Who Are We?
Acorn School and Child Care is licensed by the Child Care Division of the State of Vermont to care for 106 children. It is currently a three STAR provider and is in the process of applying for a fourth STAR which it expects to be awarded in November 2010. The fifth star is expected to be awarded in March 2011. The School is comprised of 6 grades, 11 classrooms and 24 teachers.
Our Teachers
In order to achieve its mission the School focuses on hiring the most qualified and experienced staff. Head Teachers are required to have a Bachelor of Science in either Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education. Assistant Teachers must have a Bachelors Degree, an Associates Degree or a CDA. This goal is supported by having a compensation and benefit package in the 90th percentile for preschools in Chittenden County.
Staffing ratios are above the Vermont licensing requirements. In addition to a full time Head Teacher and Assistant Teacher in each classroom, the School is staffed with two full time Floaters so that there is ample time for teachers to plan curriculum, meet with management, and of course take a lunch break. This also provides the resource for some one on one counseling for academic or behavioral issues without requiring the classroom to have fewer than two full time engaged teachers at all times. All staff must be certified in First Aid and CPR within months of hire. It is also mandatory that staff members keep the certifications current.
Grade Organization
The School is organized into three Upper Grades and three Lower Grades. The Lower Grades are eight month grades including Early Infants for children from 6 weeks to 7 months old, Mobile Infants for children 9 to15 months old and Early Toddlers for children 16 to 23 months. The School “loops” children in the lower grades, which means it graduates children from one grade to the next in a group with their teachers.
Upper grades consist of 2-year-olds (Toddlers), 3-year-olds (Preschool) and 4-year olds (Pre-Kindergarten). These grades are one year grades and are increasingly structured as the child grows.
Operating Hours
Regular hours are 7:30 AM until 5:30 PM with both early drop off and late pick up available.
