Classes and Fees
THE CLASSES
MDO's program is open to any child between the ages of 6 months and 5 years (as of September 1st of the current year). We operate a play-based curriculum and remain committed to the philosophy that children learn best through play. The curriculum will be developed around our themes of the month.
Children under 2 years of age may attend one or two days per week. Children 2 years of age or older may attend 2 or more days per week if space in the class permits.
All classes (except the Baby class) participate in art and music programs, which rotate weekly (currently classes are scheduled on Wed. and Thurs.). A monthly curriculum enrichment program offers additional learning experiences through storytellers, musicians, puppeteers, etc. Children who attend MDO, but do not come on the day a performance is scheduled, are invited to attend with a parent or caregiver. A creative movement class is scheduled once per month for all children (except those in the Baby class). Special science and Spanish classes are scheduled for the children in the 4s classes.
Class placement is based on the child's age on September 1 of the year entering school.
School hours are 9:30AM - 1:30PM Monday-Friday.
THE BABY CLASSES
A class for infants 6 months to children with 1st birthdays on or after 9/1. There is one teacher to groups of no more than four babies. Babies experience a flexible daily schedule of play, naps and lunch. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday ONLY.
THE 2 AND 3 YEAR OLD CLASSES
In these classes, 2 and 3-year-old children enjoy a flexible schedule of inside classroom activities, including stories, art, music and creative movement. Class activities relate to special topics such as weather, seasons or holidays. Weather permitting, all classes have outside play on the playground together.
Classes are formed by age as follows:
THE SPRING 2 CLASS
1-year-old children who turn 2 in the spring/summer months (March-August)*. There is one teacher to no more than 5 children; class ratios may change to 6 once children turn two years of age.
THE FALL 2 CLASS
1-year-old children turning 2 in the fall/winter months (September-February)*. There is one teacher to no more than 6 children.
THE SPRING 3 CLASS
2-year-old children who turn 3 in the spring/summer months (March-August)*. There is one teacher to no more than 7 children. Children in this class must attend a minimum of 2 days per week.
THE FALL 3 CLASS
2-year-old children who turn 3 in the fall/winter months (September-February)*. There is one teacher to no more than 7 children. Children in this class must attend a minimum of 2 days per week.
*All class cut-off dates may be adjusted due to the make-up of class birthdates.
THE 4s CLASSES
Both 4’s classes benefit from instruction in Art, Music, Spanish, Creative Movement, and Science. The curriculum is developed around our themes of the month and our letter of the week program - as children move up through our 4’s program, these lessons will be more deeply explored and presented in a more in depth way.
Each child is accepted and supported as an individual and given opportunities to build and develop skills in listening, pre-reading, math, music, art, science, gross and fine motor control, and in social areas: cooperation, sharing, helping, and problem solving with friends. Schedule: free play followed by group time that includes calendar, weather, phonics activities, science activities (classifying, predicting, observing), math activities (measuring, estimating, counting, graphing), stories, art, music, movement, and activities related to monthly unit themes.
The student-teacher ratios will be 16 to 2. There are opportunities for co-mingling of the classes, primarily on the playground and during our curriculum enrichment programs.
THE YOUNG 4 CLASS
In the young 4’s class, children may attend 3, 4 or 5 days.
THE OLDER 4 CLASS
Children in the older 4’s class will be required to come 4-5 days per week, which will allow for better absorption of class lessons and time for more in-depth explorations of the materials being presented. A side benefit is that it will help the older child become accustomed to spending more time in school. If a child attends four days, the day off will be up to the parent.
FALL 2011-2012 TUITION
Tuition is based on the number of days a child is enrolled per week. Payment is due the first day of each month.
| Days per Week 1 2 3 4 5 |
Monthly Tuition* $90.00 $180.00 $270.00 $360.00 $450.00 |
*Tuition for the 2012-2013 school year will be confirmed in the Spring of 2012.
DOWNLOAD THE 2012 PARENT HANDBOOK