Westside School Programs
61980 Skyline Ranch Road
Our Westside school year runs on a September - August schedule. We base our curriculum on age-appropriate activities, songs, and games that help develop a child's sense of learning and wonder.
At Westside, children can begin as early as 8:00a.m. in our extended Morning Care program. Our regular school day begins at 9:00a.m., and we have the following schedules available:
We offer flexibility where families can choose between 2 - 5 days per week, depending on age group. There are three classes at our Westside school, which include:
At Westside, children can begin as early as 8:00a.m. in our extended Morning Care program. Our regular school day begins at 9:00a.m., and we have the following schedules available:
- 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.
- 9:00a.m. to 3:30p.m.
We offer flexibility where families can choose between 2 - 5 days per week, depending on age group. There are three classes at our Westside school, which include:
- Chipmunks - 1 to 3 year olds
- Fawns - 3 to 4 year olds
- Squirrels - 3 1/2 to 5 year olds
Chipmunks ~ 1 to 3 year olds
The Chipmunk class at our Westside school is our 1 to 3-year-old class with two teachers caring for a maximum of eight children (when the class has a child under 2 years old) or two teachers caring for a maximum of 10 children (when all children are over 2 years old). Their daily rhythm is slower, giving children the time they need to negotiate the world around them that they are just learning to participate in. We provide a calm, loving, home-like environment where their daily needs can be cared for, while still offering opportunities for the children who are ready to do things all by themselves.
Their activities are based around sensory experiences, easy manipulatives, home care, especially baking and washing, and introducing art through free coloring and painting. Some craft activities are built up in multiple layers over days or weeks to culminate in a much-loved final art piece for a seasonal celebration, gift, or class project throughout the year. They spend time outside most days on our fenced, private playground and sometimes go on “nature walks” around the beautiful native grounds and trails of the church property to explore the natural world and observe the changing of the seasons. If they are kept inside because of extreme heat, cold or smoke, opportunities for crawling, jumping, and other large motor activities are provided inside their classroom during these times.
The stories told in this class are simple, often repetitive, classic tales that sometimes are presented with a visual element such as a felt board or puppet play, and occasionally end our curriculum blocks with the children acting out the story themselves through manipulating the puppets or becoming characters in the story. This sets the foundation for early memorization and especially letter sounds that are repeated over and over in the stories. This class has a daily movement circle with seasonal songs that are enhanced with intentional gestures meant to build a child’s large motor control and body awareness, as well as being super fun!
Our provided snacks are wholesome, mostly organic finger foods served in the morning and later afternoon and parents provide their lunches. Allergy-friendly alternatives are available for any children who need them. Pack ‘n’ Plays or mats and bedding are provided for those staying after 1:00pm to sleep, and children are soothed to sleep with a noise machine, singing or humming, and rocking or rubbing their backs as needed. There is a bathroom located just outside the classroom for those early potty trainers, but potty training is not required for any but our oldest classes.
In the Chipmunk class our goal is to provide a safe and loving environment where the children can feel confident exploring the world around them. We strive to meet their developmental needs for sensory stimulation and early social interaction, and begin to build a foundation for the love of art and learning.
Their activities are based around sensory experiences, easy manipulatives, home care, especially baking and washing, and introducing art through free coloring and painting. Some craft activities are built up in multiple layers over days or weeks to culminate in a much-loved final art piece for a seasonal celebration, gift, or class project throughout the year. They spend time outside most days on our fenced, private playground and sometimes go on “nature walks” around the beautiful native grounds and trails of the church property to explore the natural world and observe the changing of the seasons. If they are kept inside because of extreme heat, cold or smoke, opportunities for crawling, jumping, and other large motor activities are provided inside their classroom during these times.
The stories told in this class are simple, often repetitive, classic tales that sometimes are presented with a visual element such as a felt board or puppet play, and occasionally end our curriculum blocks with the children acting out the story themselves through manipulating the puppets or becoming characters in the story. This sets the foundation for early memorization and especially letter sounds that are repeated over and over in the stories. This class has a daily movement circle with seasonal songs that are enhanced with intentional gestures meant to build a child’s large motor control and body awareness, as well as being super fun!
Our provided snacks are wholesome, mostly organic finger foods served in the morning and later afternoon and parents provide their lunches. Allergy-friendly alternatives are available for any children who need them. Pack ‘n’ Plays or mats and bedding are provided for those staying after 1:00pm to sleep, and children are soothed to sleep with a noise machine, singing or humming, and rocking or rubbing their backs as needed. There is a bathroom located just outside the classroom for those early potty trainers, but potty training is not required for any but our oldest classes.
In the Chipmunk class our goal is to provide a safe and loving environment where the children can feel confident exploring the world around them. We strive to meet their developmental needs for sensory stimulation and early social interaction, and begin to build a foundation for the love of art and learning.
