APPLE TREE EARLY LEARNING PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

Apple Tree Early Learning Public Charter School

2750 14th St. NW

Washington, DC 20009

202-667-9490

appletreeinstitute.org

Meet Principal Anne Zummo (pictured left), she is most proud of her schools ability to provide the necessary skills needed for students to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. After talking at length with Ms. Zummo, I am convinced that at Apple Tree, it's all about the children.

About the school

-AELPCS is a DC public charter school open to all three and four year olds in the District.

-They have been open in this location for 3 years.

-They are accredited in accordance with DC Public Charter School law.

-They have a research-based instructional program that supports the development of young children's language, literacy, and behavioral skills as well as their understanding of the world around them.

-They use a comprehensive, integrated curriculum designed to engage young children in playful activities and to build their natural eagerness to learn.

-School mission: to provide young children with the social, emotional, and cognitive foundations that will enable them to succeed in school.

-The classrooms are spacious and brightly lit.

Enrollment, times, and cost

-The licensed capacity is 108 students.

-Enrollment is based on the lottery system.

-The wait list is usually long, but Ms. Zummo assures me that anything can happen. She's seen dozens of kids come off of the wait list due to late decision in August.

-This is a FREE school because it is a public charter school.

-Children need to be potty trained to attend.

-Before school starts, there is a teacher/parent/family meeting. This gives the kids a chance to meet in the classroom and get used to the space.

-On the first day of school, parents are expected to arrive on time with children at 8am, and are allowed to stay until 9:30, at which time need to leave so the kids can get on with their day and start a routine.

-School hours are from 8:00 am until 3:15 pm.

-For an extra fee ($400/mo full price or $80/mo if you qualify for reduced lunch) there is an after school program that runs until 6 for parents who work.

-There is a 4 week summer school program from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm that only has a meal cost.

-They follow the DCPS calendar for days off, and take an extra 6 days for staff development per school year.

-If your child is not in the after school program, he must be picked up between 3:15 and 3:30. After that you are charged $10 for every ten minute increment you are late. The same policy is in place for children who say until 6:00 pm.

Parent interaction

-Parents are expected to be involved in their kids education.

-Ms. Zummo says that parents are the child's first educator. They are teaching the kids behaviorally, socially, and academically.

-Parents can come to the school if they want to teach a lesson, share about their families, or read to the children.

-There are emails, letters, and soon there will be a listserv to communicate with parents.

-There are 2-3 formal parent/teacher conferences per school year, or as many as needed. The child's progress based on DCPS standards is discussed at this time and a report card is given.

About the staff

-There are 19 full time teachers, a one on one support aid, 2 coaches, a social worker, and a speech and language pathologist on staff.

-To be hired by the school, staff first submit a resume, have a lengthy phone call with the principal. Then they come to the school, spend 45 minutes in the classroom observing and then have a panel interview with a teacher, the principal, and 1-2 specialists in the school.

-There is a required background check, and a yearly physical.

-They are all certified in CPR and First Aid.

Health, Hygiene, and Safety

-Children must be immunized in accordance with DC law.

-The sick policy is: fever free for 24 hours, or if contagious, on medication for 24 hours.

-Only prescription medications are given to children. One teacher in every class is authorized to administer meds.

-Children are taught to wash their hands by teachers. There are signs and pictures in bathrooms.

-The school is equipped with automatic faucets.

-Teachers are in charge of cleaning toys. This is done depending on use, weekly if not daily.

-Safety is important at Apple Tree. Front doors are secure, and interior doors are only accessed by key card.

-There is a sign in/out sheet at the front door.

Activities, learning, and social skills

-To guide classroom instruction, they use Opening the World of Learning (OWL) curriculum.

-This type of curriculum engages the children in playful activities and builds on their natural eagerness to learn.

-Each month the children are learning a new subject or theme. In association with this theme, there is a related monthly field trip.

-Everything is made into an exercise on literacy. For example if they're riding the metro, they discuss the purchase of the ticket, and where it goes into the machine. They also look at the metro map and count the stops.

-There are flatscreen tv's in each classroom for teachers to show educational films, or movies for fun on rainy days.

-There is an outdoor playground for the use of Apple Tree only. Only one or two classes are outside at a time.

-Children are disciplined by sitting and watching others from a chair that sits facing the group.

-Ms. Zummo calls this a modified time out. Before the children would go into the chair, they are given several positive reminders to change their behavior.

-There is a two step process to comforting children. The first is in every room there is a calm down spot. This is an area with a red circle where the child can go with a teacher and put names to their feelings as learned in part of their social/emotional curriculum. The second step is using language to solve the problem. The teacher can talk and explain what together they can do about solving the problem.

Typical day in this school

8:00 am - Arrive, eat, when finished play with manipulatives and puzzles.

9:00 am - After cleaning up, sit on carpet for morning meeting and talk about the day of the week, the date, and the weather.

9:15 am -Center time: learn and play at sand or water tables, art table, manipulative area, the library, listening center, blocks, dramatic play, or writing center.

10:00 am - Read a story, explain new words, characters, and how we're feeling.

10:20 am - Snack time (snack + fruit) at tables.

10:35 am - Playground outside.

11:25 am - Sit and sing songs, play games.

11:45 am - Lunch time.

12:15 pm - Bathroom and time for naps. Calming music played.

1:45 pm - Wake up and bathroom. Play with friends in classroom, dramatic play, art table, or play with blocks.

2:40 pm - Small group activities. Painting or alphabet bingo.

3:00 pm - Story, talk about day, then back to tables for snack. Some kids are picked up, while others stay to play outside or inside, and do activities with after-school teachers.

6:00 pm - pick up and collect important notes and reminders for family from the top of the cubby.