The Town of Windsor’s preschool programs, which cater to
children between the ages of 24 months and 5 years, are currently
accepting new students.
“Windsor is a young community, and there’s a need to provide
preschool programs,” said Maureen Bufton, Recreation Program
Coordinator. She noted that local programs afford benefits that
out-of-town programs do not.
“Being in your own town, the kids are mostly going to go into
the same schools. So the preschoolers are making friends with the
kids they’ll be attending school with. You’re building your own
community, and I think that’s helpful for parents as well as kids,”
Bufton said.
Windsor residents receive $10 off of the monthly fees compared
to non-residents. Fees range from $85 to $189 per month, depending
upon the number of days and hours the program encompasses.
There are five different preschool programs to choose from
during the school year. Held at either Huerta Gymnasium or the
Windsor Community Center, they are designed to match up with the
Windsor Unified School District’s schedule for convenient
coordination with older brothers and sisters.
All five curricula include academic as well as artistic
exploration. The teaching styles range from a Montessori approach
to a more classic, circle-oriented kindergarten feel.
At the Huerta Gymnasium on Tuesday, the basketball court had
been transformed into a Montessori preschool for the “Montessori in
Motion” program. Stations designed to teach practical life skills
like using tongs, pouring, and measuring were spaced throughout the
room. Counting, name writing, and art are also part of the
curriculum, which accepts children from 2.5 to 5 years old.
“It’s the whole child approach,” said teacher Michelle Vassallo,
pointing out the different stations around the room that emphasized
hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, art, and academic
learning.
Teaching also includes a seasonal component. The class will be
visiting Grandma’s Pumpkin Patch for a day on the farm. Students
recently learned about fruit-bearing trees, completed a fruit
tasting, and made applesauce muffins. The class has been observing
their local environment for signs of Fall, and learning about bird
migration. Up next: an academic unit on trees.
Vassallo picked up a dried sunflower head resting on a shelf,
and explained that it, too, was part of the curriculum.
“We’re making bird food, picking the seeds out of the sunflower
head, and grinding up crackers. Then we put it out in our garden
for the birds.” The activity offers students a chance to develop
hand-eye coordination, and learn firsthand about the nutritional
needs of animals.
“We’re trying to educate the senses, that’s the Montessori way,”
Vassallo said.
Other programs include “I Can Do It Myself,” a Montessori
program for youngsters aged 24 to 36 months; “Children’s Circle,” a
nurturing small group environment; “Kinderclub,” which includes
circle time and pre-K preparation; and “Creative Thinkers,” which
emphasizes literature, math, science, and art.
“We do have some slots available, and hopefully people will take
advantage of them. They can enroll at any time,” Bufton said. “For
Windsor residents, the convenience of having the preschool in your
own town, the quality of the programs, and the experience and
quality of the staff is wonderful.”
