Letter from Head of School - March 5, 2010

It is with great excitement that I write with news about our preschool program. Beginning in September 2010, the preschool program will move to the main Willow School campus from its current location in the Pottersville Reform Church. The Willow preschool will serve children ages three and one half to four years old. The current kindergarten room will be used for preschool and each class will “move up” one room along the hallway. The fifth grade will be relocated to the current World Language room. Modifications will be made to this room to accommodate the fifth grade students.

Class size in preschool will be limited to approximately fourteen students. We will continue to conduct an informal screening process for admission; acceptance will be secured based on availability. All students who are enrolled in the preschool will have preference for kindergarten admission; however, they will participate in an individual assessment in order to determine readiness and ensure a good match with the kindergarten program.

I am especially pleased that many of the families from the current program are moving with us to “the big school”. This change will benefit the preschool children in many ways: providing them the freedom to explore our wonderful outdoor environment, integrating the youngest students and parents with the entire Willow community, and enabling the preschool teachers to feel connected to other staff. The preschool teachers are expected to meet the same high standards of content knowledge and teaching skills to which all Willow School faculty are held.

It is my conviction that a strong preschool program provides young children the opportunity to learn to trust others, to gain and self control and to assert themselves in socially acceptable ways. In brief, the goal of the preschool program is to support children in their developmental growth toward trust, autonomy and initiative while building on their natural curiosity. The play-based program helps children develop competences and skills through guided exploration, planned activities and discovery.

We are holding an information session for prospective families on Friday March 12 at 9:00AM in the Commons in the Schoolhouse. If you or any families with whom you are acquainted are interested in enrolling in the Willow Preschool, please plan to attend. Contact Annette Worthington directly to obtain an application, RSVP for the information session and schedule a tour. I have attached an enrollment form, which will provide more details about the program. Please help us expand our student enrollment and embrace new Willow families by bringing a friend to the information session on March 12, 2010!