Our Concept

Our Performing Arts Preschool provides your child with all of the educational standards of academic preparation, with an exciting, unique twist . . . a strong emphasis on the performing and creative arts.

Our goals are to provide: a warm, safe, nurturing environment quality instruction in core curricula and the performing arts a foundation for future academic excellence a foundation for future instrumental study an introduction to music, drama, singing and movement an introduction to creative and fine arts a colorful, creative atmosphere full of exciting, imaginative

adventures the basis for self-expression, coordination, confidence and

poise pride in achievement

Our Mission

Understanding the creativity and curiosity bubbling in each young child, our goals as a preschool are to encourage their discovery of the world, to nurture exploration and new experiences, and to help each individual child develop a joy of learning!

Believing that everyone has an innate potential for artistic endeavors, are goals as a performing arts studio are to nurture a passion for music and the performing arts, to guide and develop personal skill and creativity, to encourage an appreciation of the history and future of the arts, and to inspire the continued pursuit of artistic expression.

Our Performing Arts Preschool unites these missions, helping each child discover a lifetime of JOY in their world and in the arts through excellent education in a relaxed atmosphere.

Location

4026 George Washington Memorial HwyYorktown, Virginia 23692

Phone: (757) 890-0175Website: www.spotlightoncenterstage.comEmail: csbuzz@aol.com

Programs and Tuition

We offer three programs to accommodate the needs of our students and families. Tuition is paid monthly, and includes weekly Kindermusik classes, several performance opportunities, and specialized arts instruction (piano, dance, art, etc).

Our materials fee covers costume rentals, music and academic supplies, as well as a monthly At Home Materials Kit (CD, literature and an age-appropriate instrument from Kindermusik's ABC Music & Me).

2 Day Program (Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 9:30-12:30)Tuition: $224 per month (equivalent to $56/week or $28/day)

3 Day Program (Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings, 9:30-12:30)Tuition: $300 per month (equivalent to $75/week or $25/day)

5 Day Program (Weekday mornings, 9:30-12:30)Tuition: $420 per month (equivalent to $105/week or

$21/day)

Materials Fee for All Programs: $75 per yearRegistration Fee for All Programs: $50 per year

The specialized arts instruction our preschoolers receive would cost $487 per month if taken separately. Add that to the cost of other local preschool programs, and you’ll see the incredible value of our Performing Arts Preschool!

Other 5 Day Morning Programs range from $220 per month (church-based) to $320 per month (Little Log Cabin) to $566 per month (Goddard)

Kindermusik Classes $170 per month (2 classes per week) Young Performers Theatre Class $75 per month Theatre Dance Class $75 per month Creative/Fine Arts Class $75 per month Instrumental Instruction $92 per month

The registration and materials fee must be paid at registration and are non-refundable. The student’s birth certificate must also be presented. If your child is not toilet trained by August 1, 2011, the studio office must be notified in writing, otherwise the first month’s tuition will be charged. There is no reduction in tuition because of missed classes.

Our Instruction

Musical ActivitiesMusical activities include both instruments and voice: discovering instruments and their sounds, exploring pitch and melody through singing, and learning the basics of rhythm and notation. This is an excellent foundation for any future musical endeavors!

Dramatic ActivitiesDramatic activities encourage play-acting and spontaneous response, age-appropriate improvisation exercises, and the discovery of self-expression and emotion. If already gifted in this area, your child will have the ideal setting to apply their acting skills to stage performances and mini-musical productions throughout the year. For children who are just getting their wings, this is the perfect place to try them out!

Movement ActivitiesMovement activities range from the simplest of song movements to staged choreography to your child's own free interpretation of inspiring music. The ability to express oneself through movement builds non-verbal creativity, coordination skills, and (perhaps most important of all) fun and relaxation with friends.

Our CentersOur centers are an integral and meaningful part of our learning. Hands-on materials and activities guide children in developing new ideas, reviewing concepts, and "practicing" a skill. We utilize Developmental Centers (play time and exploration), Literacy Centers (work time and skill practice), and Theme Centers (based on a common theme). In addition to the skills covered, children will learn valuable social and self-management skills through their center activities. Our fun centers include the following:

Block Center Sand and Water Table Center

Art Center Music Center ABC and Word Work Center Reading Center Writing and Illustrating Center Drama, Costumes and Puppet

Centers Math and Science Centers

Our FacultyOur faculty includes director and lead teacher Rebecca Lowe, lead teacher Julianne Zervopoulos (Kindermusik certified), assisted by theatre arts graduate Carolyn Sutherlin, and guest instructors Celeste Agett (dance) and Tara Price (creative and fine arts). We anticipate

many opportunities for collaboration with other Centerstage instructors as well.

