 Frequenty Asked Questions
Child-Related Questions
Q: Does my child need to be potty trained in order to attend your preschool?
While we cannot prevent a child who does not yet use the toilet from attending Cloverdale, we recommend that families work towards their children being autonomous with toileting by the time they attend school. We are a licensed preschool serving children 2.9 – 5 and are not required through our licensing agency (EEC) to provide infant/toddler changing facilities. We address each situation on a case by case basis, working with the family in partnership to help their child acquire toileting skills both at home and at school.
Q: How will I know if this program is a good match for my child and our family?
We encourage all families who are interested in learning more about us to first visit our website and then to call the school to schedule a visit. Our director, Deb, also a classroom teacher is with the children from 8:45 – 12:30. Therefore, we have created “The Tour” on our website for you to learn how the teaching staff of Cloverdale integrate the school’s mission and philosophy into the classroom environment and curriculum and provide sufficient information to help you better understand our program. After taking this virtual tour, you will be better prepared to have specific questions with regard to your child’s ultimate success at Cloverdale to ask the director when you come for your visit.
Q: Can I bring my child when I visit?
We would prefer that you visit without your child the first time seeing the program. Please consider that she may be excited with all the choices for activities in the classroom or feel shy and anxious about being in a strange environment with so many new people. These behaviors may result in your need to focus your attention on your child and miss what you came to observe. Many visiting children are quite a bit younger than those currently in the classroom and would not be developmentally able to participate at their level. Therefore, we will schedule an open house visiting time for children and families sometime in February so children can play in the classroom, yet not be expected to follow our typical morning schedule. We encourage you to arrange a visit in January, apply if interested and then visit with your child in February during our open house.
Q: How will my child acclimate into your program?
The first week is an orientation period where all newly enrolled children will attend school 2 mornings with 6-8 others to begin to learn about classroom procedures and routines and begin to form trusting relationships with the teachers.
Q: My child has difficulty with separation. Can I stay with him?
The teachers are very sensitive to the emotional need of preschoolers and have created a family friendly environment and early
curriculum designed to help children feel comfortable at school and be able to form attachments to their teachers. If you anticipate your child
having separation anxieties, please speak with the director prior to the start of school to discuss strategies to help your child successfully
transition into preschool. All parents are invited to remain until their children have settled into this brand new environment. Studies have shown
that children who have a secure start at school, with as few emotional upsets as possible, tend to have more successful school experiences.
Q: How will I receive information about my child’s progress at school?
Teachers regularly inform parents of achieved milestones, injuries and relevant information from the child’s morning at school.
The director is available to parents each day by appointment to discuss the individual goal set monthly for each child or any questions/concerns
that parents may have. Teachers are available by phone or after school to meet with parents at either’s request and parent-teacher conferences are
held twice a year when families receive a written progress report. We send home each child’s classroom portfolio a week prior to conferences as
another way for parents to become more familiar with their child’s learning and success in his preschool environment.
Q: What kind of disciplinary action is taken for a child who finds it difficult to follow rules or exhibits
challenging or inappropriate behavior?
Our basic Cloverdale rule states that children may not hurt anyone or anything at school, which includes both physical
and emotional harm. Early in the year the children help to create guidelines for safe ways to play in all the areas of our classroom and the
playground. Teachers both guide and teach children successful ways to enter and engage in play and ways to solve a variety of social conflicts.
Teachers consider a child’s temperament, learning style and ability to understand when helping children learn how to successfully interact with peers.
Children are taught how to calm down when experiencing strong feelings and the steps to follow to solve problems.
If a child exhibits behavior that could hurt others or himself, a teacher will sit with this child in a quiet area, separate from others,
to help him regain control of his behavior. An older child who is testing limits and deliberately overstepping boundaries may be asked to make
another choice for play; while a younger child who is unfamiliar with group play may be given words and strategies to use to help her be more
successful in getting what she needs as well as learning and understanding the needs of others. We do not use time outs except in the situation
when a child would benefit from a brief respite from play to better control his behavior.
Q: My child is very shy and finds it difficult to join in play with others
Teachers emphasize, both in the curriculum and through modeling techniques, skills to enhance children’s social interactions.
The shy child is encouraged to participate in play with teacher facilitation that is gradually withdrawn as the child gains confidence and competence.
