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 8:00am to 11:30am.
Out of district students must register with their home district, due to Act 166. Once they are registered with their home district, they can register at WES.
Through Act 166, three mornings will be paid for by the state. If students attend for five days, families will be responsible for the remaining two days at a rate of $20 per morning.
Extended Day program runs from 11:30am to 3:00pm for $20 a day, for both in district and out of district students.
After School Care will be provided from 3:00pm - 5:00pm for a fee $15 per day (provided staffing is available).
Hours for the Westshire Elementary Classrooms
Serving the Towns of Fairlee, Orford, West Fairlee and Vershire
- Half Day Preschool 8am - 11:30am
- Extended day 11:30-3pm
- After School 3-5 pm
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.