Fawns ~ 3 to 4 year olds
The Fawn class is for children from three to four years old at our Westside school. This class has a ratio of one teacher caring for 10 children and a maximum class size of 15 with two teachers. Their daily rhythm flows between periods of free play either inside or outside and periods of more focused activity, such as artistic activities, movement circle, story, and meals. There is space built in for meeting the varied needs of this age range, from negotiating early social interactions to the different stages of potty-training children are in and encouraging the children to do more tasks independently, while still expanding on our school’s earlier curriculum to enhance their new capabilities for cognitive understanding and motor control.
The activities in this class consist of regular drawing and watercolor painting, as well as seasonal craft activities that are built up in multiple layers over days or weeks to culminate in a much-loved final art piece, gift, or class project. This class bakes fresh bread or other treats each week and still has sensory activities throughout their curriculum to meet the needs of these children who still experience the world primarily through touch. They spend time outside most days on our fenced, private playground and sometimes go on “nature walks” around the beautiful native grounds and trails of the church property to explore the natural world and observe the changing of the seasons. If they are inside due to extreme heat, cold or smoke, opportunities for crawling, jumping, and other large motor activities are provided inside their classroom.
The stories told in this class are simple, often repetitive, classic tales that sometimes are presented with a visual element such as a felt board or puppet play, and occasionally end our curriculum blocks with the children becoming the characters and acting out the story by themselves. This sets the foundation for early memorization, individual confidence, and especially letter sounds that are repeated over and over in the stories. This class has a daily movement circle with seasonal songs that are enhanced with intentional gestures meant to build a child’s large motor control and body awareness, and, in this class, is expanded to include early counting and letter sounds through poetry and rhythmical movements.
Our snacks are wholesome, mostly organic finger foods or warming, fresh cooked foods provided daily in the morning and later afternoon and parents provide their lunches. Allergy-friendly alternatives are available for any children who need them. Mats and bedding are provided for those staying after 1:00pm to rest quietly on and children are read gentle stories or soothed with singing, humming or rubbing their backs. For those children who still require a nap, we bring them to sleep with the younger children in a different room during our afternoon program. There is a bathroom located inside the classroom for those who are potty trained or in the process of learning, but potty training is not required for any but our oldest classes.
In the Fawn class, our goal is to provide a safe and loving environment where the children can feel confident exploring the world around them and learn to do a variety of tasks independently. We strive to meet their developmental needs for sensory input, small and large motor stimulation, and early social interaction and begin to build a foundation for the love of art and learning.
The activities in this class consist of regular drawing and watercolor painting, as well as seasonal craft activities that are built up in multiple layers over days or weeks to culminate in a much-loved final art piece, gift, or class project. This class bakes fresh bread or other treats each week and still has sensory activities throughout their curriculum to meet the needs of these children who still experience the world primarily through touch. They spend time outside most days on our fenced, private playground and sometimes go on “nature walks” around the beautiful native grounds and trails of the church property to explore the natural world and observe the changing of the seasons. If they are inside due to extreme heat, cold or smoke, opportunities for crawling, jumping, and other large motor activities are provided inside their classroom.
The stories told in this class are simple, often repetitive, classic tales that sometimes are presented with a visual element such as a felt board or puppet play, and occasionally end our curriculum blocks with the children becoming the characters and acting out the story by themselves. This sets the foundation for early memorization, individual confidence, and especially letter sounds that are repeated over and over in the stories. This class has a daily movement circle with seasonal songs that are enhanced with intentional gestures meant to build a child’s large motor control and body awareness, and, in this class, is expanded to include early counting and letter sounds through poetry and rhythmical movements.
Our snacks are wholesome, mostly organic finger foods or warming, fresh cooked foods provided daily in the morning and later afternoon and parents provide their lunches. Allergy-friendly alternatives are available for any children who need them. Mats and bedding are provided for those staying after 1:00pm to rest quietly on and children are read gentle stories or soothed with singing, humming or rubbing their backs. For those children who still require a nap, we bring them to sleep with the younger children in a different room during our afternoon program. There is a bathroom located inside the classroom for those who are potty trained or in the process of learning, but potty training is not required for any but our oldest classes.
In the Fawn class, our goal is to provide a safe and loving environment where the children can feel confident exploring the world around them and learn to do a variety of tasks independently. We strive to meet their developmental needs for sensory input, small and large motor stimulation, and early social interaction and begin to build a foundation for the love of art and learning.