Our CurriculaOur instruction utilizes a variety of core curricula from nationally recognized sources, all of which meet the standards of excellence for age-appropriate, preschool learning. Because our classes are small and intimate, we can tailor the learning material to meet each individual child's learning styles and needs. Our goal for each child is a foundation for future academic and artistic excellence. Academic sources include Spectrum, Flashkids, Scholastic, School Zone, Kumon and more. Our arts curriculum includes Music for Little Mozarts, Fun

with Composers, The Music Effect, and Kindermusik's ABC Music & Me.

Our Events

Weekly ScheduleA typical day for our preschool students would include the following activities and adventures:

Exploration Time & Center Time Class Meeting with Weather & Calendar Activities Music, Dance, Drama Time Lunch Time Play Time & Story Time

We will be using three primary rooms in our downstairs studio for music, centers, lunch, etc. With the use of these rooms, we will be able to split into age-appropriate groups to tackle different activities simultaneously. Our large, open upstairs classroom will be used for rehearsing our performances and mini-musical productions, as well as our large group playtime (indoor sports and games). Smaller studios may also be utilized as students progress to more individual piano/instrumental study.

Class EventsMost months include a class event or party which can often be enjoyed by friends and family. Parents may be invited to help with the seasonal celebrations, crafts and games.

Back-To-School Night (September) Fall Festival (October) Thanksgiving Feast (November) Winter Wonderland Party (December) Instrument Petting Zoo (January) Valentine's Celebration (February) St. Patrick's Day Party (March)

Spring Celebration (April) Graduation Ceremony (May)

ThemesWe will have many adventures built around our monthly/weekly themes! Our activities, music, songs, stories and centers will all be coordinated around exciting areas of exploration:

Big Top Circus Me and My Family Winter Wonderland Oceans of Fun Fairy Tale Island Things That Go! Dinosaur Days Down On The Farm Barnyard Boogie Beach Party Jungle Jive Dance, Dance, Dance! Cowboy Country Dog Days On Safari Camping Out Around the World And many more . . .

PerformancesWe will enjoy several fun, casual performances throughout the year. Students will enjoy demonstrating the music, dance and dramatic skills they have learned, often putting on short plays and mini-musicals such as:

The Three Piggy Opera (a traditional folktale) No Turkey for Perky (Thanksgiving) Tikki Tikki Tembo (a Chinese folktale) Bob Humbug, The Christmas Grump (December) Stone Soup (a classic folktale) Lemonade (featuring all the fairy tale characters) The Little Red Hen (a traditional folktale) Bugz (a lively musical about accepting everyone, even

stinkbugs!)

Performances may also include instrumental presentations and rhythm band demonstrations, piano recitals, dance selections, skits about the great composers, and more. Children will be able to help create their own costumes and sets, a cross-curricular activity adding to the experience of bringing a story to life on stage!

Student Drop Off & Pick Up

We have a very efficient way for parents to drop off their preschoolers each day at 9:25–9:35am. During orientation, parents will be shown where to enter the parking area and how to proceed. One of our teachers will be standing outside, ready to greet your child and escort them into the building. Parents will not need to leave their cars, and are discouraged from doing so. This alleviates any traffic issues, allowing the drop off to proceed quickly and cars to keep moving. It is also easiest on the child who may be new to preschool: any anxiety the child might feel at being separated will soon disappear after they become involved in the morning activities. It is usually prolonged, and more disruptive, when parents try to ease themselves out of the classroom. Parents are always welcome to give us a call and check on their progress!

For afternoon pick up, parents will be able to park and sign out their child. Our staff will have certain procedures in place to make this as easy and efficient as possible. If parking becomes a concern, we will implement a pick up procedure much like the morning drop off. Please be courteous to the staff and pick up your child on time. They will have much left to do to wrap up the day and prepare for the next.

School Closings

Students will receive a detailed Tuition Calendar and Events Calendar at the beginning of the year. Both will indicate the days the studio will be closed (which may or may not coincide with school closings).

If York County schools are closed or late opening due to inclement weather (hurricane, snow, etc.), the preschool will also be closed automatically. We will not be notifying you by phone of the closing.

