Transition Week for Pre-school and Kindergarten Age Children

At The Renaissance School we have a very special way of transitioning children into our early childhood program. We believe that before a child can engage in meaningful activities in a new environment, the child must feel emotionally safe and socially engaged. Therefore, we transition one child at a time into our program! We never have more than one new child at a time in any given classroom. This allows the teachers to give the new child the attention that child needs, when s/he needs it the most. This allows the child to feel comfortable very soon. Then s/he is ready to explore our rich curriculum and start making friends.

The Transition Week is the week prior to the child's first day of school. We invite one of the parents or caregivers to bring the child to school in the afternoons for five days from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Schedule for Transition Week

• Day 1 and 2: We expect the parent/caregiver to stay with the child those two days. The person should bring a book or some work, so that he is there for the child, but is not entertaining her. This gives the child to freedom to explore on her own.
• Day 3: After arriving, the parent/caregiver is invited to stay for about one half hour and then asked to let one of the teachers know she is ready to leave. We ask that the parent say goodbye to the child and then leave for about an hour. The teachers are prepared to give the child all the attention he may need. We ask that the parent show confidence in their child by leaving without hesitation. Again, a teacher is available to help the child feel comfortable and safe.
• Day 4 and 5: We ask that the child be dropped off at about 3:30 pm and picked up at 5:30 p.m. This process gives the child the opportunity to experience what it will be like to attend school.

The transition week allows the parent/caregiver to meet the teachers and to observe and ask any questions that might come up. A facility orientation is scheduled during that week to familiarize the parent/caregiver with practical operating procedures.

The child must be two years old prior to this transition week.