Serving La Canada Since 1949
Here at La Canada Preschool we believe in doing the reverse of a waiting list. We have created a school where you can come in, take a tour at your convenience, and join us for preschool by registering in January for the following school year. No waiting list, no lottery, no wondering if your child will get in. Send us an email to lacanadapreschool@gmail.com. We are waiting or you.
It is that time of year when parents start to think about looking for a preschool.
To help you with your search, let me give you the lowdown on LCP.
Who are we? We are a group of dedicated early childhood educators who believe in children learning through play. We have worked together for many years, and believe that if a child loves school that will set the foundation for all future learning.
What do we do? We provide a play based environment with mixed age groups, with art, music and literature being at the core of our curriculum.
Where do we do this at? La Canada Preschool is located in a beautiful neighborhood, with a large tree in the backyard, lots of sand, a garden, a real wooden playhouse, and non-institutionalized classrooms. We have been here 62 years.
When do we have preschool? Monday through Friday our morning program operates from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Our Pre-Kindergarten is here from 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. The children may attend in the morning T-Th, MWF, or Monday through Friday. Pre-K is Monday through Friday.
How do we do this? By having an intelligent, caring group of families that support our work by believing in our little school and the good work we do.
Please consider taking a tour of La Canada Preschool.
When families enter preschool for the first time it is normal to have issues with separation. It is important to ask a preschool what there policy is, as I find it best to feel you as a parent, are comfortable with how this is handled.
We have a small preschool, which allows us to be flexible with families. By this I mean if a parent wants to stay for a few minutes to assist in the separation, that is good with us. Our issue is that we need the parents to drop their child off in the front yard of the school, as we are in a residential neighborhood.
When you bring your child to school be sure to have a routine where you bring them to school the same way each time. Say goodbye, do not sneak out, and if your child is sad reassure them you will be back.
At our school we hug children, give them space, look for their comfort cues, and stay close to them when they are sad. We sing a song about how mommies and daddies come back.
Today a little guy wrote a letter when he was sad about mommy leaving:
Dear Mommy,
I don’t like it when you leave. Come back now.
After he wrote the letter we took three deep breathes and he went off to play.
At preschool we will take the time to sing a song, write a letter, and take three deep breaths to help with separation.
And lots of love…
What I’m Thankful For
Hey it’s Mr. Tony again with some fond words about La Canada Preschool. There are a lot of things that I’m thankful for being at La Canada Preschool. And no it’s not having Panda Express, McDonalds, Subway, Penguins or any of the other food choices within the area. I feel very lucky to work with such wonderful staff members like Diana, Rosemary, Susan, Pammie, Elizabeth, Jamie, Mr. Scott, Mollie and of course Ms. Debbie. Well I now have one more person to be thankful for and that’s Lauren who just joined us last week. She’s wonderful with the children, she’s super helpful, and just like the rest of us she has a real passion for working with children and I know she’ll fit in just great. And when I do a food run to any of the above food places mentioned earlier I’ll be sure and ask her if she’d like anything when I go. Be sure and say hello to Lauren. She’s very friendly and I know she’ll be happy to meet you.
Okay so I’ve got a new art toy to use at the preschool. I picked up a blow dryer at the CVS in La Canada and oggled it and I thought of the wonders I’d do with it. I experimented with four colors. I plopped four different colors on top of each other and pulled out the blow dryer. I turned it on and went to town. The effect was similar to watching a flower blooming in slow motion. After I finished playing with it 20 minutes later I finally got it ready for the kids. Upon taking it out and showing it to the kids I immediately had a long line of kids waiting for their turn. The outcome was proof that it truly is the process and not the product that’s important. Watching the paint being blown around was similar to watching a flower bloom in front of your eyes. Once the kids were gone I preceded to have some fun on my own again. Yep once again I’ve discovered a new toy.
(Written by Mr. Tony for Debbie)
Spring Break is upon us, and I can hear parents in the preschool talking about what are we going to do with our children for a week. It seems our children are happy when we plan activities that are engaging and fun. Here are my recommendations for enjoyable Spring Break:
1. Organize a park day. Get out the preschool roster and ask your child who they would like to have come to the park. Invite away. Pack a lunch, bring a chair, and be prepared to watch your child run around, have fun, and it’s free!
2. Create Art. This can seem like a lot of work, so I will give you some options> You can go to my favorite school supply store in Pasadena, Angels School Supplies on Colorado Blvd. Have a budget in mind, and let your child pick out the supplies. This can give a child empowerment, spark creativity, and keep them busy at home. If you want to attend an art class, I recommend PaintBox Kids in Pasadena. They have many options for classes where your child can be an artist for the day.
3. Take a hike: within our beautiful foothill community there are many options to be in nature with your child through hiking. I love Eaton Canyon as well, as the Lower Arroyo in Pasadena. Keep it simple, and you may set the tone for a live long love of hiking.
4. Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Echo Park is a local landmark and treasure, where for $15.00 you can take your child to see a live puppet show. Please make reservations and support this special place.
5. Make a Fort. If you do not have outside room, put a sheet over the dining room table. Create it with whatever you have, and let your child have a special place to hide, think and be.
