upstairs and downstairs hallways. Please complete and return all surveys by Friday, February 6th.
So take a moment to fill out a survey, our hope is that MVS is the best possible experience for your children, and your feedback is a vital and valued tool for us to make our school even better.
On a similar note, stay tuned for the new 2015 Parent and Family Handbook in the coming week!
ITERS/ECERS...That's a LOT of Letters!
You may remember that a few weeks back we wrote about the STARS program through the VT Department of Children and Families. If you missed it, give it a read, or click here for a refresher. One of the criteria for obtaining even more stars through the the program is the completion of an environmental rating, and the implementation of an action plan for further success.
ITERS/ECERS is a research-based environmental rating scale that measures a whole host of different criteria, but essentially looks at how schools provide for the diverse needs of children. To do this, ITERS (Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale) and ECERS (Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale) evaluate 7 different subcategories of a school's program. These include:
-Space and furnishings
-Personal care routines
-Language reasoning/Listening and talking
-Activities
-Interactions
-Program Structure
-Parents and Staff
While we can look at our program within a self assessment context, the rubber meets the road when a Quality Ratings Assessment is performed by a trained ITERS/ECERS assessor, who can give us a complete and reliable review. This week, we had a visit from our ITERS/ECERS assessor, and we anticipate another visit in the coming week. We look forward to receiving the results and the continuous improvement that is ahead. There is always more to be done to support and provide for the children in our care, and the environmental rating assessment is just another way to do that.
For more detailed info on ITERS/ECERS, check out these links:
ITERS
ECERS
Classroom Happenings*Both Infant I and II had visits from Carol, our ITERS/ECERS assessor!
Infant I: Infant I welcomed a new student, who was a wonderful addition to the classroom, everyone looks forward to getting to know him better. There has been a lot of movement this week, rolling, scooting, and interacting with one another, The babies have been looking more at books with real photographs in them, as opposed to illustrations. And, the teachers have been encouraging self soothing skills, allowing the children more time to calm themselves when upset and giving them the space to put themselves to sleep.
Infant II: Another cold week meant bringing some of the outside in. Snow made it's way into the classroom in small bowls, this was a way for the children to explore the snow without the cumbersome interference of mittens. This was a fun, sensory based activity that the kids really enjoyed. They also added water to the snow to see how it changed the texture and consistency. The class was very welcoming to guests this week as well, as they said hi and goodbye and even shook hands! These are great social skills for this age group! Additionally, we want to say congrats as one of the children became a big brother this week.
Toddler I: We say goodbye to one of our Toddler I friends, and wish him well as he heads into the Toddler II classroom! We are excited to spend time with a new student who starts next week. The class kept very busy being active indoors as well as out. Inside, they practiced walking up and down the stairs (speed drills for these future Olympic sprinters perhaps?!?) and spent time in the hallway jumping and crawling as they pretended to be different animals. Art projects included dot painting and watercolors, and new puzzles have offered some real challenges this week.
Toddler II: The sensory table made for some wet and soapy sleeves, as the kids played with sponges and cups. The focus was on absorbing the water with the sponges to squeeze and transfer the water into the cups. In the hallway, the kids played "Follow the Leader" style games for some gross motor time and to work on coordination. They practiced taking giant steps and walking backwards. The class was also a tad (safe to say) obsessed with a giant John Deere floor puzzle which proved to be a bit too difficult for them. They decided as a class to donate it to their Pre-K friends, who might make quicker work of it. New pink and purple play dough was a real hit, which all the kids helped make. And, they welcomed a new student from Toddler I, and wish another happy trails on her way to Pre-K!
Pre-K: The Pre-K class has been reading some poetry this week, notably Shel Silverstein's "Spaghetti," which most of the class has already memorized. Also on the pasta front, Tommie dePaola's Strega Nona has been a featured book this week. As a whole, the class has been working on the social skill of respecting boundaries. This relates to both physical space for one another, and giving their classmates emotional space as well. To support this, Jen is encouraging the children to solve problems through talking. The class was thankful for outdoor time, especially as warmer weather crept in toward week's end.
As Seen at MVS
Thanks for Reading
Enjoy the sun and shivers! -Sam
This week, we ask that you complete our parent survey. This survey is just one of the methods we use to take a look at our overall program. We take your feedback very seriously and use it to reflect on our strengths as well as areas where we can improve. The survey can be completed anonymously, and your answers are strictly confidential. You can access the parent survey via email, or you can wait for a paper copy which you'll find in your child's cubby. Electronic copies can be emailed right to Sarah at info@mountainvillageschool.com or you can turn in paper surveys here at school; there will be folders affixed to the walls in the upstairs and downstairs hallways. Please complete and return all surveys by Friday, February 6th.
