Are you licensed?
Windmill Creek Academy is a fully licensed, award-winning childcare center. Our childcare license is issued by the Florida Department of Children and Families. Each year we renew our license, and throughout the year we receive routine, drop-in visits monitoring the adherence to the DCF licensing standards. Each of our teachers undergo background screening and attend childcare training classes and/or in-service training.
What is your teacher to student ratio?
Each classroom has specific teacher to child ratio depending on the age and number of children in a classroom. The DCF guidelines are as follows: Infants are 1:4, One-year-olds are 1:6; Two-year-olds are 2:11; Three-year-olds are 3:15; and Four-year-olds are 1:20. These are MINIMUM standards. At Windmill Creek Academy, we meet or exceed the teacher to student ratios (have more teachers) based on the required standards. Our classrooms are divided into six age groups with a specific name: Bunnies (young infants), Cubs (older infants), Bears (1 to 2 year olds), Frogs (2 year olds), Giraffes (3 year olds), Lions (4 year olds/VPK).
When do children go outside? Outdoor play is imperative to our students’ learning and well-being. Windmill Creek Academy is fortunate to have five, tree-lined and shaded play areas for our students. The play areas are divided into age-appropriate sections so that each age group has appropriate space and playground equipment. Our “Creation Station” is a creative play area where our older students (ages 2-5) can indulge in sensory tables, painting, creative construction/building and rest areas. Weather-permitting students have playground time in the mornings and afternoons.
What philosophy and style of curriculum do you utilize?
Windmill Creek Academy is a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool. We believe all children are curious, capable and, if provided with a well-provisioned environment, have limitless potential for joy and learning. Within this philosophy, Windmill Creek Academy has weekly themes that expand a child’s knowledge of themselves and the world around them. Theme-based curriculum captures your child’s imagination through the introduction of a wide range of topics, while incorporating the seven domains of children’s learning (cognitive, social-emotional, physical, language, self-help, literacy, and understanding the world). Teachers are encouraged to “learn with” their students by asking questions, fostering communication and interaction between students, as well as independent thinking. With our open-ended themes, the teachers can create special projects and activities with their students.
Are Meals Provided?
Snacks are included with tuition and are served in the mornings (infants – 3 years) and in the afternoons between 3:00 and 4:00 (all ages). An optional “Lunch Program” is available for a monthly fee (monthly menus are available at the front desk). For a small fee, we also offer “Pizza Fridays” (included in the Lunch Program). Your child will receive Little Caesar’s Pizza, a vegetable, fruit and milk/water. Please see the front desk and our “Parent Handbook” for more detailed information.
What enrichment programs/activities are offered?
One of the benefits unique to Windmill Creek Academy is our weekly “Music and Movement” classes taught by our Owner/Director, Janine Klaassen Welsh. Janine holds degrees in music and operatic performance from Johns Hopkins University and George Mason University. “Ms. Janine” plays the piano, sings, dances and teaches finger-plays and even yoga. She introduces the children to musical concepts, rhythm, expanded musical vocabulary, rhyming and range of motion and pitch. Throughout the year, students learn about various musical instruments, various genres of music, and classifications: percussion, string instruments, wind instruments, brass instruments, etc. Students have the opportunity to experience playing a violin, viola, guitar, ukulele, conga drums, tongue drum, rhythm instruments, the accordion, keyboard and marimba, etc. Music stimulates both the left and right sides of the brain which encourages “whole brain learning” and self-expression. Susan Black, author of “The Musical Mind (The American School Board Journal, January 1997) reveals that musical experiences are displayed in the brain as “multi-modal, involving auditory, visual, cognitive, affective and motor systems.” Studies show that early and on-going musical training helps organize and develop children’s brains. According to Dr. Frances Rauscher (psychologist at the University of Wisconsin), musical training appears to dramatically enhance a child’s abstract thinking skills. Rauscher goes on to say, “The 100 billion neurons in a baby’s brain are eager and willing to learn and grow, but to do so, they need stimulation and enrichment to form connections (synapses) and to grow branching extensions (dendrites). When their brains are nourished with music, young children grow more connections and extensions.” “Music might be considered a pre-language which, while children are very young, excites inherent brain patterns and promotes their use in complex reasoning tasks. Based on our findings, we predict that music training at an early age – when the connections in the brain are most plastic – provides exercise for higher brain functions.” From Windmill Creek Academy students’ perspective, the music and movement classes are interactive, joyful and … fun!
Tell me about your security system.
When you enroll your child in Windmill Creek Academy, you will receive a pick-up authorization form which is included in the Enrollment Form. Your child will not be released to anyone whose name does not appear on your list. Our only entrance to the school facility is monitored. All individuals entering the facility must have a security access code or must be buzzed in by one of our staff members. Please see the front desk for more detailed information.
What are your hours of operation and what ages to your serve?
Windmill Creek Academy is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. We are closed for major holidays and a Christmas/New Year’s break (please see the calendar posted on our website). Parents are requested to pick up their children no later than 5:45 p.m. each afternoon so that our teachers and staff can leave promptly at 6:00 to attend to their children and/or families. Our school accepts children from six weeks through five years old (pre-kindergarten).
Is Windmill Creek Academy a daycare or a preschool?
