Westshire Preschool
A Special Place for the Community
Utilizing the Rivendell District’s facilities, services, and curriculum goals, the Rivendell Early Childhood Program offers families a safe, nurturing environment through which their children can grow. RECP also helps prepare both students and parents for their roles as life long learners. For children needing extra assistance, or with special needs, RECP provides expert guidance and services.
Happy Learners
As part of our commitment to building children’s confidence and joy of learning, RECP has developed five key learning components that guide our program and approach.
- Personal Development: Learning responsibility for self and others and healthy, safe habits.
- Math and Science: Encouraging curiosity and eager exploration of the natural world and quantitative concepts.
- Language: Developing strong communicative, inquisitive, descriptive minds.
- Writing: Introducing the fun of written expression by writing letters and simple words.
- Reading: Instilling delight of the written word through recognizing names, letter sounds, and print messages.
Program
RECP is high quality, research-based program. As part of the public school it emphasizes the readiness skills that students need to make a successful transition to the Westshire and Samuel Morey kindergartens. Using the Vermont Framework for Early Learning Standards, we foster and track student progress using the Teaching Strategies Gold, a tool recommended by the Vermont Department of Education.
“After a great deal of research and visiting many pre-schools I have found this one to be exemplary.”- RECP parent
- All Rivendell preschool classrooms have the highest accreditation ratings provided by Vermont's STARS Program (5 stars).
- Considered a “model” for preschool/child care.
- Staff trained in revised Vermont Early Learning Standards.
- Ongoing literacy and numeracy assessments for every child.
- Extensive opportunities for parent involvement.
FREE preschool for in district students from 8:00 to 11:30
- $20 a morning for out of district students
- Extended Day program from 11:30 to 3:00 for $20 a day
Hours for the Westshire Elementary Classrooms
Serving the Towns of Fairlee, Orford, West Fairlee and Vershire
- Half Day Preschool 8-11:30
- Full Day Preschool 8-3
Follows School Calendar
Flexible scheduling to meet family needs
Sample Schedule
Morning
- 8:00 Arrival: Sign in, breakfast and free play
- 9:00 Circle Time: Morning greeting, Read aloud, Singing,
Lesson - 9:15 Snack Time
- 9:45 Stations: Math, Language Arts, Small Motor activities
(e.g. cutting) - 10:30 Outdoor free play
- 11:30 Departure: (for half day students)
Afternoon
- 11:30 Lunch/Exploratory Play
- 12:30 Literacy Lesson/Story time
- 12:45 Rest Time
- 1:45 Snack/Project
- 2:30 Outside Play/Gross Motor Activities
- 3:00 Afternoon Pick Up
Since 2015, due to changes in Vermont state law regarding early education, we no longer charge tuition, and families can have their children enrolled in our preschool program free of charge. (Before and after school care is available for a reasonable cost.)
Today the Rivendell Early Childhood Program offers an exceptional child centered experience to the youngest students in our communities. In this way we are able to foster a love of learning and later school success for every preschool child.
Early Childhood Developmental Screening
WHAT IS IT?
The RISD Early Childhood Program will hold its annual child developmental screening day for all 3 and 4-year-old children living in the Rivendell Interstate School District. The screening involves activities that are both fun for young children and help us learn about a child’s motor, cognitive, social, language, and communication skills. The screening is for all children in the district, even if they will not be attending the Early Childhood Program next school year.
WHO NEEDS SCREENING?
Any child residing in Vershire, West Fairlee, or Fairlee VT, as well as Orford, NH who will be 3 or 4 years old by August 31, 2022. Screening is not required; however, it is highly recommended.
WHEN AND WHERE CAN MY CHILD BE SCREENED?
RISD is offering screenings at two different locations on Friday, March 18th. Choose the time and site that works best for your schedule. You must make a screening appointment by Tuesday, March 21, 2023. The screening times have a set number of spots, once they are full, we cannot add more children to that specific session.
Call 802-333-4888 or email. Heidi Nichols or Ashley Bean to schedule your screening time.
Westhire:
- Session 1: 8:00 - 8:45
- Session 2: 9:30 - 10:15
Samuel Morey:
- Session 1: 12:00 - 12:45
- Session 2: 1:30 - 2:15