So take a moment to fill out a survey, our hope is that MVS is the best possible experience for your children, and your feedback is a vital and valued tool for us to make our school even better.
On a similar note, stay tuned for the new 2015 Parent and Family Handbook in the coming week!
ITERS/ECERS...That's a LOT of Letters!
You may remember that a few weeks back we wrote about the STARS program through the VT Department of Children and Families. If you missed it, give it a read, or click here for a refresher. One of the criteria for obtaining even more stars through the the program is the completion of an environmental rating, and the implementation of an action plan for further success.
ITERS/ECERS is a research-based environmental rating scale that measures a whole host of different criteria, but essentially looks at how schools provide for the diverse needs of children. To do this, ITERS (Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale) and ECERS (Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale) evaluate 7 different subcategories of a school's program. These include:
-Space and furnishings
-Personal care routines
-Language reasoning/Listening and talking
-Activities
-Interactions
-Program Structure
-Parents and Staff
While we can look at our program within a self assessment context, the rubber meets the road when a Quality Ratings Assessment is performed by a trained ITERS/ECERS assessor, who can give us a complete and reliable review. This week, we had a visit from our ITERS/ECERS assessor, and we anticipate another visit in the coming week. We look forward to receiving the results and the continuous improvement that is ahead. There is always more to be done to support and provide for the children in our care, and the environmental rating assessment is just another way to do that.
For more detailed info on ITERS/ECERS, check out these links:
ITERS
ECERS
Classroom Happenings*Both Infant I and II had visits from Carol, our ITERS/ECERS assessor!
Infant I: Infant I welcomed a new student, who was a wonderful addition to the classroom, everyone looks forward to getting to know him better. There has been a lot of movement this week, rolling, scooting, and interacting with one another, The babies have been looking more at books with real photographs in them, as opposed to illustrations. And, the teachers have been encouraging self soothing skills, allowing the children more time to calm themselves when upset and giving them the space to put themselves to sleep.
Infant II: Another cold week meant bringing some of the outside in. Snow made it's way into the classroom in small bowls, this was a way for the children to explore the snow without the cumbersome interference of mittens. This was a fun, sensory based activity that the kids really enjoyed. They also added water to the snow to see how it changed the texture and consistency. The class was very welcoming to guests this week as well, as they said hi and goodbye and even shook hands! These are great social skills for this age group! Additionally, we want to say congrats as one of the children became a big brother this week.
Toddler I: We say goodbye to one of our Toddler I friends, and wish him well as he heads into the Toddler II classroom! We are excited to spend time with a new student who starts next week. The class kept very busy being active indoors as well as out. Inside, they practiced walking up and down the stairs (speed drills for these future Olympic sprinters perhaps?!?) and spent time in the hallway jumping and crawling as they pretended to be different animals. Art projects included dot painting and watercolors, and new puzzles have offered some real challenges this week.
Toddler II: The sensory table made for some wet and soapy sleeves, as the kids played with sponges and cups. The focus was on absorbing the water with the sponges to squeeze and transfer the water into the cups. In the hallway, the kids played "Follow the Leader" style games for some gross motor time and to work on coordination. They practiced taking giant steps and walking backwards. The class was also a tad (safe to say) obsessed with a giant John Deere floor puzzle which proved to be a bit too difficult for them. They decided as a class to donate it to their Pre-K friends, who might make quicker work of it. New pink and purple play dough was a real hit, which all the kids helped make. And, they welcomed a new student from Toddler I, and wish another happy trails on her way to Pre-K!
Pre-K: The Pre-K class has been reading some poetry this week, notably Shel Silverstein's "Spaghetti," which most of the class has already memorized. Also on the pasta front, Tommie dePaola's Strega Nona has been a featured book this week. As a whole, the class has been working on the social skill of respecting boundaries. This relates to both physical space for one another, and giving their classmates emotional space as well. To support this, Jen is encouraging the children to solve problems through talking. The class was thankful for outdoor time, especially as warmer weather crept in toward week's end.
As Seen at MVS
Thanks for Reading
Enjoy the sun and shivers! -Sam