Humpty Dumpty

Welcome to the Humpty Dumpty Nursery School. We hope that this web page will serve as an introduction to our school, our staff, our program and our objectives.

OUR SCHOOL

Humpty Dumpty School has been in existence since 1957. Originally, it was a private kindergarten with an enrollment of 17 children. The school was located at the North Congregational Church in North Abington. Eleanor Field and her assistant, Dorothy Burke, were the first teachers.

In 1969, the First Parish Congregational Church, the North Congregational and the West Abington Methodist, united to form one church. The First Parish Congregational Church became the United Church of Christ in Abington and served as the new parish for the community.

During the transition, kindergarten became available in the public school system. The community was no longer in need of a private kindergarten, so, in September 1972, the Humpty Dumpty Kindergarten became the Humpty Dumpty Nursery School. It is owned by the United Church of Christ in Abington, and is operated by a committee made up of church members. Its’ role is not to instruct children in any particular religious belief, but rather to help them to experience what it means to be a unique child. The enrollment has grown from 17 children in 1957 to 40 children today.

Humpty Dumpty Nursery School does not discriminate in providing services to children and their families on the basis of race, religion, cultural heritage, political beliefs, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation. It’s unique history, excellent reputation, and dedicated staff, all help in making Humpty Dumpty Nursery School very special.

OUR GOALS

• To view children as individuals and respond to each one’s unique needs.
• To help the child develop socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively.
• To enhance a child’s self-image and to embrace a positive environment.
• To give the child a positive feeling about school and become comfortable being away from home.
• To help develop a sense of curiosity and interest in learning.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Our program aims to develop the child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Through a variety of individual, small and large group activities, the child will learn at this or her own pace in a nurturing, encouraging and positive atmosphere. A child’s happy experience in the nursery school can build a positive attitude toward school which will persist through much of the education that follows.

OUR PROGRAM

We have a “daily routine” which we try to adhere in order to establish security, consistency, and the concept of time for the children.

FREE PLAY

The first part of our day is set aside for free play as “Play is the language of children”. It is the natural way that a child learns and develops. This period provides a time in which the child may interact with the other children and the teachers, engaging in activities of his or her choice. They are allowed to exercise their imagination, skills and physical energy, individually or in a group. They learn to express themselves in words and through their creations; to share their thoughts and toys; to exercise control with others and to limit themselves. Free play, therefore, permits the child to sharpen skills and to grow as an individual. It is also an excellent opportunity for us to observe and to interact individually with the children. In this way, we can learn a great deal about what a specific child is capable of, as well as identify areas where they may need special attention.

ACTIVITY TIME

During this time, the children participate in teacher-directed activities. These may include special projects, crafts, papers to follow up discussion, holiday and seasonal projects, etc. It is extremely important in the development of fine motor skills and in the preparation for kindergarten.

CIRCLE TIME

After all our toys have been neatly put in their places, we gather on our rug to discuss our day’s activities. Circle time includes:

CALENDAR: The children are exposed to the numbers, day of the week, months, and special holidays.

TASK CHART: Each day a few children are assigned small tasks. It helps the children learn to recognize their name as well as giving them an opportunity to have responsibility.

FLAG: Each day we salute the flag with one child holding the flag and another leading us in the salute.

SONGS & FINGERPLAYS: These promote good listening and language skills.

SNACK

Snack time provides a time for quiet conversation and an opportunity to encourage good table manners.

QUIET TIME

This is a time when the children sit quietly and listen to a story or a tape. It provides a necessary break for them to relax, develop good listening skills, and lengthen their attention span.

GAME TIME

This encourages following directions, taking turns, learning to be a good sport, and the importance of rules. Gross motor skills and outdoor play activity are included in this period.

ANNUAL CURRICULUM GOALS

September - “me”, family, colors, autumn art

October - colors, Halloween art

November - shapes, Native Americans and Pilgrims, Thanksgiving

December - shapes, holiday art and projects

January - winter art, visual discrimination

February - Valentine’s Day art, number concepts

March - number concepts, community helpers

April - alphabet concepts, Spring art

May - alphabet concepts, Spring art, special happenings

June - graduation

DISCIPLINE POLICY

Humpty Dumpty Nursery School shall embrace a positive and nurturing environment which insures the safety of all children. Humpty Dumpty safety rules are a set of positive guidelines that are included in the curriculum from time to time. These guidelines are a gentle reminder to help children develop good social skills, good safety skills, and good cooperative skills at school. Redirection of energy is first encouraged, and if necessary, separation from the group is administered as an “emotional band-aid” to allow the children to; (1) ventilate his/her feelings and (2) discuss a better approach to handing the situation. Child and teacher problem solve together to come to a solution. The child may then return to the group and resume his/her activities. This process will not last more than five minutes. Humpty Dumpty does not use a “time out” chair.

