HRQCC Full-Day Preschool Programs

Before Care and Welcome

A time when students are entering the classroom, teachers greet and speak briefly with families, and students choose calming, free-choice activities.  

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Students have an option to participate in HRQCC provided breakfast.

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Free choice, small group and individual activities are available at this time. 

Circle Time

Circle time and whole group activities provide students the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas with classmates, practice to take turns, learn respect for others' opinions with problem solving skills, and gain a sense of community and belonging.  It promotes growth academically, socially, and socially/emotionally in order to prepare for kindergarten activities and expectations.

•  Welcome children to the classroom. Circle time is the perfect place to establish a classroom community as teachers and children take time to greet one another. This can be done through a welcome song or an activity in which the children track who came to school each day, like with a classroom graph.

•  Introduce new materials. Circle time is an excellent opportunity to make sure each child understands how to use new materials added to the room. This way, all children have received the same directions on how to use the material safely and successfully.

•  Review social rules. Circle time is also an appropriate setting for reviewing classroom rules and social customs, like how to treat classmates. You will still have to offer many children individual reminders about how to follow the classroom rules; however, introducing these concepts at circle time helps children understand the rules of the community and how to be a part of the social environment.

9:30 am

Outdoor learning experiences are a fantastic and essential way for our students to master new skills, develop confidence in gross motor tasks, discover ways to play and socialize with peers, and use their imagination!  

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The daily scheduled outdoor times are as important for physical, social and emotional development as our indoor learning environments.  The openness of the outdoor learning space allows for imaginative play and room for freedom and fun.

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Students have the ability to learn about the world and nature as teachers engage them in endless learning opportunities.  Students discover relationships with the world around them and build language skills while learning through play in our outdoor learning space.

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10:30 am

Students are able to choose their center activities throughout this time while learning through play.  Teachers join students and guide their learning while engaging in student-chosen and student-driven activities.  

• Differentiated learning: Children come to the classroom with different strengths, interests, experiences, and needs. Small group learning allows teachers and co-teachers to meet children where they are, introducing ideas and activities that are developmentally appropriate for each student.

•  Open-ended conversations: Small group learning provides opportunities for children and teachers to ask many different questions.  Teachers have the opportunity to support students to work on problem solving skills and to build independence and confidence.  

•  Child-led activities: In small group settings, teachers are able to customize activities and follow the children’s interests to guide their individual learning needs. 

12:00 pm

Lunch and Quiet Activities

This is a time when students join together to enjoy a meal brought from home.  Children are asked to bring boxed/bagged meals that follow nutritional guidelines set by the CACFP.  

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"The nutrition standards for meals and snacks served in the CACFP are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, science-based recommendations made by the National Academy of Medicine, cost and practical considerations, and stakeholder input. The standards support the service of a greater variety of vegetables and fruit, whole grains, lean meats/meat alternative, and low-fat and fat-free dairy while minimizing added sugar and saturated fat."

Dismissal

Good-bye routines and dismissal.  Parents have an opportunity to briefly speak with their child's teacher about their day and receive reminders to best prepare for the following day.

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Full-Day students are offered an HRQCC provided snack.

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Free choice, small group and individual activities are offered at this time.  Additional time is spent playing outdoors or participating in teacher-lead activities.