421 Common Street
Belmont, Massachusetts 02478
617-489-3259

Programs

Belmont Co-op offers three Pre-K classes grouped by age:

Preschool Calendar
The school year begins the week after Labor Day and ends in early June. Vacations and snow days correspond to those of the Belmont Public School System.

Curriculum

All of our Pre-K programs give children a warm, supportive environment in a comfortable group setting outside the home. Activities are carefully planned to offer children a wealth of resources and challenges. Belmont Co-op provides a hands-on, child centered curriculum that facilitates individual growth and promotes curiosity, creativity and conviction. Our school year is marked by a number of thematic units that facilitate emergent curriculum. This type of curriculum is responsive to children’s interests and needs. Teachers select and arrange materials and activities that encourage active exploration to capture a child’s intrinsic curiosity.

Teachers act as facilitators who gently guide and challenge each child in a combination of teacher directed activities and child directed activities.

At Belmont Co-op, we focus on the growth of the whole child and provide diverse opportunities for social, emotional, cognitive, language and motor growth.

Daily Schedule

Each day starts with a period of free play during which the children move among various activities. One area provides games, puzzles, and books for quiet play. Painting and other art projects are always available. The sand, water and play-dough tables encourage experimentation. A dress-up corner with a playhouse also stimulates the imagination. An extensive block and toy collection facilitates cooperative or solo play. During free play the children are encouraged to participate in a project that is part of a unit they are studying.

Later, clean-up time leads into circle time. The children come together to enjoy stories, songs, dramatic play and simple games based on concepts such as matching, counting and letter recognition. Then the children eat a healthy snack provided by a parent helper. The morning ends with active play on the outdoor playground, weather permitting, or indoors in the church social hall.

"Lunch Bunch" Extended Day Program
Children can also take part in an extended day program called Lunch Bunch. Held once or twice a week, Lunch Bunch gives children the opportunity to "stay and play" with a small group of classmates and one teacher. Children bring a lunch from home and enjoy specially planned activities.

Settling in

During free play, the children move freely among various activity stations.

Getting messy

Making artwork related to the current unit of study is often done during the free play period.

Coming together

During circle time, the children enjoy singing, storytelling and simple games as a group.