Squirrels ~ 3 1/2 to 5 year olds
Our oldest class at our Westside school, the Squirrel class is for children from three and a half to five years old with a ratio of one teacher caring for 10 children and a maximum class size of 18 children with two teachers. Their daily rhythm flows between periods of free play either inside or outside and periods of more focused activity, such as artistic activities, movement circle, story, and meals. Social collaboration and projects are encouraged in both our curriculum and play, and academics are introduced through songs, games, movement, and story before practicing the forms themselves.
The activities in this class consist of regular drawing and watercolor painting, as well as seasonal craft activities that are built up in multiple layers over days or weeks to culminate in a much-loved final art piece, gift, or class project. This class bakes fresh bread or other treats each week and the beginnings of form and pattern are encouraged in their painting and drawing activities. Small motor control is more strongly emphasized in some of our crafts, such as beeswax modeling, early handwork, and different sensory activities. They spend time outside most days on our fenced, private playground and sometimes go on “nature walks” around the beautiful native grounds and trails of the church property to explore the natural world and observe the changing of the seasons. If they are inside with extreme heat, cold or smoke, opportunities for crawling, jumping, and other large motor activities are provided inside their classroom.
The stories told in this class are simple, often repetitive, classic folk and fairy tales that sometimes are presented with a visual element such as a felt board or puppet play, and occasionally end our curriculum blocks with the children becoming the characters and acting out the story by themselves. This sets the foundation for early memorization, individual confidence, and especially letter sounds that are repeated over and over in the stories. This class has a daily movement circle with seasonal songs that are enhanced with intentional gestures meant to build a child’s large motor control and body awareness, and, in this class, is expanded to include counting and letter sounds through poetry, games, and rhythmical movements before practicing the forms themselves on the chalkboard and translating them to a “Form Drawing” book that they add to throughout the year.
Our snacks are wholesome, mostly organic finger foods or warming, fresh cooked foods provided daily in the morning and later afternoon and parents provide their lunches. Allergy-friendly alternatives are available for any children who need them. Mats and bedding are provided for those staying after 1:00pm to rest quietly on and children are read gentle stories or soothed with singing, humming or rubbing their backs. For those children who still require a nap, we bring them to sleep with the younger children in a different room during our afternoon program. There is a bathroom located inside the classroom and children must be fully potty trained as we do not have diaper changing facilities in this room.
In the Squirrel class, our goal is to provide a safe and loving environment where the children can explore and expand their abilities to complete tasks independently, interact with others in a positive social way, build their large and small motor control, and lay the foundation for life-long learning by introducing academic concepts through creativity and imagery before conceptualizing them in their final form. We strive to build their confidence, kindness, and creativity to serve them in their continued journey of learning in the larger school system.
The activities in this class consist of regular drawing and watercolor painting, as well as seasonal craft activities that are built up in multiple layers over days or weeks to culminate in a much-loved final art piece, gift, or class project. This class bakes fresh bread or other treats each week and the beginnings of form and pattern are encouraged in their painting and drawing activities. Small motor control is more strongly emphasized in some of our crafts, such as beeswax modeling, early handwork, and different sensory activities. They spend time outside most days on our fenced, private playground and sometimes go on “nature walks” around the beautiful native grounds and trails of the church property to explore the natural world and observe the changing of the seasons. If they are inside with extreme heat, cold or smoke, opportunities for crawling, jumping, and other large motor activities are provided inside their classroom.
The stories told in this class are simple, often repetitive, classic folk and fairy tales that sometimes are presented with a visual element such as a felt board or puppet play, and occasionally end our curriculum blocks with the children becoming the characters and acting out the story by themselves. This sets the foundation for early memorization, individual confidence, and especially letter sounds that are repeated over and over in the stories. This class has a daily movement circle with seasonal songs that are enhanced with intentional gestures meant to build a child’s large motor control and body awareness, and, in this class, is expanded to include counting and letter sounds through poetry, games, and rhythmical movements before practicing the forms themselves on the chalkboard and translating them to a “Form Drawing” book that they add to throughout the year.
Our snacks are wholesome, mostly organic finger foods or warming, fresh cooked foods provided daily in the morning and later afternoon and parents provide their lunches. Allergy-friendly alternatives are available for any children who need them. Mats and bedding are provided for those staying after 1:00pm to rest quietly on and children are read gentle stories or soothed with singing, humming or rubbing their backs. For those children who still require a nap, we bring them to sleep with the younger children in a different room during our afternoon program. There is a bathroom located inside the classroom and children must be fully potty trained as we do not have diaper changing facilities in this room.
In the Squirrel class, our goal is to provide a safe and loving environment where the children can explore and expand their abilities to complete tasks independently, interact with others in a positive social way, build their large and small motor control, and lay the foundation for life-long learning by introducing academic concepts through creativity and imagery before conceptualizing them in their final form. We strive to build their confidence, kindness, and creativity to serve them in their continued journey of learning in the larger school system.