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.

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 2023

Wednesday August 30th, Thursday 31st Closed In-Service School Maintenance and repairs

September 2023

Friday September 1st & Monday September 4th CLOSED Labor Day

October 2023

Monday October 9th CLOSED Indigenous People Day

November 2023

Wednesday November 22, Thursday 23rd, Friday 24th CLOSED Fall Break

December 2023

Wednesday December 20, through Friday December 29th CLOSED Winter Break

January 2024

Monday January 1st CLOSED NYD

Monday January 15th CLOSED MLK Day

February 2024

Monday February 19th CLOSED Presidents Day

March 2024

Monday 25- Friday 29 CLOSED Spring Break

April 2024

May 2024

Friday May 24 + Monday 27th CLOSED Teacher Prof Dev Day & Memorial Day

June 2024

Wednesday June 19 Closed Junteenth Holiday

July 2024

Thursday July 4th & Friday July 5th Closed Independence Day Holiday

Monday- Friday July 8th - 12th Closed Summer break

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

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!