EIP

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="756" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 54 WIDTH="750"><div> <B>EIP</B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.newfairfieldschools.org/consolidated/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.newfairfieldschools.org/conso"><U>Back To Consolidated Home Page</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div>                       </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#00CCFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="181" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 225 WIDTH="175"><div> ELC</div> <div> Early </div> <div> Learning</div> <div> Center</div> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  </div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="509" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2533 ><NOBR><div> New Fairfield Schools</div> <div> Early Learning Center Preschool</div> <div> Active learning is at the heart <IMG SRC="3990f0f0.png" border=0 width="15" height="15" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> of our program</div> <div> Consolidated School 12 Gillotti Road</div> <bR> <div>  Meet the ELC staff:</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="480" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2382 WIDTH="474"><div>  <A HREF="http://64.224.82.18/consolidated/moore/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://64.224.82.18/consolidated/moore/"><U> </U></A><A HREF="http://64.224.82.18/consolidated/moore/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://64.224.82.18/consolidated/moore/"><U>Marie Moore</U></A>   <A HREF="http://64.224.242.71/consolidated/tortora/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://64.224.242.71/consolidated/tortor"><U> </U></A><A HREF="http://64.224.242.71/consolidated/tortora/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://64.224.242.71/consolidated/tortor"><U>Ann Tortora</U></A><A HREF="http://64.224.242.71/consolidated/tortora/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://64.224.242.71/consolidated/tortor"><U>  </U></A></div> <div>                                      <A HREF="http://64.224.242.71/consolidated/abrams/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://64.224.242.71/consolidated/abrams"><U>  </U></A><A HREF="http://64.224.242.71/consolidated/abrams/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://64.224.242.71/consolidated/abrams"><U>Lisa Abrams</U></A>  Nicole Garvey</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Philosophy</B></div> <div> <B>   </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" >We believe that every child ages three to five identified with special needs will have access to a developmentally appropriate educational program.  Integrated therapeutic interventions should be provided as well as the opportunity to learn with typically developing peers. Families are an integral part of a child's educational program, thus, our team believes in working collaboratively with families to enhance the child's education. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mission Statement</B></div> <bR> <div>      <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" >The Early Learning Center Program provides positive learning experiences for</FONT></div> <div> young children to develop skills in a nurturing environment.  The play-based environment encourages growth in the areas of gross motor, fine motor, communication, cognitive, daily living and social/behavioral skills. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Rationale</B></div> <bR> <div>      <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" >The philosophy of the Early Learning Center Program is supported by an extensive body of research and literature from many sources in the field of</FONT></div> <div> Early Childhood Education.  Important components are the ideas and/or mandates of developmentally appropriate practices, integrated therapies,</div> <div> least restrictive environment and family involvement. </div> <div>      It has been well established that a developmentally appropriate program</div> <div> Provides the best foundation for growth in the areas of gross motor, fine motor, communication, cognitive, daily living and social/behavioral skills.</div> <div> Benefits of such a program are as follows: </div> <div> Children can be most successful when provided with a range of learning experiences which accommodate the diversity of maturity levels and respect the uniqueness of every child.</div> <div> Children learn more effectively through experience, observation, exploration and discovery-rather than through passive teacher directed instruction.</div> <div> Children who are given opportunities to make choices take responsibility within a planned framework and develop increased</div> <div> self-confidence and competency skills. </div> <div> Children learn to generalize information, develop problem solving </div> <div> strategies and increase creative thinking skills. </div> <div>           </div> <div>      It is nationally recognized that the integration of therapeutic intervention in a natural setting is considered <I>best practice </I>in Early</div> <div> Childhood Programs: </div> <div> Activities taught in the natural setting promote the acquisition of functional skills.</div> <div> Allows for generalization of skills to a wider variety of activities throughout the child's day.</div> <div> Avoid skill isolation.</div> <div> Reinforces skills across all disciplines.</div> <div> Avoids duplication of services.</div> <div> Knowledge and methods of team members are shared.</div> <div> Promotes consistency of program.</div> <bR> <div>      It is nationally recognized as <I>best practice</I> and mandated that children receive their educational program in the least restrictive environment with</div> <div> their typically developing peers.  Research has found the following:</div> <div> Allows children to develop social relationships as part of the school</div> <div> community. </div> <div> Provides modeling of age appropriate behaviors.</div> <div> Promotes exposure to and use of age appropriate materials in an environment that facilitates generalization of skills.</div> <div> Promotes awareness and acceptance of diversity.</div> <bR> <div> It has been well established that family involvement is an important component of Early Childhood Programs.  Such involvement benefits the</div> <div> child as follows: </div> <div> Children have an added advantage at school when parents have ongoing</div> <div> communication.</div> <div> Strengthens parents' role as “first” teachers. </div> <div> Provides opportunity for carry-over and reinforcement of skills to the</div> <div> home setting.</div> <div> Establishes more functional and relevant educational goals.</div> <div> Provide support to parents to help reduce stress related the</div> <div> child's disability.</div> <div> Provides knowledge and support to team members.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Program Specifics</B></div> <bR> <div> Serves children ages three to five.</div> <div> Morning and afternoon sessions, four days a week (M, T, Th, F)</div> <div> A.M. session 8:35 - 11:35 a.m.      PM session 12:25 - 3:25 p.m. </div> <div> Program staff includes: Certified Teachers, Nurse, Occupational</div> <div> Therapist, Physical Therapist, Speech and Language Pathologist, Social</div> <div> Worker, School Psychologist and Instructional Paraprofessionals.</div> <div> Tuition Based Program for typically developing children.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ELC Para Educators:</div> <div> Marguerite Eschner</div> <div> Pam McNally</div> <div> Rose Marie PetSchauer</div> <div> Tara Rama</div> <div> Phyllis Keating</div> <div> Cille Grabert </div> <div> Gerri Salberghi </div> <div> Marianne Donovan</div> <div> Donna Ng</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="519" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 77 WIDTH="513"><bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>