Mrs. Smith (Casey Smith) will be your child’s teacher in the 3 year old M-W-F and T-TH Preschool Programs as well as our Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC).  Alongside her will be her full time aide Mrs. Miranda.  Our classroom is a fun filled atmosphere growing in knowledge together and making new friends! Our goal in our classroom is to create a warm, safe, and welcoming environment, to allow your child to be creative and grow in the early learning years.

Mrs. Smith’s Amazon Wish List

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/37OEFGGDKXJJZ?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_miRGZixtRHX0r

Preschool:

Here is our daily routine for preschool:

• Arrival Routine (hand in folder, wash hands, ,sign in, and play with table toys)

• Large Group: Opening, Circle Time and jobs

• Bathroom, Wash Hands & Snack

• Independent Book Time

• Center Time

• Large Group: Closing

• Music & Movement or Outdoor Play

• Dismissal Routine

Center Time is a favorite and important part of the day. During Center Time, students get a chance to interact socially with one another while they are learning through their play and exploration of the materials provided in the classroom. Each day, the students get to play at centers where the children rotate to various learning activities centers.  We have several centers available and we switch many of the materials in these centers weekly. The centers provided include: Blocks, Pretend Play, Writing, Books, Art, Sensory Table, Table Toys, Games, Puzzles, Science, transportation/cars and the Lego Table.

Daily Lessons we use “The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, by Teaching Strategies. Our goal is to help each child to build a strong knowledge base for their education. We focus on identification of each alphabet letter and letter sounds. We also teach a variety of themes such as: Who We Are, Making Friends, Families, Transportation, Animals, and many more! We also teach math concepts such as sizes, patterns, counting, numeral recognition, number concepts and more. We also teach social and emotional skills. We will work on appropriate classroom behavior with the children, how to manage and name feelings and how to get along with others.

A favorite time of the day is Snack Time! Snacks and drinks are provided by the JFK Kitchen.

Outdoor Play is enjoyed by all the students and we are fortunate to have a great fenced in area to play.

Preschool is a very busy place full of growing, learning, fun and friends!

Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC):

This program is a convenience for all the working parents/guardians who can drop off their children and are able to have them stay all day.  This program is basically wrap around child care.  Your child has to be 3 years old and potty trained.  Your children are able to participate in preschool in the morning with a snack.  Lunch is also served, as well as an afternoon snack.  Nap time is provided in the afternoon or enrichment activities for those who do not take naps.  We are open from 7:00 am- 5:30pm.

Biography

Mrs. Casey Smith has been in Early Childhood Education for many years in different roles. Before taking on this new role she was working as an aide in the preschool classrooms and a Substitute Teacher in PreK -8th grade here at JFK. Prior to working at JFK she was a Director of a Childcare Center.

Casey has an Associates Degree in Applied Science of Medical Assisting. She also has her CDA (Child Development Associates) and is certified in ECERS-3 . Casey is also a member of NAEYC  (National Association for the Education of Young Children) along with having many other trainings.

When Casey is not helping to shape little ones minds she enjoys spending time with her husband of 15 years and 2 children, one is 11 years old and attends school here at John. F Kenney Catholic School and her other child is a wild, fun and crazy 2 year old.