The Learning Academy of College Park

1. The Learning Academy of College Park New Academic Year 2008-09

2. Mission Statement The mission of The Learning Academy (TLA) is to provide affordable education to children ages 6 weeks to 6 years with high quality education through the support and encouragement of the Church Board, Staff, and Parents. In order for this center to become a center of distinction, we must grasp and focus on the qualities, expectations, and resources that provide us with a title that separates TLA from other schools.

3. Qualities of TLA • Christian Environment • Student Population • Community

4. Goals • To provide the academic and social skills students will need to progress to the primary grades. • To provide a supportive and fun classroom environment. • To help students make new friends and discover new interests.

5. School of Distinction • Quality • Expectations • Resources

6. New Structure Curriculum Human Resources Governance New Academic Year

7. Organizational Structure • FUMC School Board • Director • Teachers and Administration

8. New Added Features • New School Hours • 8:00am -2:00pm (Bright Beginnings through Thinking Threes) • 8:00am -2:30pm (Kindergarten Readiness & Primary Grades) • Full Time Program • 7:00 am – 6:00pm • Snacks • Specialty Classes i.e. art, music, language, physical education, …… • Enrichment Activities

9. Curriculum The Learning Academy has partnered with Pyramid to… 1. Provide students from ages 6 weeks to 4/5 years old with the opportunity to develop academically, socially, and emotionally; 2. Equip teachers with the tools to assess and communicate the development of their students.

10. Pyramid Curriculum “A comprehensive program that provides children the opportunity to explore and learn through non-conventional methods.” • Through twelve projects throughout the year a child will explore and deepen their understanding of life. The concept of reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science will meld together to create an arena of learning without defined subjects.

11. “Pyramid” at a Glance • Projects connect across a three-year span. Children's learning deepens as they re-encounter familiar skills and concepts and learn at increasingly higher levels • Focused planning results in activities that advance children's thinking through three levels-basic, creative, and metacognative • Projects wrap learning in meaningful context • Children gain representational competence across all domains of learning • Informal and formal assessment tools are used for formative evaluation • Teachers understand their dual roles in creating Emotional and Educational Nearness and Distance. Children feel secure as they move toward increasing autonomy

12. Curriculum • The Learning Academy has also partnered with “Lessons from Around the World” to provide our students with a dynamic experience with languages. • In order to engage our children in structured physical education KiDsGyM will also be added during our the regular school hours.

13. Primary Grades • Language Arts • Readers- McGraw or Scott Foreman • Math • Everyday Math • Science • McGraw Hill • Social Studies • McGraw Hill • Languages • Lessons from Around the World (Spanish & Mandarin) • P.E. • KiDsGyM • Art and Music

14. Assessment Tools • Kaufman BIT (Brief Intelligence Test) • Stanford 10 • Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) • Criterion-Reference Competency Test (CRCT) • Basic Literacy Test (BLT) • Portfolios • Benchmarks

15. Human Resources • Established Employee Qualifications • Employee Performance Evaluations • Parent Handbook • Parent/Teacher Communication • Academy Evaluations

16. Human Resources Goals for Learning Academy Staff • Develop quality child care workers • Train and develop staff in child care industry • Keep staff attrition rates low • Reward those teachers who exemplify qualitative characteristics • Effectively communicate with parents through e-mail

17. Curriculum Resources • Computer Lab • Science Lab • Library

18. Human Resources Goals for Parents • Communicate needs promptly. • Fulfill volunteer hours of 5 hours per parent. • Establish a positive/effective relationship with teachers.

19. Discounts • Church Members : 5% per child • Flexible Days (BB through to Thinking Threes): A flat 20% off of the tuition rate

20. Waitlist • Church members of College Park First United Methodist have priority on the waitlist.

21. Materials/Supplies • Parents will no longer be responsible for providing paper products, hand sanitizer, liquid soap, etc. • Parents who have children in the diaper changing rooms will be responsible for providing baby wipes, diapers, ointment, etc.

22. New Fee Structure“Tuition Package A”8:00am to 2:00pm (BB through Thinking Threes) 8:00am to 2:30pm (KR & Primary Grades) • Bright Beginnings: $850 • Waddling Ones: $750 • Terrific Twos: $665 • Thinking Threes: $580 • Kindergarten Readiness: $550 • Kindergarten +: $700

23. Bright Beginnings: $990 Waddling Ones: $950 Terrific Twos: $865 Thinking Threes: $780 Kindergarten Readiness: $700 Kindergarten +: $900 New Fee Structure“Tuition Package B”7:00am to 6:00pm (BB- Primary Grades)

24. New Fee Structure(Current Students) (1) Enrollment Fee: $ 100 (2) Materials/Book Fee: • Bright Beginnings through to Kindergarten Readiness: $125 • Primary Grades: $250

25. New Fee Structure(New Students) (1) Enrollment Fee: $100 (2) Registration Fee: $100 (3) Deposit: $250 (3) Materials/Book Fee (annual fee): • BB, WO, TT: $125 • Thinking Threes $125 • Kindergarten Readiness: $125 • Primary Grades: $250

26. Summer Session • Begins: June 9th • Ends: August 1st • 6 weeks through to 4 years of age: Package A and Package B • Ages 4 through 7: • Three sessions: Prices are pending • Sessions (all ages): I. Anansi Stories- June 9th- 27th II. Water World- June 30th - July 18th III. The Olympics- July 21st – 1st • School Begins August 11th

27. Re-enrollment • Please complete the enrollment papers and return them by April 30th, 2008. • Summer sign up packets for ages 4 through 7 will be available April 25th.

28. Question and Answers • Please contact me