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Frequently Asked Questions
How much time do you spend outside?
We spend all of our time outside, except for nap time. Our spacious fenced in yard, large field, and covered outdoor classroom allows us the freedom to enjoy the outdoors in all weather.
What is it like being outside in the rain?
Students come to school with rain suits and love splashing in puddles and playing in the rain. For those students who prefer to be cozy, we have a large outdoor classroom under an overhang. The classroom is equipped with turf and outdoor heaters, allowing students to do art or play toys while getting a break from the rain or the heat but still enjoying the fresh outdoors.
Do you have an indoor area?
Yes, the entire downstairs of our home is set up for the preschool. We occasionally bring kids inside to do an art project or play toys, but this is usually reserved for heat waves, extreme cold, or poor air quality.
What is the teacher to staff ratio?
One teacher for every six students. My husband Ryan and I are always teaching together. It provides a fun balance of female and male energy and really makes our school feel like a family.
How many kids attend the preschool?
We have 12 students but during school breaks we will occasionally have 14, when my older daughter is home from elementary school and a returning elementary school student joins us as well.
Does my child have to nap?
Only if you want them to. We have nap time from 12-1, but we ask you in our welcome survey if you would prefer them to nap for a longer or shorter amount of time or if you prefer them to have quiet time instead of napping.
What form of communication do you use with parents?
We use the Bright Wheel app which allows for an easy and organized form of communication. We also text and email.
Can I volunteer in the classroom?
We would love to find a way for parents or grandparents to volunteer in the class for art projects or cooking projects.
What do you do to prepare students academically for kindergarten?
As a former kindergarten teacher, I know what is truly important for students to know and that is following multi step directions, using scissors, recognizing their name, and beginning to understand numbers and letters. We play a variety of small and large group games that are fun and involve recognizing letter names and sounds, as well as numbers. For example, we play Mr. Wolf, four corners, and red light greenlight with our letter sounds and numbers.
Do you have a school garden?
We have an impressive veggie garden and orchard. The kids love tending to the garden daily and get excited to harvest food and bring it home to their families. We grow pumpkins, watermelon, strawberries, eggplant, zucchini, cucumber, tomatoes, basil, bell peppers, green beans, and so much more!
Why is there an application fee?
In the past, we have had numerous people schedule tours and cancel on us last minute. It takes a great deal of effort to clear our schedules, clean our home, and make sure our own small children are taken care of in preparation for our school tours. An application fee is a fair way of making sure that our time of processing paperwork and giving tours in respected.
Is there a sibling discount?
Not at this time.
Do siblings get priority registration?
Yes, if you have a student attending our school and you would like to enroll their sibling as well, they will get priority.
How do you build community with parents?
We check in daily with parents during drop off and pickup. Each week we send out newsletters that let parents know of all the fun enrichment activities we did, and it includes pictures of the students. In addition, we do five family parties throughout the year. These preschool family parties are held on a Saturday and are a fun way for parents to meet each other and for the teachers to get to know the parents better. All of the families have a great time at these events!
What are the ages of the students?
Most of our students are 2-5 years old, but we occasionally have older school age kids who come for drop-in care over school breaks and holidays.
What makes this preschool stand out above the rest?
How much we care about the students and parents! We seriously go above and beyond for all the families at our school with our elaborate family parties, thoughtful enrichment activities, incredible garden, and just the quality of love and care that we give to each student.
How does your philosophy compare to Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia?
Our educational approach encompasses similar values to all the above plus more. At our school children have the freedom to explore their own interests, play, and discover new things about themselves, their environment, and others. If we see that a child is interested in bugs, flowers, or volcanoes for example, we will use these interests to inspire science and art projects that involve these interests. We teach students to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. We give them ample opportunities to learn through autonomy but also encourage cooperation through large group games, cooking projects, and art projects. Students are given many opportunities to learn responsibility and teamwork. For example, after each of our cooking projects students wash their own dishes in our outdoor washing station. They love helping and it makes them feel good that they are capable of big tasks.
Does my child have to be potty trained?
No, they do not. We will help in the potty-training process by mimicking whatever method you use at home. Also, with your permission we do allow students to go pee outside since our yard is very large and offers plenty of trees for privacy. In addition, we have potty training toilets for students to use as well.
What is your discipline philosophy?
We understand that at this age kids are still learning appropriate ways to behave. It is our job to model and teach that behavior. When a child is doing something that they shouldn't be doing we teach them the safer or more respectful way doing the desired behavior. We also use redirection when appropriate. The benefit of being outside in a spacious yard is that behavior problems are very minimal compared to traditional preschools where students are in closer proximity to each other. Behavior problems are also minimized by the fact that we don't engage in power struggles with kids by forcing them to do any activity that they don't want to do. We are fortunate that we are in a space that allows children this freedom and because of that all of our students thrive at this school. In fact, half of our students have come to use from other schools that were not a good fit for them, and they are excelling here at Magical Mindset Preschool.
Do you offer part time positions?
No, only Monday - Thursday 8:45-2pm, with the option of extended hours until 4pm.