EST. 1916
A Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
Cathedral Parish School
Welcome to Cathedral Parish School VPK Program
Tiffany Carres
Lead Teacher
Florida Childcare Professional Credential and DCF Certified
Pre-K Teacherr
Krista Speidel | BIO |
Lead Teacher
Master's in Early Childhood Education, Master's in Educational Leadership, DCF Certified Pre-K Teacher
Cathedral Parish School (CPS) Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten otherwise referred to as "VPK" provides a jump start opportunity for preparing children for school and enhancing their ability thru Pre-Math, Pre-Reading, Language and Social Skills.
This program introduces children into these areas at an early age, giving them the tools needed to succeed leading them into Kindergarten.
CPS offers teachers who are DCF Certified Pre-K Teachers as well as a loving environment for children to flourish and learn at ease.
Please use the links below to commence your VPK Eligibility.
Request
Letter of Eligibility
Florida VPK Portal
Florida Early Learning Developmental Standards and Professional Competencies
CPS Philosophy
At Cathedral Parish School Pre-K, we focus on the whole child. In keeping with developmentally age appropriate practices, we work to prepare the children in all areas of physical, social emotional, language, literacy and cognitive development. We firmly believe that each child is a gift from God and as such it is important to nurture both their spiritual life as well as their cognitive development. Learning through play and purposeful activities in a language-rich environment, children will gain an enthusiasm for learning which we hope will carry them through all their years of life-long learning.
CREATIVE CURRICULUM FOR PRESCHOOL
This curriculum covers a range of topics as follows: Building, Balls, Trees, Clothing and Reduce, Reuse Recycle. Embedded within these themes I have included studies on, the polar regions, transportation, environments and things that grow.
Starfall:
We utilize Starfall’s Curriculum throughout the day more specifically, by utilizing its resources for language and mathematical thinking as well as its interactive capacity for use during whole group instruction on our smart board.
LEARNING CENTERS & SMALL GROUPS (10:00 AM - 10:30 AM - SELF SELECTED CENTERS TO CHOOSE)
VPK WRAP AROUND CARE
VPK program portion of the day is a FREE Program (8:00 AM - 11:00 AM) open to any child four years old by September 1st and residing in Florida.
Priority will be given to those that require full time wrap around care:
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Monday - Friday 11:00 AM - 2:50 PM with a 1:50 PM release on Wednesday
By signing up for the full time wrap around care, you will be required to make a financial commitment to pay the full wrap around cost throughout the year.
Pre-K Wrap Around Care Rates:
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Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Friday 11:00 AM - 2:50 PM
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Wednesday 11:00 AM - 1:50 PM
CPS Sibling: $ 350.00 per month
Non CPS Sibling: $ 450.00 per month
Supply Fee: $ 100.00 per student
Registration: $ 175.00 per student
After Care is available from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM (see rates by clicking HERE)
Work with the Teacher: During this time children come together with the teacher in a small group for purposeful interactions and skill building to strengthen early literacy, phonemic awareness and mathematical thinking skills. (Each child will have an opportunity to meet with the teacher at least once a week)
Pretend Play Area: This center is structured around home -living and is changed on occasion throughout the year to encourage imaginative role -playing
Structured Centers: (Math, Science/Sensory, Writing, Listening/Reading, Art) These centers have specific tasks and are set up to promote the acquisition of skills through intentional play activities.
Parent Helpers: Parents can sign up to help with centers after they have been cleared through our diocesan verification process.
OUR DAILY SCHEDULE
Wash Hands / Sign-In
Table Work/ Free Choice
Morning Meeting Calendar: Children learn the days of the week and months of the year. Skills: Children play whole group games and participate in activities to help them develop alphabet knowledge, phonemic awareness and mathematical thinking skills.
Outdoor Play
Snack
Whole Group: Chidren are presented with and explore themes that encourage critical thinking through language rich activities and are supported by engaging stories well known authors in all genres.
Choice Time/ Small groups
Children choose from several small group centers or come to small group to work with the teacher to participate in structured activities that support cognitive growth in phonemic awareness, print knowledge and mathematical thinking
Whole Group Wrap- Up
Children return to whole group for story time, and to wrap up the day’s events. Often this is the time where we will have a “Wow Experience.” (i.e. science experiment, special visitor or another hands-on experience to reinforce the concepts learned.
Clean-Up & Dismissal
Prayer & Lunch
Restroom & Nap
Limited Choice & Small Groups
Snack
Pack-Up & Regular Dismissal
7:40 AM - 8:00 AM
8:00 AM - 8:20 AM
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
8:45 AM - 9:30 AM
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
9:45 AM - 10:00 AM
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
11:00 AM
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
2:50 PM
SACRED TIME
Every week we will spend some time in our learning about our faith using the Gospel Weeklies curriculum from Pflaum Publishing. Our routine will begin with song and prayer, and incorporate bible readings and a lesson that follows the weekly readings.
MORNING DROP-OFF
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VPK students and any older siblings will be dropped off after 7:40am at the bus ramp on Bridge Street.
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Parents will sign them into school from their cars.
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Pre-K instructors will note the time of arrival and parents will sign and note the time the child will be picked up.
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All students should arrive in the Pre-K classroom no later than 8:00 a.m.
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If you arrive at school later than 8:00 a.m., you must bring your child to the office. It is a disruption to the classroom when children arrive late.
If a pattern of continual tardy behavior occurs, the administration will send a letter of warning. Continual patterns of tardiness may lead to dismissal from the program. (A child is considered tardy after 8:00 a.m.)
We do understand that occasional doctor or dentist appointments occur or other events beyond our control
We understand that drop off may be difficult for your child, especially in the first couple of weeks, but it is important that drop-off be a brief event. For safety and all practical purposes, we ask that parents do not loiter in the classroom or on school grounds unless there for a specific purpose. We need to begin instruction promptly.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
1. If your child is absent a written note, from the parent, will be required. The note must include the dates in which the child is absent.
2. A child, who begins on day one of the VPK program, may not miss more than 28 school days per school year for any reason. If the child is a late enrollee, then they may not miss more than 20% of their enrolled VPK days.
3. Parents must complete and sign an attendance verification form EACH month. These forms will be distributed in the last instructional day of the month and must be signed and returned the same day.
4. Any sick absences for 3 or more consecutive days will require a doctor’s note.
Children who do not meet these attendance requirements will lose VPK funding and be dismissed from the program. The child may be allowed to remain in the Pre-K program at Cathedral Parish School, but the parent or guardian will be required to pay full tuition for the days that we are not given funds for by the state.
PUNCTUALITY AGREEMENT
Arrival for VPK is between 7:40 – 8:00 a.m. The instructional day starts at 8:00 a.m. and children are expected to be in place and ready to start the day. Arrivals after 8:00 a.m. are disruptive to the group in progress and difficult for the arriving child as well. We understand that it is occasionally unavoidable to be “running late;" however, more than three times a month will not be acceptable and could be a cause for termination from the VPK program. VPK instructional time runs from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Monday through Friday.
BEHAVIOR PLAN
Philosophy: Our behavior plan focuses on empowering the children to make good choices and encouraging cooperation and above all kindness. We try to be proactive in our approach by employing techniques that help children transition from one activity to another by incorporating songs, chants and play. We recognize that often undesirable behavior is an opportunity to change our approach. We feel that the beauty of the Pre-K environment is that it allows for flexibility and opportunity for the children to flourish with both routine and adaptability.