Head Start
of Eastern Orange County, Inc.
49 Gidney Avenue
Newburgh, NY 12550
(845) 562-0380
WELCOME!
We are currently enrolling preschoolers for the 2023-2024 school year.
FREE/NO COST HIGH QUALITY PRESCHOOL FOR 3 & 4 YEAR OLD CHILDREN
CHOOSE A LANGUAGE
ESCOJA UN LENGUAJE
FOR ENROLLMENT QUESTIONS
CALL: 845-562-0380
EMAIL: enroll@hseoc.org
VISIT: 49 Gidney Avenue, Newburgh, NY 12550
Q: How should I dress my child for school?
A: Research has demonstrated over & over that children learn best through exploration & play. At HSEOC learning is embedded in everything we do - so there's a lot of exploration and playing happening. Therefore, please dress your child ready for exploration & play.
DRESS CODE: Clothes that children can run, jum & move freely in, clothes children can get dirty, shoes chidren can run, ride bikes, climb and build gross motor skills in.
What do I need to bring to school?
What do I need to bring to school?
How should I dress my child for school?
DRESS FOR SUCCESS:
Research has consistently demonstrated that children learn best through hands-on exploration & play.
At HSEOC, learning is embedded in everything we do, so there's a lot of exploration and playing happening each day.
Our teachers create learning experiences for children in all categories, including physical development, based on individualized goals created by families.
The Physical Development goals provide children with opportunities to exercise their large (gross motor) and small (fine motor) muscles in purposeful ways and by encouraging personal care skills and healthful behaviors.
Additionally, our outdoor playscape is intentionally designed to help young children to meet their physical development & other learning goals.
For these reasons, it's very important that children are dressed every day ready to explore, move, play & overall to be successful in achieving their individualized development goals.
See Dressing Your Child For Success Recommendations below.
DRESSING YOUR CHILD FOR SUCCESS: On a daily basis, children should wear clothes that they can run, jump & move freely in, clothes they can get dirty, shoes children can run, skip, ride bikes, climb, build their gross motor skills, play in the sand, garden, paint & other activities they can freely explore.
Clothes like "skinny jeans" or sandals are too restrictive & limiting for young children, they can even be unsafe.
OUTDOORS: We go outdoors daily, even in the winter. Please dress your child for going outdoor daily.
In the winter, please send your child to school with a coat, hat, gloves, scarf & appropriate shoes.
OUTDOORS IN THE WINTER:
See information about outdoors in the winter in our OUTDOORS page
If you are having a difficult time accessing any of these items for your child, please contact your Family Advocate at
845-562-0380 for assistance.
What do I need to send to school?
LEARNING MATERIALS:
At Head Start we do not require school learning materials for our students. We provide everything your child needs to learn & explore in the classroom.
Book bag- We do ask that your child has a book bag (average size- the size of his/her back).
Nap blanket & pillow- If your child is attending a full day program, we ask that you send in a small nap blanket & pillow. We ask that the blanket & pillow are small so they can fit in your child's cubby.
MEALS- We provide all meals. We have kitchen staff who prepare healthy fresh meals on site daily.
If you are having a difficult time accessing any of these items for your child, please contact your Family Advocate at
845-562-0380 for assistance.
What does the
Daily Routine consist of?
THE DAILY ROUTINE:
A FRAMEWORK FOR THE DAY'S EVENT
----------
A consistent daily routine supports children’s security and independence. Following a consistent routine day after day gives children the sense of security they need to make choices and take risks, which opens the door to exciting learning opportunities.
DAILY ROUTINE COMPONENTS:
Greeting Time- A time to greet, show appreciation & love for each other. Helps children feel safe and ready to explore & learn.
Message Board Time- A time for engaging & guiding. Provides children another opportunity for problem solving & leadership.
Plan-do-review -Sequence (Planning Time, Work Time, Recall Time) — This three-part sequence is unique to the HighScope Curriculum. It includes a 10- to 15-minute period during which children plan (Planning Time) what they want to do during Work Time (the area they want to visit, materials to use/explore and friends to play with); a 40- to 60-minute Work Time minimum for children to carry out their plans (or shift to new activities that interest them); and another 10- to 15-minute period for reviewing and recalling (Recall Time) with an adult and other children what they’ve done and learned.
Small-Group Time — During this time, a small group of children meet with an adult to experiment with materials, try out new skills, and solve problems. Adults develop a small-group activity based on children’s interests and particular skills, materials, or content areas that suit children’s developmental learning needs. Though the adult plans the activity and sets it in motion, children make choices about how to use the materials and freely communicate their ideas.
Large-Group Time — Large-group time builds a sense of community. Up to 20 children and two adults come together for movement and music activities, interactive storytelling, and other shared experiences. Children have many opportunities to make choices and play the role of leader.
Outside Time — Children and adults spend at least 30 minutes outside every day, enjoying vigorous and often noisy play in the fresh air. Our playscape is intentionally designed for young learners. Outdoor time is an opportunity for hands-on, active learning in nature where young children can explore freely, moving their bodies and meeting their individual development goals.
Transition Time(s) — Transitions are the minutes between other blocks of the day, as well as arrival and departure times. Teachers plan meaningful learning experiences for these times, which keeps children engaged and minimizes disruption.
Meal Time— Meals allow children to enjoy eating healthy food in a supportive social setting. Meal Time is Family Style where children serve themselves and adults sit with children to eat meals and have conversations.
Adult Team Planning Time — The teaching team meets to discuss their observations of children’s developing abilities and interests, focusing on these observations as they plan activities and review the materials in the classroom. It can occur during children’s nap time, before children arrive, or after they leave.
Brushing teeth daily
is embedded in routine
How &/
What will my child learn at HSEOC?
DEVELOPMENTAL APPROPRIATE LEARNING
For information on frameworks/
curriculums, please visit our
School Readiness page.
You will find more resources below.
Red paint in the hair? Blue paint on the jeans? Sand in the shoes? Peanut butter on a favorite shirt? White socks that look brown? Sleeves a bit damp?
YOUR CHILD PROBABLY…... worked with a friend, solved a problem, created a masterpiece, negotiated a difference, learned a new skill, strengthened his/her self-help skills, developed new language skills & had a great time.
YOUR CHILD PROBABLY DIDN'T...... feel lonely, become bored, do a repetitive task, do worksheets that are too easy or rote work, sit down for long periods of time, complete tasks that are discouraging
YOU PROBABLY…... paid good money for those clothes, will have trouble getting the red paint out, are concerned the caregiver isn't paying enough attention to your child
YOUR CAREGIVER PROBABLY…... was aware of your child's special needs and interests, spent time planning an individualized & challenging activity for your child, encouraged all the children to take risks try new things, was worried you might be concerned.
Young children really learn when they are actively exploring, solving problems & involved in play...not when someone is talking to them or just giving them directions. There is a difference between "messy" and "lack of care." Your caregiver made sure your child was fed, warm, offered new skills and planned messy fun things to do because that's how children learn best!
Send your child in clothes that can get dirty! Keep extra clothes at the site for the times when the child gets really messy or an extra pair of clothes in your car in case you need to take your child somewhere after school. But remember, children need time to be kids & explore.
~Author Unknown
Adapted from
”WHEN YOUR CHILD COMES HOME MESSY”