Apple School
“Quality Preschool Education, PLUS”
Open 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Mon., through Fri., Half Day or Full day, Open full year
Preschool, ages 2 through 5, 3 or 5 day schedule options
Before/After School Program: Kindergarten through 5th grade
Summer Program: Preschool and grades K-5
Nancy Watrous, Executive Director
Kelsey Reitz, Director
A non-profit, non-discriminatory educational organization
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The School:
Apple School is a non-profit, non-discriminatory educational organization whose purpose is to provide quality preschool education and a quality Before/After School Program in an environment of warm support for each child. Established in 1982, Apple School has obtained Private School status and is not affiliated with any religious organization or corporate franchise. Our objectives are to expose children to the widest possible variety of experiences in order to arouse their curiosity, challenge their physical and cognitive abilities, and encourage self-expression. We will encourage independence in the care of self and the mastery of everyday tasks. We plan to utilize the wealth of talent and expertise available in this unique community to bring a myriad of enrichment activities and experiences into the classroom to complement our daily schedule.
Schedule:
Apple School is open all year, Monday through Friday, and offers preschool classes, half day or full day programs with 3 or 5 day options. The school is open from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM to children ages 2 through grade five. Bus transportation is provided for children attending Rockbridge, Mill Creek, Beulah Ralph or Ridgeway Elementary Schools. The school meets all state licensing requirements, serves nutritious breakfasts, lunches and snacks, and has provisions for those children who nap. The school does not take a Christmas or Spring “break”, and remains in session except for major holidays. The school will make every attempt to remain open during inclement weather. We will not automatically close when “snow days” are announced for the public schools. However, during the severest winter weather, please listen to school closing announcements on KOMU TV or KOMU TV’s website at www.komu.com
Staff:
The school employs degreed teachers for their instructional programs and exceeds student-teacher ratios mandated by the state of MO. These ratios are often significantly reduced when special resource teachers are present such as our staff Music Teacher.
Admittance Policy:
It is our policy to admit and care for all children without regard to race, religion, or national origin. First consideration will be given to siblings of children attending or who have attended Apple School.
Registration:
A nonrefundable fee of $25.00 per child is required to confirm a child’s enrollment or to be placed on our waiting list. A one week deposit is required for all students except siblings. This deposit is applied to the last week of the child’s attendance.
Tuition:
Several options for payment are available. Parents may pay weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. When paying weekly or bi-weekly, payment is due in advance each Monday. If paying monthly, tuition is due by the 5th of each month. Parents are financially responsible for any holidays, or absences which may fall on the child’s attendance schedule. Sibling discounts are extended to families enrolling more than one child: 10% discount for the second and third child. Youngest full time child pays full rate, siblings receive the 10% discount. One week’s vacation credit is offered to families whose child has been enrolled for at least six months.
Observation:
Apple School has an “Open Door” policy with regard to observations of classroom activities. However, for the protection of the children, all visitors must check in with the Director of Head Teacher before observing. We recommend visiting during the morning hours to observe the widest range of activities.
Security:
Apple School’s playgrounds are fenced. The main door to the building is locked. Access is obtained through the use of a security keypad system. Each family is assigned their own security code to use to unlock the main door. Visitors must ring the doorbell and the Director or a staff member will assist them. Persons other than parents will not be allowed to pick up any child without the parents’ prior consent and must provide a picture ID to the Director. All classrooms are monitored via video surveillance.
The Program:
A balanced program is planned to promote the child’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth. The curriculum emphasizes: large and fine motor development, independent activity periods which stimulate social interaction, imaginative growth, and dramatic expression; music and music appreciation; art, using a wide variety of mediums; puppetry; and finger-play and story periods. Because the preschooler is at an optimum age for learning, spatial relationships, mathematical concepts, and language development are presented on a stimulating level. The very spacious classrooms are equipped with developmentally appropriate materials to stimulate the child’s interest and invite exploration and experimentation through “hands on” activities. Block Area for creative block play; Home Living Area for dramatic and role play; Science Area – use of magnets, magnifying glasses, scales, varying seasonal science activities and experiments; Manipulative Area – objects and games aimed at the development of fine motor skills: lacing, stringing beads, Lego blocks, etc.; Art Area – free access to art materials and special art projects using a variety of media. Emphasis is on process-oriented art activities with the goal of developing the child’s creative expression.
Apple School is fortunate to have two acres of playgrounds which include: a large grassy area for ball games and summer water play; a large swing area; a playground with climbing equipment, slides, large play trucks, cars, etc.; a paved lot with basketball hoops and a shed full of tricycles, wagons, balls, etc.,
Large sand areas are available, as are many picnic tables under shade trees for frequent picnics in the nice weather. We have many full-sized trees which afford many shady areas in which to play. With such large physical spaces, we find there are fewer discipline problems as the children have less crowding with so many choices of areas in which to play. We feel children can learn as much from the outdoor environment as the indoor classroom.
A daily activity report is posted by the teachers, listing activities and special events which took place in the classroom that day. We offer field trips to children age five and above: community parks, farms, grocery stores, fire station, University museums, etc.
Apple School offers a Before/After School Program for children Kindergarten through 5th grade. A variety of planned and free choice activities is available daily. Full day program is available for public school Christmas and Spring Break vacations, public school holidays, “snow days” and conference days. Transportation is provided to Rockbridge, Mill Creek, Beulah Ralph and Ridgeway elementary schools. There are no additional fees for transportation. Full Summer Program offered to Kindergartners through 5th graders: indoor and outdoor activities, swimming lessons, field trips, nature lore, cooking experiences, arts and crafts. Specific topics of interest to this age group studied and explored each summer. See Summer Program page.
Music Teacher:
Apple School employs a degreed Music Teacher to conduct music classes for all the children. She provides a wide variety of musical experiences to all classrooms. She utilizes drums, keyboards, rhythm instruments, etc.There are no additional fees for this activity. See full description of this program under “About Us”.
Creative Movement:
Our teachers provide myriad active, fun activities to assist in the development of fundamental movement actions. The children are engaged in coordination and balance games incorporating throwing, catching, balancing, jumping, hopping, galloping, etc. There are no additional fees for this activity. See full description of this program under “About Us”.
Our primary goal for each child is the development of a strong, positive self-concept, which will allow the child to enjoy an ever-expanding competence in dealing fairly, confidently, and enthusiastically with himself, others, and the world around him.
“A POSITIVE ADULT IDENTITY DEPENDS ON POSITIVE CHILDHOOD LIFE EXPERIENCES”
We, at Apple School, plan to provide positive experiences for each child in a climate of warmth and acceptance.
