We create a learning environment at our school that fosters independence, divergent thinking, creativity, and a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.

We create a learning environment at our school that fosters independence, divergent thinking, creativity, and a love for learning that lasts a lifetime. This handbook discusses each academic aspect along with examples so you can fully understand our program and why we consider it the best prescription for learning. We believe that learning happens when it is meaningful for each child. Learning must occur in a natural way so that it is seen as play not memorization, worksheets or meaningless drills. Our play based curriculum allows children the freedom to grow in their own unique way.

What You Will See In Our Classroom?
WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN OUR CLASSROOM
The environment is structured to ensure the success of every student. We look at our workspace as an additional teacher whose help is imperative. Our environment is exciting, sensory rich, and provokes children to take another look at materials in the room. The environment is organized so materials are readily available and in a logical spot. The room structure helps to create a sense of autonomy, gives children choices, and allows for less intervention from teachers/adults. This gives children the tools for success and the choice to explore what is interesting to them.


WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN OUR CLASSROOM
You will see open-ended materials in our classroom as well as real world objects. We want children’s imagination to fuel their use of the materials. We don’t want the manufacturer of the toys to be influencing and dictating the use of specific materials. This kind of environment fosters the joy of lifelong learning as well as helping children become problem solvers and possess divergent thinking skills.


WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN OUR CLASSROOM
Our schedule provides continuity for the children in our classroom. They know specifically what order things happen in each day. The day is predictable and they are able to count on what will happen each day at school. This allows for smooth transition throughout the entire day. Please understand that our program is child centered and that sometimes we must make adjustments for the well being of all children.

Information

WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN OUR CLASSROOM
A responsibility guidance system (positive guidance/re-direction) governs our limit setting in the classroom. Children have power, ownership, and control in our classroom, as do all members of our classroom community. Our classroom, as a whole, decides on the limits for our room and these limits are enforced at all times. Children know the expectations and are given choices within our structure. This allows children the freedom to explore while creating a safe environment for everyone. Feelings are always validated in our classroom. We create an environment where all children have autonomy, are able to communicate feelings and understand the consequences of their behavior. They learn to develop empathy for all members of our community and are able to solve their own problems without intervention.


WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN OUR CLASSROOM
We use open ended materials such as rocks, shells, leaves, pinecones, as well as beads, unifix cubes, and geoboards to count, show one to one correspondence, show measurement-length and width, show identity of shapes, etc. Students will begin to see symmetry and patterns. They will learn basic concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and geometry. This learning will occur by counting and measuring when activities like cooking, water play and making grocery lists happen. We take advantage of natural times like these to teach math concepts while a child is fully engaged so that learning takes place naturally. Each child’s own natural rhythm is respected so children are not forced into work that is meaningless to them.


WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN OUR CLASSROOM
Our approach to reading is based on a whole language philosophy which includes various strategies to help a reader succeed. This includes using predictable text/rhyming text, pictorial clues, and phonics. Reading is a part of our daily schedule and students can bring home a book of their choice each night. Students will also have a listening center where they can listen to stories and follow along with the text of the book. We want children to be exposed to quality children’s literature and books where reading success is guaranteed. We want children to begin to write in a meaningful way. It is important to allow children to write approximations of a word as they begin to spell. We work with children by helping them hear sounds in a word and by helping them to acquire the tools to find new words for themselves. For example, we help them to develop strategies for finding the spelling of a new word by helping them use a dictionary, asking a friend or teacher to help find the word, or by finding the word in a familiar story. They will also practice writing skills by creating grocery lists, project lists, steps involved in cooking, and in other natural ways that writing occurs. Students will begin writing their own stories by dictating to a teacher/volunteer and then they will begin writing on their own. It is important to understand that children will become readers and writers on their own and in their own time. We want to be there for encouragement but never to push them. Children will learn to read naturally by being exposed to literature. Children learn to talk by listening to others talk to them and it is the same for reading. We are not worried about your child being a reader or writer by some pre-determined deadline that is meaningless. We will just be there to provide the opportunity when they are ready.


WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN OUR CLASSROOM
We use open ended materials for children to develop their own unique art work. Some examples of the open ended materials are recycled items and items found in nature. Children will be exposed to various art media such as markers, crayons, chalk, charcoals, pastels, colored and drawing pencils, acrylic and watercolor paints, different textures of paper to work with, and clay. Art is an integral part of our curriculum and children can choose to be involved in art projects as much as they desire. We want children to view art as a unique expression of who they are so you won’t see models for children to duplicate, stencils, or coloring books that require children to see art in a specific way.


WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN OUR CLASSROOM
Students will be exploring nature by taking daily hikes on our trails and through our spring fed creeks. They will be developing a sense of community and environmental awareness by recycling, composting, planting, and maintaining a garden. We have a microscope set up to take a closer look at insects and other creatures found at our school. We will make our own slides to look at, and explore, our surroundings in depth. We have a terrarium set up so we can observe objects from nature in their natural habitat. Students will be learning basic science concepts, understanding what it means to be part of a community, and developing a sense of responsibility and appreciation for our environment.

