Programs
YellowBirds 2020-21 School Year
2 - 3 Year Olds- Class Size: 9
- Tuesday/Thursday 12:30 – 2:30 Fall Semester
- Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 12:30 – 2:30 Spring Semester
Bluebirds 2020-2021 School Year
3 - 4 Year Olds- Class Size: 12
- Monday – Friday 9:15 – 12:00
- Lunch Bunch Optional
Redbirds 2020-2021 School Year
4 - 5 Year Olds- Class Size: 14
- Monday – Friday 9:15 – 12:00
- Lunch Bunch Optional
Other Annual Costs:
Registration: $75
Materials Fee: $100
Our Classes
Our Bluebirds are not required to be potty trained.
The Overlee Day
In our happy and stimulating environment our focus is on the process, not the product. The teachers provide a plan for the day that encourages creativity and curiosity, however, they also follow the child and adapt the plan accordingly so that each child can explore and engage in developmentally appropriate experiences. New materials are constantly introduced and switched around the rooms. Concepts and themes are extended for periods of time to allow for reinforcing and enjoying the lessons. The child’s own art and creations are proudly displayed through out the school. Our Redbird class begins with a welcome activity and then transitions to free play. Our Yellowbird and Bluebird classes begin their day with free play. All classes then follow free play with the option to go outside before clean up and circle time. Circle time includes a teacher directed activity including reading, singing and dancing. Snack time follows. Classes finish with outdoor play. We go out to play in all types of weather. Yes, even snow!
Here is what your children might find on a typical day:
Play-dough Table. Tactile activities provide children with a chance to develop their sensory processing and increase their dexterity. This is also a great place for some children to ease into the classroom by looking around and observing what is going on.
Dramatic Play Area. This is a wonderful play area. It might be a house, a doctor’s office, a post office, or a kitchen. By playing out the adult roles they see around them, children build identity and self-esteem, as well as enhancing cognitive development.
Group Time. Each class has one or two circle times per class session, led by the teacher. Everyone sings, dances, listens to stories, talks about classroom issues, and experiences being part of the large group while honoring children’s individual needs with flexibility in how children participate.
Snack. Snack is one of our group activities. Socialization and polite table manners are taught. Also, hand-eye coordination is practiced though passing the snacks to one another.
Manipulative Activities. Each classroom has a wide variety manipulative toys and activies to offer the children. Items such as patterning blocks, pegs, puzzles, beads, and building sets, offering many different ways for kids to work on their fine motor skills and consider cognitive concepts such as patterning and matching and grouping different objects.
Art. As young children explore art, they learn about color, shape, form, technique while building coordination and creative expression and practicing fine motor skills. Our goal is to have children explore a variety of techniques through structured crafts, painting at the easels, letting kids just cut paper and use glue, just to name a few.
Bike Deck. There is a bike deck where the children can ride on trikes, cozy coupes, three wheeled scooters, plasma cars, and more.
Sandbox. The sandbox is a great place for learning about sharing space and cooperation. As children explore the sand, they are building motor skills, coordination, scientific understanding, problem solving, and teamwork. Our sandbox is not only spacious but has gems and buried treasure within.
Climbing Structures and motor skills activities. Children learn self confidence, balance, spatial awareness, motor planning and proximity as they explore our castle structure, climbing net, and merry go round.
Music. We encourage children to learn the joy of singing, and some of the foundations of understanding of pitch, tempo, and music as artistic expression. Musical instruments are always available to the children both inside and outside.
Sensory Activities. In addition to our frequent indoor sensory activities, the playground outdoor classroom offers many opportunities for sensory exploration. We have tables and pools for activities such as water play, shaving cream play, or melting ice blocks.
Lunch Bunch
Redbirds and Bluebirds have the option of staying from 12 – 1:30pm for Lunch Bunch. They eat lunch together either in the Redbird room or outside, and continue playing until pickup. The cost of lunch bunch per day is $10.
Enrichments
Science
Music
Yoga
Summer Camp
Our summer camp, known as PurpleBird Camp, provides school continuity for children over the summer in a playful outdoor setting. It begins the Tuesday after Memorial day and runs for eight weeks. The schedule is the same as the Redbird and Bluebird day, Monday through Friday 9:15-12 with the option of adding Lunch Bunch until 1:30. We also have a special camp for the Yellowbird families that begins the same day as Purblebird camp and runs for two weeks. At that time, all Yellowbirds who have turned age 3 by the start of camp and are potty trained may attend PurpleBird Camp.
Purplebird Camp is solely outdoors. It is full of water play and we bring the classroom outdoors. Children can paint and do crafts outside. They can wash and hose down the cozy coups and cars, they can make magic potions in the water tables. Purplebird Camp is a wonderful chance for your child to just have fun and be outdoors!