Programs

  • Preschool and Pre-K Curriculum

  • Places we go, things we do...

      • We go to the Yuba River (Safe places for children)

      • We go all the local parks to play games (Baseball, soccer)

      • We go to Pioneer Park Pool for a change

      • We hike the Independence Trail, Rock Creek Trail, Empire Mine, Hirschman's Pond

      • Ice skating at Squaw Valley

      • We hike the NID ditch lines

      • We go blueberry picking at Blueberry Hill

  • Spanish

  • Art Classes with Denise Wey

Some thoughts about the Pre-school Art Program ("Creative Activities for Young Children" by Mary Mayesky)

All children like to feel good about themselves.This good feeling is called self-acceptance or self esteem. Children who feel that they are good people and can do things well have a good sense of self-acceptance. Children who accept themselves know and accept their strengths and limitations. They must have this good feeling about themselves before they can ever learn to accept others. A good pre-school art program can help children develop and improve their level of self-acceptance. A good program should be child-centered, which means that it is planned for the age and abilities for the children in it. Projects should be fun at the child's age ability, and interest level. The teacher lets the child know that the fun and participating in and expressing oneself in art or other creative activities is more

important than the finished project. The freedom of art itself should encourage children to talk about their own work or the work of her children. Working with colors, paint, paper, paste and other materials can give them an endless supply of things to talk about. Art activities also provide many opportunities for a child to learn how other children feel about things and to learn about being with others. One jar of red paint for two young painters is a real life-lesson in sharing.Teacher-child rapport is very important. The teacher helps the child feel that it is safe to be themselves and express ideas in their own way. When children express ideas openly, the teacher respects the feelings expressed. This tells the child that it's alright to be one's self. In other words, when the child's work seems to say, "This is me and the way I feel," and the work is respected, the teacher is saying to the child, "I accept you and your feelings in your work." In this way a child learns that it is good to be one's self, which is what self-acceptance is all about.

I enjoy the opportunity to work in the arts with this age group. It is both rewarding and fun!

Denise Wey

  • Swimming - South Yuba Club (Winter)

  • Swimming Lessons - Kids Can Pool (Summer)

  • Yoga and Stretch

  • Library Visits

  • Gymnastics