I chose CCNS because my parents sent my sister and me, and we loved it, and I wanted to send my children to a school that encouraged family participation..î

The CCNS program is based upon the knowledge that work and play, fun and learning take place simultaneously as children make contact with the world around them. Children learn through investigation, experimenting, taking initiative, making choices and interacting with other children.

Academics, such as social studies, arts, science, language arts and math, are seamlessly incorporated into the childís everyday learning environment.

Daily activities include:
Free Play
For the first hour of the class, we have ìfree play.î When the children arrive, the classroom is set up. Each childís arrival is greeted by the teacher, and they are free to play with whatever they choose. It is during this time that the art (or cooking) project is done.

Project
The teacherís objectives for the project will be explained, and one by one, or in small groups, the children drift over to the art table to complete their project. The emphasis is on the process--the fun of creating and experimenting with the craft materials--not on the final product.

Clean Up Time
After free play, the children clean up. Clean-up is a cooperative enterprise in which all children, teachers, and the participating parent take part.

Circle Time
After clean-up time comes ìcircle timeîóa time when the children sing songs, play games, and get to know one another better.
Circle time is a little different for each age level:
* The two-year-olds begin circle time with some kind of movement activity. Then they sing a few songs or do some finger plays.
* The three-year-olds also begin with some movement activities. Then they check the weather and chart it; then they have a short discussion about what they are learning. Circle time ends with singing songs.
* Four-year olds have the longest circle time. Sometimes they begin with a movement activity. They check the weather for the day. Then they do the calendar. And then they have a discussion about whatever subject they are learning about.

Quiet Time
A quiet time follows circle time. The two and three- year-old classes have a rest time on their blankets. Four year-olds have a quiet book time.

Snack Time
Children gather for a healthy snack and drink provided by the participating parent.

Outside Play
The children need to run around, climb, jump, and use their ìoutside voices.î We go outside everyday unless it is raining or below freezing. We even go outside in the snow to build snowmen and snowballs!