Program Information and Hours

Green Meadows Country Day School is a traditional private preschool serving children from 2 yrs. 9mths. to 5. We are licensed through the MA  Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). All teachers are required to be EEC certified preschool teachers and most are lead teacher certified. All staff members are required to be CPR/First Aid certified. Staff are also required to complete ongoing professional development trainings.

Hours of Operation:

We are open September-May. 

We offer full-day classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30-2:45. We also offer limited space for those seeking morning-only classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30-12:00.

Our Tuesday and Thursday classes meet from 9:30-12:00.

Children may attend any day, Monday through Friday. We will do our best to accommodate schedules as long as space is available.

Please  contact the school for tuition pricing and availability.

Green Meadows follows the Tewksbury Public School calendar, with the exception of teacher developmental days, on which we will have school.

During inclement weather, if Tewksbury Public Schools are canceled, so are we. If the public schools are delayed, we will open at our normal time.

 

 

Daily Routine Sample

Daily routines are important for children, as they help build trust and support their understanding of the reliability of the daily schedule. This allows children to gain the independence and self-confidence needed to interact freely with classmates and teachers and to explore all areas of their classroom, allowing them to develop their personal strengths and interests. The times listed are approximate and routines may differ slightly depending on the teacher and age group but remain consistent in each classroom.

9:30- 10:30 - Free play: This is a very important part of your child's day. The children can move around the room and explore the different learning centers and activities. They will gain independence and self-confidence during this time. They form connections and friendships and learn to resolve conflicts, mainly through sharing. During this time, teachers observe children. We allow them to play freely without interference. We will help guide them when necessary (when they seem alone/frustrated/sad) or when conflicts are not resolved. During free play, we encourage children to use their words, understand empathy, and form friendships.

Clean-up: We begin announcing clean-up time 10 and 5 minutes before. This gives children ample warning so they can finish whatever activity they are working on.  We sing a clean-up song, and everyone helps. They begin to learn to work together and help each other. These small transition times, like free play to clean-up time, are extremely beneficial as children learn to cooperate and be patient. Transition times can be very difficult for many children, but with time and guidance, they will learn to manage their emotions. Depending on how messy or difficult the project is, we may need to clean up earlier that day.

​10:30-10:40 - Morning Circle: We begin circle time with the Pledge of Allegiance and the calendar. They then gather as we use our felt board to practice our shapes, colors, and letters. We also introduce songs at this time. Each day, we have a child who is “Helper of the Day.” This is done on a rotating basis throughout the year. The “helper of the day” leads circle time by holding the flag, assisting with the calendar, and sitting with the teacher as we practice our shapes/letters on the felt board (they place them). They are also the  line leaders for the day.

​10:45-11:10 - Project: Children will first practice name recognition by finding their names at the table. They will then sit and wait patiently for the others to join them. At this time (depending on the age group), the children will learn to hold their crayons/pencils properly and to color/trace/write their names. They will learn the letter of the week and work on developmentally appropriate worksheets. These are often done one-on-one, especially with the younger children. But, depending on the day, we will do it as a group at the table.  After they finish the worksheets, we begin the project. Projects are usually messy! Please don’t dress them in clothes you don’t want painted on. We do supply paint shirts; however, if a child refuses to wear them, we will not force them.

Project clean up (aka transition time)-

Children learn to wait patiently while the others finish. They read stories on the carpet. Again, these small but very important parts of the day are important for gaining developmental skills.

11:10-11:30 - Large Hall:  Gross Motor activities. Children will use parachutes, balls, and obstacle courses with balance beams/tunnels, as well as yoga and color-and-shape recognition games, etc.

​11:30-11:40 - Snack time/Lunch: Children sit together at the table and enjoy their snack. Full day children may begin eating lunch at this time. Teachers encourage self-help skills, but intervene when help is necessary. 

​11:45-12:00 - Storytime/Songs/Games

12:00 - Morning Dismissal- Children are dismissed from the table, one at a time, to caregivers.

​12:00- 12:15 - Lunch Bunch. Children relax and enjoy their meal and time together. 

​In the afternoon, we have a more relaxed feel, but follow the same routine as the morning. We will take the children outside  to the garden, weather permitting.  Teachers also focus on S.T.E.A.M activities in the afternoon. Morning activities and lessons are reiterated, e.g., story-recall, letter/shape/number/color recognition, or songs.

​2:45 - Afternoon Dismissal. Children are dismissed from the table, one at a time, to caregivers.