Our children a with us for such a short time. Embrace Spring Break as a time to enjoy and bond with your children.
Last week I went a visited a public school kindergarten, and I was amazed at the expectations as well as sad to see the lack of activities that allowed for free choice or play. Instead children were asked to sit and work for almost the entire morning, with the exception of a twenty minute recess. While the children were engaged, and seemed happy, I couldn’t help but wonder, what can parents do to best prepare their child for this world of holding a pencil, paying attention, and read.
The good news is in the state of California there is a new kindergarten entrance date. Beginning this year your child will need to 5 years old by Nov. 2, as opposed to the old rule where they needed to be five by Dec. 2. Then in 2012 children need to be five by October 2, and finally in 2013 they need to be five by September 2.
What does this mean to our children and families? To me it is good news. The movement in education has been to take the play and 
developmental learning out of kindergarten, and replace it with more academics and longer days in kindergarten. Twenty years ago their were still dress up clothes, blocks and free play in kindergarten. Today that is all gone, being replaced with dittos and educational minutes. While many children enter ready for this, many children and their families are not. What the good news is that we hope with this date change the youngest children will be given a year to grow and become developmentally ready for the kindergarten.
Families need to be aware that expectations, while not always discussed on school tours, are there. The children who are doing well are children that are prepared, hopefully at preschool, for what lies ahead. Here at La Canada Preschool we believe in a curriculum that remains rich in learning through play, and at the same time introduces academic concepts. By that I mean we teach Zoo Phonics, a nati0nally recognized program by which children learn the alphabet phonetically with movement and song. Then we trace and play with our upper case and lower case letters in sand, salt and pudding. In the spring we put pencils to paper and slowing teach how to write each letter. We have calendar time, science experiments, number learning, and number writing, being done creatively.
All this along with a curriculum that emphasizes that when your child gets to kindergarten, they will know what to expect. We have an ongoing discussion of what you will be doing in kindergarten, what the teacher will ask you to do, and how much fun it will be. We believe that if children can spend a year in the Pre-K, still pretending to be a princess or a pirate, and at the same time give them a solid foundation for what lies ahead, then we have prepared your child for this big new world of kindergarten.
Just wanted to give everyone an update on our regsitration process. We have a few good spots left in the morning and in the Pre-K, and we would love have you join us. The registration fee is $195.00, and that guarantees you a spot in the summer program and for September 2011. No waiting list, no lottery or random selection, the new buzz word in the school admission jargon.
Please know by sending me an email, lacanadapreschool@gmail.com, you can schedule a tour and receive all the enrollment information about our school. We offer morning classes on T-Th, MWF, or M-F from 9:00 a.m. till 12:00 noon, as well as a Pre-K from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Come see the learning through play environment at La Canada Preschool.
It is that time of year when we begin the registration process at LCP. We work at keeping it simple. Right now all our current families are turning in their forms. Then in January we will be accepting registration from new families. It is first come, first serve. No waiting list, no interview, no stress. How can this be I am asked? Every other school in Los Angeles has a list you need to be on when you child is three weeks old in order to get in. Or we have the lottery system, where you put your name on list, and hope you are hand picked in a lottery for a placement.
It seems we have created a culture of fear when it comes to getting your child into preschool. Here at La Canada Preschool we are refusing to be part of this trend. When you contact our school, you can be emailed information, come in for a tour, and be guaranteed a place by turning in a form on time.
So what have we created by making parents feel they have to fight for a placement in a preschool? My thoughts are fear; fear that if you are not on top of it you child will fall behind. fear that it is hard to get into the best schools, and fear that you may be not doing your job if you are not aware of these facts. What happened to supporting families, giving them a simple process that is sensible and secure. Why is it a competition to get your child into a preschool?
At La Canada Preschool I believe it setting the tone that we are here to support your family, beginning with a registration process that is respectful, simple and secure. With the world we live in families need to feel that a school wants them, as opposed to the feeling that they are lucky to be chosen to be in a school. Come on by La Canada Preschool: we’ll be waiting for you.
Children have been coming to preschool this week telling me about the Candy Fairy. This is someone who they give all their Halloween Candy to, and in return they receive a toy for their donation. It struck me as this new trend is on the scene, what are we teaching ? Is it a good alternative, or are we not giving children to chance to be immersed in their obsession for candy?
To me the goal of control is self control, which I know it not an easy behavior to learn. Children need small lessons in learning how to master the desires we all have for pleasure in life. As a child to be able to go to someones house, say a few words while dressed up in a costume, and recieve free candy is like a dream come true. With a bucket full of sugar you are given the chance as a parent to teach how to have the candy and moderate the amount that is eaten. If a gift is given to deter us from all of our obsessions does that negate to lesson of self control, taking away the chance for a learning experience? Or are we just all to fearful of what will happen if children eat too much candy.
My concern is that we are taking away from the children the opportunity not only to indulge but to regulate. Life is about continual regulation. Don’t eat too much, don’t watch too much, don’t do anything too much. So how do we teach this for the moments when we are not there to be the Candy Fairy?