• Corporal punishment shall not be used, including spanking.
• No child shall be subjected to cruel or severe punishment, such as humiliation, verbal or physical abuse, neglect or abusive treatment.
• Children will not be deprived of meals or snacks.
• Children will not be force fed.
• Children will not be disciplined for soiling, wetting, or not using the toilet, or forced to remain in soiled clothing or forced to remain on the toilet, or any other unusual or excessive practice of toileting.

Rules are discussed at circle time during the first week of school. Dialogue might include:

Teacher - “We need some rules to follow at school. I can think of one…walk, don’t run in the classroom. Can you think of one?”

Children - “Don’t push, don’t hit, no kicking?”

In this way, children will have input in rule making and may follow the rules more easily.

HEALTH POLICY

We hope that our parents will be considerate of all children and will not send a child to school if he/she might endanger the health of the others. If your child has been ill, he/she should not return until he/she is no longer contagious. Any child prescribed an antibiotic must take it for 24 hours before returning to school. A child must be able to participate in all activities upon returning (including outdoor times). Parents will be notified, in writing, each time a contagious illness has been introduced in the nursery school.

If your child becomes ill during the school session, the parent or designee(s) named on the registration form will be notified. The child will be made comfortable with a pillow and blanket in our book corner, and the teachers will comfort the child as best as possible until the child is taken home.

In case of a life threatening accident or emergency, the child will be transported with the teacher, to the designated hospital, by the Abington Town Ambulance. The parent will be notified immediately, of course. If the accident is not life threatening, we will comfort the child as best as we can until we reach a parent.

First aid for minor injuries is given at school by the staff who are trained in first aid.

With school will come more exposure to many communicable diseases. It is required that all of your child’s immunizations and boosters are up to date. The isolation requirement from the State Department of Public Health for Chicken Pox is one week fro the appearance of the rash.

It is the policy of the nursery school not to administer medication to children.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The school hours are:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday session………………………….9:00-11:30 a.m.

Tuesday and Thursday session…..…………………………….9:00-11:30 a.m.

Vacations, holiday and snow days follow the Abington Public Schools calendar.

Children must be four years old by March 1^st of the school year that they are attending. Parents are required to have annual physical examination for their child, and keep the health certificate up-to-date. All other intake forms must be completed before the child enters the nursery school, including the tuition payment contract.

A “get acquainted” meeting and an orientation will be held for parents and children the week before school opens. This makes the first day of school a little bit easier for each child as they have had the opportunity to meet their teachers and play with the other children in his/her class.

Snack is provided, so it is not necessary for children to bring in their own snack. Snack usually includes apple juice and a large cracker or cookie and two small cookies/crackers. You may provide a special snack on your child’s birthday if you wish. Hard candy and gum are not allowed in school, as a safety precaution.

Play clothes are most suitable for nursery school. We do get messy! Clothes which children can manage themselves at bathroom time are a great help. Sneakers or other rubber soled shoes prevent slipping.

Be sure your child is dressed warmly enough to go outside, we go out every day except in the rain, snow, or excessive cold.

Remember, experiencing (feeling, rubbing, touching) is how children learn. You get messy experiencing paint, play dough, etc. Dress your child in clothes that he/she will feel free to “experience” in.

Humpty Dumpty Nursery School is able to refer parents to appropriate social, mental health, educational and medical services for their children should the staff feel that a need for such additional services would benefit the child.

Evaluations of the child’s progress are sent home in January and May. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled to be held in February. However, we encourage communication between parents and school – quick chats at the beginning of school, phone calls when necessary and unscheduled conferences when requested by a parent or teacher.

OUR TEACHERS

Our director-head teacher is Susan Alexander. Susan graduated from Perry Normal School and has a B.A. from Curry College, majoring in Early Childhood Education. She has taught in the early childhood field since 1967, and has been at Humpty Dumpty Nursery School since 1986. Her teaching background included teaching elementary grades in a school for military dependent children, kindergarten in a school for disabled children, and eight years as a pre-kindergarten teacher before coming to Humpty Dumpty. Susan lives with her family in Hanover.

Our teacher is Dianne Panico. She has a B.S. in Speech Pathology from Liberty University and a M.Ed. in Education from Cambridge College. Dianne lives with her family (including three Humpty Dumpty graduates) in Abington.