The Goddard School Friendly, Child-Centered Preschool The Goddard School in Hickory Flat Provides Quality Education By Cyndi Braun When you walk into The Goddard School in Hickory Flat, the first thing you hear is someone cheerfully shouting, Good morning! Next, you notice the bright rooms and the smiling children. If you dont already feel at home, you will as soon as you meet on-site owner Mary Kay Buquoi, Ed.S. Married, with an eight-year-old daughter and four-year-old son (who goes to school with his mother every day), Buquoi is good at making you feel at home and connecting with parents. She understands the busy lives parents lead, and she enjoys building relationships with students and their families. During the day, I regularly leave my office to visit classrooms. It gives me a chance to get to know the kids, said Buquoi. The kids also stop by my office when they pass in the hall. I enjoy seeing them. Buquoi figured out early on that shes happiest surrounded by little children. She volunteered in her church nursery and worked in local preschools as a teenager. When it was time to go to college, she set two goals: become a teacher and own her own preschool one day. After graduating from college, Buquoi achieved her first goal teaching elementary school, which she did for seven years. During that time, she enrolled her daughter in The Goddard School. My daughter thrived at The Goddard School. I quickly realized the impact the program had on her. I loved the curriculum. Its child-led, exploratory, and based off the needs of the child, not the teacher. When my daughter was two, I decided to explore my dream of owning a preschool, and it was natural that Id want that school to be The Goddard School. Buquoi met her second goal in July 2011 when she purchased The Goddard School franchise in Hickory Flat. I bought into the program from the parents perspective and with an educator background. Thats unique among owners, said Buquoi. Im a firm believer in all-hands on deck. If one of my teachers needs help, I am there for them. I change diapers, fill in when someone is sick, and offer advice based on my professional experience as a teacher. With its quality-rated, AdvancedEd Accreditation (SACS Accreditation), the Hickory Flat facility provides year-round learning for infants through school-age children, in a nurturing place for them to learn and grow. Parents may drop off their children as early as 6:30am and pick them up as late as 6:30pm. Buquoi also offers the option for children to attend two or three days a week. Classroom ratios are 33-66% lower than state requirements. The Goddard Schools approach is based on how children learn best through play and fun activities. Each lead teacher has either a Child Development Associates Degree or a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education. Education programs include:-Infant & First Steps-Toddler & Get Set-Preschool-Pre-Kindergarten-Kindergarten For all age levels, teachers prepare daily lesson plans that map out activities in areas such as language arts and cognitive skills. Children engage in independent learning through centers in math, science, music, computers and other areas. Teachers focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) throughout the day, which captivates the children through the exploration of play. The facility also offers extracurricular programs in music, Spanish, and fitness as well as an indoor gym that gives children the chance to work on gross motor skills. We consider ourselves a private preschool, not a daycare, because teachers prepare lesson plans for all age levels, said Buquoi. We follow developmental guidelines for children, use assessments to teach to the individual child, and we have higher standards and expectations than what is required by the state. Teachers prepare daily reports for parents about each childs activities, participation and progress. The reports are prepared through a system called Tadpoles that sends daily sheets, pictures, video and notes to parents via email. Besides preschool, the facility offers an after-school program and summer camps for school-aged children. The goal of our after-school program is to make sure kids get their homework completed, so parents dont have to stress about doing it when they get home. They can just spend time together as a family, said Buquoi. Children from eight elementary schools attend the after-school program, Transportation is provided by the school. Trained teachers provide children with individualized homework assistance in addition to socialization and play time. Most of the after-school children have younger siblings attending The Goddard School. Picking up children at one location provides an added convenience to parents, especially when the evening is filled with sports and other activities. To see the learning in action, call to schedule a tour, or stop by at your convenience. The Goddard SchoolFor Early Childhood Development140 Foster Road, Canton (Hickory Flat)770-720-1311GoddardSchool.com Facebook.com/GoddardSchoolCantonIGA
to your business!