Water play is naturally built in to our environment. Our bathroom is designed for children’s water play. They will be constantly measuring, adding color and soap to water, using cylinders, funnels, tubing, and other containers. They will be able to see the properties of the water change as they manipulate it.


WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN OUR CLASSROOM
We will create portfolios for every student in our classroom. We will use these portfolios for assessment and it will be a visual record of your child’s year at school. This is a wonderful way to see a child’s progression throughout a school year. Document boards on our walls will keep families informed of the many projects we are involved in and this will also serve as a record and springboard for further activities and growth. Parent/teacher conferences will be held twice a year but please feel free to schedule a conference whenever you feel that you need one. These assessments will show not only children’s progress but also their processes and their finished products.
To stay in touch on a regular basis with each family, we will send home a weekly folder with a synopsis of the week, art projects, stories, observations, and any other relevant information from the school. These folders will go home on Friday and come back to school on Monday. Please feel free to send notes in these folders as well.


WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN OUR CLASSROOM
To make our program work, we must truly create a partnership with our parent body. We will need a commitment of time from you. The first item will be to attend an orientation session of what to expect from our school. We want our parent body to become active in the decision making process of our school. We want and value your input. We will like you to commit to coming to a specific number of work days which will be held on a few Saturdays, attend our monthly parent group meetings, and volunteer at the school as your time allows. We also ask that you respect our drop off policy and that you will leave before our morning meeting at 10 a.m. every day so that the group may get started on their daily routine. As always, parents are welcome and encouraged to visit at anytime. We have an open door policy.

Location

THE DISCOVERY SCHOOL


8600-3 WHITE CLIFF DRIVE
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78750
794-1021 van cell: 587-3153
E-MAIL: info@discoveryschools.com
www.discoveryschools.com

 

Teachers

Kyle Holder: Owner/Director

Home: 443-4098 Cell: 762-3321

Ros Schneider: Educational Director

1410 Ulit St. Austin, TX 78702

Cell: 736-6271 e-mail: rosalindjean@gmail.com


 

Van Schedule & Hours

 

TUITION AND FEES

HOLIDAYS

DEPOSIT and WAITING LIST

LIST OF SUPPLIES NEEDED

  Backpack to carry clothes, etc back and forth on the van
  Personal water bottle with name on it (Also a strap can be helpful)
  Hiking shoes (possibly to leave at school w/ name on it), sandals/flip flops for the pool
  Old shoes to play in creeks
  Lunch box with an ice pack (See our list of lunch suggestions)
  One change of clothes to keep at school, extra underwear
  Swimsuit/Towel/Gel sunscreen (Preferably Bullfrog or Aloe Gator)
 

Sheet, Blanket, Whatever your child needs for nap

  Please leave all toys at home and be sure to label all belongings with a permanent marker.
  We have a washer and dryer out at Discovery School so sheets and blankets will just be washed every week at school instead of coming home.

TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE

  7:30-9:30 Early Arrival at Children’s Discovery Center for van
  8:00 Arrival at the Discovery School
  10:00 Second van arrives at the Discovery School
  10:00 School day starts. Center choices for the day from: Library, Art room, Water play room, Manipulatives, Blocks, Science center, Take apart, Dramatic Play, Sensory Activity, Hike/Nature walk or Outside play.
  10:00-10:30 Snack is available at the dining table
  11:30-12:30 Lunch/ After lunch, outside play time
  12:30-2:00 Swimming in pool/Fall schedule: 11:15-11:30 Group Meeting Time-sing songs, stories, talk about day, 12:00-1:00 outside play, 1:00-2:00 nap/hiking/kindergarten time
  1:00-2:00 Rest time for 1st group of swimmers, may look at books/rest quietly on mat
  2:00-2:50 Snack, rap up projects for the day/clean up and pack up to go home for early van
  2:50 Early van leaves
  4:00 Load on 2nd van to go to CDC/Pick up at Discovery school (DS closes)
  4:00-6:00 Children not signed up for after school program are picked up by parents at 4:00 (must use 2:50 van). After school is on the Starburst Playground

HEALTH AND IMMUNIZATIONS

  Each child will be given a check upon arrival at school. This is for the child’s protection as well as for other children. Children with contagious symptoms or visible illness will not be allowed to stay at school. Children must be able to take on an active day at school and be able to keep up with the pace of a normal school day. Any child that seems drained or not feeling well should not be at school. We do not have staffing available for sick child care. Other symptoms that will not be allowed in school are: fever above 100 degrees, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue or discolored mucous. If a child stays home or is sent home from school, they need to be symptom free for at least 24 hours before returning to school. Parents are encouraged to report any contagious diseases to the director for the safety of the rest of the children. Policies regarding exclusion and readmittance are dictated by the regulations of the Health Department.
  A written documentation of immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diptheria, whooping cough, tetanus, tuberculosis, and Hib must be presented at the time of enrollment. A well child statement from your child’s doctor must also be presented. The immunization schedule you must follow is attached to the back of this handbook. You must keep the documentation of your child’s immunizations current with the director.

NUTRITION