Windmill Creek Academy prides itself on being a preschool academy. Most daycares offer basic childcare services; however, WCA provides a complete spectrum of care and learning for our students. Mornings are more structured with teacher-lead activities, circle-time, multi-media art activities, resource centers (for problem-solving, fine motor skills, housekeeping, S.T.E.A.M. activities), weekly music and movement classes, and, of course, playground time. Our “Studio” library holds over 1500 books, sorted by theme, for use by the students and teachers throughout the school year.
How is the school campus cleaned?
Each evening, the school’s classrooms are tidied: tables are sanitized, toys are cleaned with disinfectant, toilets and sinks are sanitized, the carpets are vacuumed, and the floors are swept/mopped. Surfaces are wiped down with cleanser wipes. On the weekends, a commercial cleaning company attends to the school for a deep cleaning. Air conditioning vent filters are routinely replaced, and rugs/carpets are steam-cleaned as needed.
How do teachers communicate with families?
Windmill Creek Academy utilizes the app, “Class Dojo” to communicate with our families as well as in-person communication (i.e., at drop-off and pick-up). Several times a week, our teachers post photos, send messages, request supplies and/or explain daily or weekly events for each of our individual classrooms. In addition to in-person communication and Class Dojo, you are encouraged to reach out to your child’s teacher and/or the Directors/Afternoon Supervisor for specific answers to questions. Additionally, a printed, “Daily Sheet” goes home each day for our infant through three-year-old students. From time-to-time, parent/teacher conferences may also be arranged. We are always only a phone call away to speak with you regarding your child and his or her specific needs and progress.
How do you keep track of children’s learning progress?
At Windmill Creek Academy, one of the tools we use is the “Ages and Stages Questionnaire” (ASQ) to help determine and measure age-appropriate milestones. The five basic areas that are measured include: communication skills; problem-solving skills, personal-social skills, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills. Upon assessing age-appropriate milestones, we nurture and expand strengths while devising plans to challenge possible weaknesses. Early intervention and offering growth opportunities are vital to a child’s early learning success!
What does a typical day look like in your preschool program?
Morning drop-off is typically from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Weather-permitting, the children may play outside to exercise and develop gross motor skills. At approximately 9:00 a.m. “Circle Time” is held inside the classroom. At this time the weekly themes are explored and discussed. Children also learn about the weather, days of the week, shapes, numbers and letters. Holidays and classroom rules and expectations are also discussed. Circle time is a great time for exploring social skills and “taking turns.” Depending on the age of the child, various activities are explored: mixed media art, weekly music and movement classes, games, resource centers, snack, potty-training, etc. Lunch is typically held at 12:00 noon. At approximately 1:00 p.m., the children have quiet/nap time and then refresh at 3:00 with potty/diaper change, afternoon snack and afternoon play and resource centers. Pick-up is typically from 4:00 – 5:45.
How do you handle discipline?
We use positive reinforcement to encourage positive behavior. Positive reinforcement and redirection consist of encouraging self-control, self-direction, self-esteem and cooperation. We view discipline as a potential for learning. No form of punishment is used at Windmill Creek Academy. In a situation where a child’s behavior is noncompliant, the teacher will remove the child to a quiet area of the room or sometimes out of the classroom. This allows the child to calm down and gain self-control of his or her emotions. Our teachers will explain why the behavior is unacceptable and what the child must do in order to return to the classroom activities. A hug or encouraging words will help reassure the child that he or she can try again and be successful. Children in preschool are in formative years of development. An important part of any child’s education includes training in getting along with others, respect for authority and encouraging a child to willingly participate and follow reasonable rules designed for his/her safety and the safety of others.
Does the school offer a summer program for preschoolers?
Windmill Creek Academy is open year-round as we cater to working families. Our “Summer Fun” theme runs for approximately 11weeks (June – early August). The themes are more light-hearted and have more of a “summer camp” feeling. Each week a theme is explored (i.e., “Western Round-up,” “Superheroes/Fairy Tales,” etc. On Fridays, the students are encouraged to come to school dressed up in the theme of the week! This is a hit with all our students during the summer months! Every Wednesday is “Water Day,” (weather permitting) where the students have an opportunity to put on their bathing suits and play on our huge inflatable waterslide, sprinklers, catch bubbles and play at our water sensory tables.
What are the tuition rates and fees?
Please call and/or inquire at the front desk about our current rates and fees. For payment purposes, our school utilizes “FACTS Tuition Management.” FACTS is the largest, private school tuition management company in the United States. The program offers monthly or bi-monthly payment plans. Funds are automatically drawn from your bank/credit card on the 5th and/or the 20th of each month. You will have your own personal tuition account with 24/7 access whereby you may print out monthly/yearly statements, tax documents, etc.
Will my child be prepared for kindergarten?
Windmill Creek Academy VPK graduates are well prepared for kindergarten. Most of our graduates can count to 100, know numerous sight words, know their shapes, colors and letters and have a basic understanding of phonics/letter sounds. Many of our graduates can read basic sentences. We administer three (3) VPK Standards Tests and provide parents with the results throughout the VPK school year to help you understand your child’s progress. More than just “book knowledge,” we stress the importance of developing a good and kind character. We model and teach our student body what it means to be a good friend, how to share and to care for one another. Our mission is to nourish and challenge the intellectual abilities, creative talents and growth of our students. We fulfill this mission by providing a safe and loving environment that is both academically enriching – and fun!