About Us

Our Philosophy l Our Curriculum l Board Members/Officers/Staff l

Frequently Asked Questions l Contact Us/Registration

Our Philosophy

At SSPC, we provide many opportunities for children to develop their own interests, to become aware of their special and unique importance as individuals, and to work cooperatively with others. In planning the daily and monthly curriculum, our teachers and assistants commit themselves to the SSPC philosophy:

Ø We are committed to the individual and unique qualities of each child.

Ø We know that children thrive in a warm and loving environment.

Ø We believe that children learn through their play experiences.

Ø We provide a rich environment for children to become self-sufficient.

Ø We believe that parents and teachers working together can strengthen the quality of life for our children.

Our Curriculum

At SSPC our curriculum provides students with opportunities for socialization and exposure to structured learning situations. It is our goal that children are well-prepared for the entrance into kindergarten and that they smoothly make the adjustment to formal schooling. Therefore, our programs emphasize skills in the following vital areas of functioning:

Ø self-confidence

Ø independence

Ø social development

Ø visual and auditory discrimination

Ø language usage

Ø motor coordination

Ø strength and listening skills

During the two and one-half hour class period, each child enjoys a safe and nurturing environment that promotes physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. Students choose their own activities from carefully prepared learning centers during the supervised activity period. Detailed information on individual programs is available and, depending on the program, below are some examples of how our curriculum fulfills our philosophy:

Ø Creative arts: Young minds are encouraged to grow as students express their creativity through arts and crafts, music and movement, drama, storytelling and puppetry.

Ø Language Arts: Students are given the opportunity to express themselves during large and small group activities such as ‘Weekly Reader’ and 'Show and Tell’. These language experiences foster listening skills, self-confidence and the ability to speak in front of their peers.

Ø Math: Students are given firsthand experience with counting, sorting, patterning, measuring, sequencing, graphing, and writing numbers through the "Mathematics Their Way" program.

Ø Science: Students are given the opportunity to predict, investigate, question and explore through interactive science experiments.

Ø Reading Readiness Activities: Students are introduced to letters and writing through hands-on learning activities.

Ø Motor Development: Fine motor skills are enriched by writing, cutting, pasting, coloring, painting, puzzles and play dough. Large motor skills are encouraged through daily outside play on our large, fenced-in playground.

Ø Circle Time: Students become familiar with the structure of formal schooling when they sing a hello song with friends, listen to a story, and discuss the calendar, weather and daily events.

Ø Nutritious Snack Time: Parents bring in snacks or students in the Chef Class help prepare their own snacks.

Ø Creative Learning Activities: Students are encouraged to learn through a variety of ways such as guest speakers, field trips, celebrations, and computers.

Ø Individual Screening: Each student is evaluated to aid in curriculum preparation and early intervention.

Ø Limited Enrollment: The number of students in each class is limited to provide the most effective adult/student ratios.

Board Members/Officers/Staff

SSPC is a place where parents and teachers partner in the educational process. A Board of Directors, made up of volunteer parents, governs the school and works closely with the Director to ensure effective operation of the school. Our teachers have a combined 23 years at Stepping Stones, which translates into familiarity and a positive experience for our students.

With parents and teachers working together, the children receive the greatest benefit from the co-op setting. Below is the list of key volunteer parents and staff for the 2008-2009 school year:

Ø Board Co-Chairpersons: Janine Giancoli and Meghann Risell

Ø Board Members: Gina Balsamo (Red Tape/Committees), Melissa Walsh and Amanda Bridges (Committees), and Vanessa List (Secretary/Committees)

Ø Officers: Sue Conger (Treasurer), Janine Giancoli (Assistant Treasurer), Rachel Paulin (AM Scheduler) and Apryle Fox (PM Scheduler)

Ø Staff: Tracy Maccariella (Director), Beth Anne Sharpe (Head Teacher for Minnow and Tadpole), Sherri DiPaola (Head Teacher for Starfish, Ooey Gooey Fun!, and Chef PM), Julie Pratt (Classroom Assistant for Starfish, Ooey Gooey Fun! and Chef PM), Maria Bachman (Classroom Assistant for Minnow and Tadpole and Chef AM Teacher), Dawn Lally(General Aide and Lunch Bunch), Sharon Clarkson (General Aide and Lunch Bunch), and Theresa Russo (General Aide, PM Nursery and Lunch Bunch)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a co-op?

A co-op, or cooperative, preschool relies on parental participation. A co-op combines the talents of dedicated parents and staff in order to provide a high quality educational experience for your child. As a parent, you will not only work with the teacher in your child’s class, but you will also become active by serving on volunteer committees and attending quarterly membership meetings:

Ø Parent Helper – On a rotating basis, you will be a parent helper in your child's class. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to observe your child as a student and see how they interact with their peers.

Ø Committee Member - Volunteer committees enable the school to thrive and allow you to meet and work together with other parents You can take pride in the fact that while you are serving on a committee, you are allowing the teachers to focus on priorities such as the education and development of your child.

Ø Membership Meetings –Quarterly membership meetings are designed for fellowship and information sharing among teachers and parents.

Why should I choose a co-op for my child?

In choosing a co-op, you are saying that you want to be involved in your child’s education. While working in the classroom, you will have the opportunity to get to know your child as a student. In this way, you will develop a new appreciation of your child as a separate person, creating a deeper understanding of his/her development outside of the home. Second, by taking an active role in your child’s education, you are making the statement that education is important to your family and while it is primarily your child’s responsibility, your family is supportive in his/her efforts.

How long does the program run?

Classes run from September through May, one to five days per week depending on the program your child is participating in. There are also two sessions: AM and PM. The AM session runs from 8:45 – 11:15 AM, and the PM session runs from 12:15 – 2:45 PM.

Can you tell me a little bit more about the committees?

Parental participation on committees is a vital part of a cooperative school. There are a variety of committees such as Newsletter, Field Trip, Fundraising or Hospitality, and you can choose the two committees that you would like to become involved with. Committees allow you to utilize your talents and interests for the benefit of the school. Your participation on a committee also allows teachers to focus their time on the classroom which translates into a better educational program for your child.

What are my responsibilities as the classroom parent?

During each class, there is a teacher, teacher’s aide and a parent helper. As the parent helper, you are responsible for bringing the juice and a nutritional snack for each child that day. You will also help the students complete their crafts and activities as directed by the teacher, participate in a variety of classroom activities, and help restore tidiness to the classroom by wiping the tables and sweeping the floor at the end of class.

What do I do with my younger children when I am scheduled to be in the classroom?

When you are scheduled to be in the classroom with your child, you can leave his/her younger siblings in our on-site nursery where they will be cared for in a comfortable environment by another SSPC parent.

Openings are still available for the 2009-2010 school year. In addition to the information found on our website or in our brochure, you can contact our Director Tracy Maccariella at (609) 267-8763 Monday-Friday from 9 AM – 5 PM to ask questions, arrange a tour, or to register. Click here for a 2010-2011 Registration form.