503-374-4687
F A Q & SCHOOL CALENDAR
WHEN CAN I TOUR THE SCHOOL?
Tours are offered by appointment only, please email to schedule a tour info@whimsyandwonderpdx.com
WHAT IS YOUR ADULT TO CHILD RATIO? WHAT IS YOUR GROUP SIZE?
We are licensed as a certified family child care home by the Early Learning Division. Our total licensed capacity is 16. We have an 8:1 ratio, when all of our children are over two years old. When we have younger children our ratios are 16:3
WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO GUIDANCE?
Teachers at Whimsy & Wonder support preschoolers in their cognitive, language, and emotional growth through honest, respectful dialogue and conversation. We view children as competent, authentic individuals with their own developmental strengths, as well as challenges. We work closely with children to support their inquiry and curiosity through naturally-occurring interactions, between adult-child as well as with their peers. We view the largest part of our work as the support and scaffolding of preschoolers’ burgeoning social and emotional development.
WHAT IS THE DAILY RHYTHM OF THE PROGRAM?
We strive to follow children's needs and interests, therefore our day is loosely structured, with a daily group gathering and predictable meal and rest times. Throughout each day, children have opportunities for open-ended art, music + movement, scientific exploration, sensory play, big body movement, and much more. We spend generous portions of our days outdoors, rain or shine.
7:30 am | program opens, greetings, handwashing- PLAY
8:45 am | breakfast, washing up, potty
FREE PLAY,
10:50 am | Circle, music, movement, children's yoga, potty
11:20 Outdoors
12:30 pm | lunch, clean up, story, "time to make up your bed", potty
1:30 pm | rest
3:20 pm | "time to put your bedding away!", snack, story, drawing, potty
4:15 pm | outdoors
5:30 pm | program closed
WHAT ABOUT FOOD?
We prepare and serve a whole foods, vegetarian menu. We avoid processed food, while keeping the daily choices child-friendly. We focus on whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, and dairy. We serve 1% milk and water at meals as recommended by the USDA food program.
Example of a daily menu:
Breakfast | oatmeal with berries, 1% milk
Lunch | black beans, baked barley, steamed broccoli, mandarin oranges, 1% milk
Afternoon snack | banana bread, apple slices
We view meals together as a gathering
time for our group, for sharing, story telling and trying new and favorite foods.
WHAT ARE YOUR CLOSURE POLICIES?
We are a full year program.
For the safety of children, staff, and families, we follow Portland Public School's closures for inclement weather.
See below for our
calendar of closures and holidays
August 2024
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday August 28, 29, 30 Closed In-Service Teacher Work day
September 2024
Monday September 2 CLOSED Labor Day
October 2024
Monday October 14th CLOSED Indigenous People's Day
November 2024
Monday 11th CLOSED Veteran's Day
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 27, 28, 29 CLOSED FALL break
December 2024
Monday 23rd - Tuesday 31st CLOSED WINTER break
January 2025
Wednesday 1st CLOSED New Year Day
Monday 20th CLOSED MLK
February 2025
Monday 17th CLOSED President's Day
March 2025
Monday - Friday March 24-28th SPRING BREAK School Closed
April 2025
May 2025
Friday 23rd Teacher work day School CLOSED
Monday 26th Memorial Day Holiday School CLOSED
June 2025
Thursday June 19th Juneteenth Federal Holiday School Closed
July 2025
Friday July 4th Independence Day Holiday School CLOSED
Monday-Friday 7th-11th School CLOSED Summer Break
August 2025
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 27, 28, 29 Teacher work Days School CLOSED
September 2025
Monday 1st Labor Day School CLOSED
CAN I SCHEDULE A SCHOOL VISIT?
Please email info@whimsyandwonderpdx.com to set up an individual tour, or call 503-348-7981 if you prefer, we can't wait to meet you!