I absolutely LOVE LPS!! My family has been a part of this school for almost 11 years, when my oldest child started as a 4 year old in the PreK program. My middle child started at age 2 and remained all the way through the 3rd grade cut-off of the after school program, and I currently have a 5 year old in the JrK class who started at age 2 and will most definitely continue on into the after school program as well!
All 3 of my children truly found and developed their personalities at this school. No matter what stage of their development they are/were going through, they were always met with understanding and encouragement to learn how to manage their own abilities and behavior, as well as how to deal with situations outside of their control and/or abilities. My middle child, at one point, had specific behavior issues, and all of the staff took a part in helping him learn how to better express himself and fit in amongst his peers.
Although I feel all of the age groups/classes were especially influentual in my boys' development, I must say that the JrK class has been the most beneficial in preparing them for the educational world, and the diversity that lies within it. There are many aspects of the JrK program, such as physical education, reading/writing, art, and even theatrical drama! They play outside in the mornings, before and after lunch, and again after nap (until evening) for those children who stay past the preschool portion of the day. They are offered the option of homework, which usually consists of an art project and a page or 2 of writing the letter that they have been working on that week in class. And even though the homework is not required, and they are not graded on it, my child is SO excited to be bringing it home and loves to have me sit and watch how well he can do it on his own and then return it to his teacher, just like his older siblings :)
Each child is encouraged to bring in their favorite story to share at circle time, and have the teacher read it to the class (which is always a highlight for my child). We have brought in anything from regular story books, to pop-up books and even ones on CD or cassette, and the teacher has always been happy to share it. I also love that I can walk into the class each day and see all of the childrens artwork displayed on the walls, windows, and even hanging from the ceilings. It really makes you feel like your child enjoys their day, especially when I see and hear many of the other children dragging their parents around the room to show off what they have been working on that week.
Like many parents, I have had issues with my children not wanting to try new foods, but LPS really made that problem almost non-existent! They are encouraged to try new foods that, quite honestly, probably wouldn't be offered to them in most households, and most often find that they enjoy it. Plus, the added bonus of watching their peers try new things is always helpful in getting the ball rolling.
Of all my years at LPS, the biggest thing I look forward to at the end of each year is the "ME Books" that each child brings home at the end of the "graduation" ceremony in June. Although my child does not bring gobs and gobs of papers (artwork, writing, etc) home daily throughout the year, I know that at the end of it all, I will receive a lovingly made collection of it all bound and ready for me to enjoy all at once. Nothing compares to that feeling of having your smiling child receive their specially made book and to see them come running over to you so excited to share each page that they made with their own little hands. I can't thank LPS enough for giving me those memories and the ability to look back on them forever!
The next level of LPS is even more exciting and interactive in the after school program. All summer long, and on non-school days, the group goes on fieldtrips, or has other fun-filled days planned. The teachers have specially designed age-appropriate projects both in the classroom and within the community that continue the idea of developing young minds and introducing them to fun new ideas. Once a month, the children in this class are offered a special "movie day", (rated G or PG) that they vote on ahead of time and watch in the classroom while enjoying a special snack. This has always been a big treat for my children :0) With the large size of the classroom, those children who don't want to watch the movie are offered the alternative to play or do art in the lower half of the class with one of the teachers. A large benefit for my family, and our busy schedules, is the homework time that the teachers provide. If it wasn't for LPS, my kids time in the evenings would have been crammed with homework and would not have allowed us to enjoy much family time.
As I said in the beginning, I LOVE LPS! All of the staff honestly care about each child and I don't know how I could've raised such wonderful kids without their guidance and support. Thank you LPS! read more