Preschools
A Special Place for the Community
Utilizing the Rivendell District’s facilities, services, and curriculum goals, the Rivendell Early Childhood Program offers community 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.
Engaged Learners
As part of our commitment to building children’s confidence and joy of learning, RECP has developed key learning components that guide our program and approach:
- Social/Emotional Development: Learning Self-regulation, Relationship building, Problem solving and Emotional well-being.
- Math and Science: Encouraging curiosity and eager exploration of the natural world and quantitative concepts.
- Language: Developing strong communicative and conversation skills.
- Writing: Creating the foundations of writing through fine motor skills, emergent writing, and multi-sensory strategies.
- Literacy: Demonstrating knowledge of books, letters, sounds and interactive read-aloud.
Program
RECP is a high quality, play based program. As part of the public school RECP 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 assessments, 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 8:00 to 11:30
- $20 a morning for out of district students
- Extended Day program from 11:30 to 3:00 for $20 a day
- Extended Plus program from 11:30 to 5:00 for $35 a day
Hours for the Samuel Morey Classroom
Serving the Towns of Fairlee and Orford
- 8:00 – 11:30 Morning Option
- 8:00 – 3:00 Full Day Option
- 8:00 - 5:30 Full Day Day option with After School Care
Follows School Calendar
Flexible scheduling to meet family needsSample Schedule
Morning
- 8:00 Arrival (Handwashing, Sign In, who is here?)
- 8:00-9:10 Free Play/ Choice Time
- 9:10-Clean up
- 9:20-9:40 Morning Meeting, Handwashing
- 9:40-10:00 Snack/Bathroom/ Handwashing
- 10:00-10:10 Music & Movement
- 10:10-10:30 Learning Circle/Story Time
- 10:30-11:00 Project
- 11:00 Recess
- 11:30 Goodbyes
Afternoon:
- 11:30-12:00 Recess
- 12:00- Wash Hands
- 12:05 Lunch
- 12:30 Bathroom/ Independent Reading
- 12:45-1:45 Rest/ Quiet Time
- 1:45 Bathroom/ Quiet Music
- 2:00 Choice Time
3:00 Dismissal
Aftercare:- 3:00-3:30 Handwashing/Snack
- 3:30 Bathroom
- 3:45- Recess or Choice Time
- 5:00 Story
- 5:30 End of Day
Hours for the Westshire Classrooms
Serving the Towns of Fairlee, Orford, West Fairlee and Vershire
- Half Day Preschool 8-11:30
- Full Day Preschool 8-3:00
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
The Rivendell Early Childhood Program (RECP) fosters the intellectual, social and personal development of our students. Our goal is to help them become life-long learners, positive contributors to their communities and productive, healthy adults.
Since 2015, due to changes in Vermont state law regarding early education, we offer free morning preschool to children enrolled in our program. To make preschool more accommodating for working families we also offer aftercare until 5:30.
Early Childhood Developmental Screening
WHAT IS IT?
The RISD Early Childhood Program will hold its annual child developmental screening day for all 3 and 4-year-old children living in the Rivendell Interstate School District. The screening involves activities that are both fun for young children and help us learn about a child’s motor, cognitive, social, language, and communication skills. The screening is for all children in the district, even if they will not be attending the Early Childhood Program next school year.
WHO NEEDS SCREENING?
Any child residing in Vershire, West Fairlee, or Fairlee VT, as well as Orford, NH who will be 3 or 4 years old by August 31, 2022. Screening is not required; however, it is highly recommended.
WHEN AND WHERE CAN MY CHILD BE SCREENED?
RISD is offering screenings at two different locations on Monday, March 20, 2023. Choose the time and site that works best for your schedule. The screening times have a set number of spots, once they are full, we cannot add more children to that specific session.
Call 802-333-4888 or email. Heidi Nichols or Ashley Bean to schedule your screening time.
Westhire:
- Session 1: 8:00 - 8:45
- Session 2: 9:30 - 10:15
Samuel Morey:
- Session 1: 12:00 - 12:45
- Session 2: 1:30 - 2:15