Sick Child Guidelines

We make every effort to provide a healthy environment for your child. As cold and flu season approaches, we will send home information on what we are doing to combat these illnesses and what you can do at home. If your child develops a cold with discolored nasal discharge, coughing and sneezing, and/or if they have a fever within 24 hours of attending school, or if they develop symptoms of a contagious illness, please keep them home so the rest of the students in their class do not become exposed. Please do not send your child to school if symptoms of fever, vomiting or rash are present. Your child may need to be sent home if they become ill while at school; a parent or guardian will be contacted.

Health Form

As a matter of health and safety for the school and your child, we ask that your child’s immunization record must be filed with us. A health form signed by a physician must be submitted to us within 30 days.

Medication

We prefer not to administer medication to our students, whether prescribed or over the counter. We ask that you arrange to do that before or after preschool hours. However, in rare instances, we will work with you to provide necessary medication to your child. This will require written permission submitted by the parent/guardian and a prescription from their physician.

In Case of Accident or Injury

In the case of a serious accident or injury, we will immediately attempt to contact a parent or guardian (be sure to leave a number where you can be reached, if it is different from that on your application). If we can’t reach you, we will call the child’s physician and take any necessary steps beyond that. For minor injuries, we will contact parents by phone, or send a note home, to notify you about what happened.

Birthdays & Holidays

Parents may help us celebrate our birthdays and holidays by contacting us in advance to make arrangements. We will be able to provide you with information on food allergies and other special considerations at that time. We will celebrate these occasions during lunch, unless other festivities have been planned!

Toys from Home

Students love Show & Tell and it gives them the opportunity to present their favorite item to the class. We will rotate the Show & Tell assignments so that 1-2 students will present each day. When it is your child’s turn, they’ll bring home a special reminder the day before! On other days, please discourage your child from bringing toys from home, as they often create conflicts and disturbances.

Totebags & Water Bottles

Students will receive their own totebags to carry their materials to and from school, as well as a water bottle to use in place of a water fountain. Once you receive these items, please be sure label them with your child’s name. Feel free to decorate them any way you like . . . encourage your child to express themselves!

Lunch

Students must bring a non-perishable lunch with them each day. Due to food allergies, they will not be allowed to trade lunch items. Staff members will supervise to help with the opening of containers as needed, but our goal is for greater independence, so please pack items with this in mind. Any uneaten food will be sent home to give you an idea of what they are eating (or not eating) at school.

Authorization for Pick Up

Students are released only to their parents or guardians, unless written notification is given by their parents, and the person is listed as authorized on the student’s file. The note must be dated and signed, and the authorized person must present a valid picture ID.

Our Facility

We will be renovating and equipping our new preschool facilities this summer after our current semester has come to a close. We are excited about providing a beautiful, safe, colorful and creative environment where children will be inspired to create, imagine and learn about their world!

In August, we will be offering tours and orientations for you and your family to visit our facilities. Your child will be able to see where their new adventure will take place, meet their teachers, and spend some time exploring their new space.

The tours will take place during our Open House events, every Saturday in August, from 10am to 2pm. This will give you a good look at our overall studio, as the Open Houses feature all of our performing arts instruction, not just our preschool. Come meet our instructors, tour our facilities, and get a glimpse at the excellent programs we offer!

Meet the Director

For an up-close and personal introduction to our Performing Arts Preschool, schedule a time to meet with the director, Rebecca Lowe. During this time, you will receive a packet of information with more details about our programs and plans, our philosophy of teaching, our goals and objectives, and more! Learn about our academic and arts curriculum, sample classroom schedule, themes for the year, exciting special events, and more! You will receive a handbook explaining our procedures and policies, and will have the opportunity to ask questions about this unique program.

This will also be an excellent time to help us learn more about your preschooler and their unique personality and interests! Our goal for this initial meeting is to see if our program will be the perfect fit for you and your family. Any successful endeavor in a child's education begins with the collaboration between teachers and family - we look forward to beginning this journey with you!

To Register

The model for our Performing Arts Preschool is a small class base (6-8 students per teacher with assistants as needed). This provides excellent, tailored instruction, but limits registration to those who register early. Reserve your child's spot today!

Simply call the studio office at (757) 890-0175 to set up a meeting with the director. This will safely hold your spot until that meeting, giving you a few days to make a decision. The registration fee, materials fee, application, registration form, and birth certificate must be submitted when you register. Then your child will be ready for an exciting adventure this fall!