Children are taught the language of emotion early in the year as they watch teachers model common and difficult social situations where the children then discuss
ways to problem solve as well as play games and act out ways to be a kind and thoughtful friend. The Second Step curriculum (teaches pro-social, anti-violent
strategies for problem solving) is used in the classroom to teach methods to improve self-esteem, social responsibility and self control.
  
Program Questions
Q: Are you a half or full-day program?
Our hours of operation are from 8:30 – 12:30 for the morning program, and 8:30 - 3:3o for the program including an extended day, Monday-Friday. You may opt for a four or seven hour day, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days per week.
Q: Can I enroll my child for specific days?
You may enroll your child for two days/week (Monday & Tuesday or Thursday& Friday ), three days (Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday or Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) or four days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday). We restrict enrollment to these specific configurations in order to regulate numbers and keep groupings of children similar.
Q: Do you offer a full-year program with summer care?
Our program runs from the week after Labor Day until the 3rd or 4th week in June.
Q: Do you follow the Northampton Public Schools Calendar?
We share the similar legal holidays and winter (February) and Spring (April) vacation weeks, but we have a 2 week recess in December and close school only for parent-teacher conferences and a teacher assessment day, each, twice per year.
Q: What is your policy for stormy weather conditions?
We close when the Northampton Public Schools close due to severe weather and post it on channel 22, WWLP and channel 40, WGGB’s websites and television stations. If Northampton has a one or two hour delay, we will delay the start of our morning by one hour.
Q: Do you celebrate holidays and children’s birthdays?
We choose to celebrate the beauty and wonders in a child’s natural world by exposing the children, in all areas of our curriculum, to animals, habitats and traditions celebrated by cultures globally. We encourage enrolled parents to share special foods, activities and celebrations of diversity within their family. We do not celebrate religious holidays, but do exchange valentines in February as a gesture of friendship and love. We do not hold individual celebrations for children’s birthdays, however, we hold a birthday party one day at the end of the year when we acknowledge each enrolled child’s birthday and hold special events.
Q: How long has Cloverdale been in operation?
Our records date back to its formation in the early 1950’s, thus making us about 60 years old.
Q: Is your program accredited?
We have been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) since 2000, whose criteria demands a quality of excellence that surpasses the rigorous standards required by the Department of Early Education and Care, our licensing agency.
Q: How secure is your program?
Our backyard play area is enclosed by a chain link fence with a locking gate that extends across a paved area leading to the yard. The entry door remains locked when the children are inside requiring all who arrive to ring the doorbell and acquire access if allowed by the director. Our emergency exit is secured by a locked gate that pushes open from the inside in case of fire. Children practice emergency drills on a monthly basis and children, staff and families are well informed about all our evacuation policies. Families must sign in and sign out daily so as we know who is on the premises at all times. We do not release children to anyone but a parent unless we have written parent permission.
Q: What is your teacher to child ratio?
There are 4 adults to 17 children in the classroom. The staff configuation is a teaching director, lead teacher, teacher or assistant teacher and parent of the day. The Director has office hours on Wednesday and is not in the classroom. We enroll fewer children on Wednesday so as to maintain a 3:13 ratio.
Q: What are the credentials of your teaching staff?
The director holds a degree in Early Childhood Education, our lead teacher holds a BS in Movement Science and Leisure Studies and has worked in the field of early childhood education for over 8 years. Our teacher assistant holds an interdisciplinary degree in Education and psychology and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Children's Literature.
Q: How is tuition paid?
When Cloverdale offers your child an enrollment slot after receiving your application, you sign and return a contract along with $75 that is applied toward tuition. The remaining balance is divided into 10 payments due on the first of the month beginning July 1st.
Q: How often will I be parent of the day?
It averages out to be about every 6-8 weeks from September to June.
Q: What will my monthly work responsibility be?
One member of each family must serve as a parent officer (co chair or secretary) or complete a monthly job requiring approximately 1-2 hours work per month. Parents select this job from a posted list on the parent bulletin board. Usually, the work is done during one of two scheduled work nights per month
Q: Can my child make up absences, vacations or snow days?
There are no make ups or reimbursements offered for missed days.
Q: What happens if I am late picking up my child?
We unlock the door at 12:25 to allow parents a bit more flexibility and time to gather their children’s belongings. Dismissal is promptly at 12:30/3:30. After a few minutes grace period, late arrivals will be billed a late fee.
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