Separation is emotional for both children and parents. At The Liberty School, we offer a gentle transition process for all children entering our program. The teacher will observe each child and work closely with parents to ensure a smooth and comfortable transition for them. The teacher may also shorten the transition period if the children adjust well. A child is welcome to bring their favorite and comfort toys or a family photo to make the environment more familiar to their home. We recommend this book The invisible string (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rZNTFf35Aw&t=206s)to help a child normalize the separation.

We practice positive discipline and take it as an opportunity to support children in their independence and responsible actions. Discipline in this approach means orienting and guiding children to desirable behaviors and away from undesirable behaviors and does not mean penalty or anything that could hinder their development of self-esteem. Together with time, practice and teachers’ attention, children gradually learn to adjust their behaviors.

If a child does not live in an English speaking's environment, our teachers are more than happy to learn some words in the language spoken at home to help a child transition better. Some common phrases like Hi, Good bye, Thank you, Sit down, etc. in any language are always helpful to be learned.

Our teachers hold a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field and have 3 to 8 years of experience in early childhood education.

In our typical classroom setting, we keep our classes small with 12–14 students and three caring adults (two teachers and a classroom helper). This gives us a ratio of about 1:4, ensuring plenty of individual love and attention for every little one.

Yes! We spend time outdoors everyday for at least 1 hour when weather permits. We have a backyard with an array of fun activities. We are also very close to Angel Ramos Park (600 ft) and Van Vorst Park (1,100 ft).

We use Slack and email as communication channels between parents and teachers. Daily activities and updates will be posted on Slack, while newsletters are sent via email on a monthly basis.

No, it's not necessary. If parents and teachers feel that a child is ready, the teacher will observe and work with parents to create a habit and help the child use the toilet.

We don't provide snacks. Children could bring snacks from home and have them together with friends and teachers at the community table. We encourage and support children to develop independence in daily activities. All children eat by themselves and teachers assist with opening or closing snack or lunch boxes. When they are finished, children put away their snacks and clean their mouths and hands. We provide clean spring water. We are a peanut and nut-free school and kindly request that only water be brought inside the classroom. Please refrain from bringing juice, chocolate, or sweets.

Yes! We value connections and collaborations between schools and families. Parents and other family members are welcome at The Liberty School at all times. We'd love to have you share stories about your families, culture, favorite books etc. Above all, children love to have a "bring parents to school" day.

Parents can find information about a typical day at our school here.(https://www.thelibertyschooljc.com/programs)