ABOUT THE LOCAL PRESCHOOL
OUR PROGRAM
The Local Preschool in Mar Vista serves families with children ages 2.5 - 5 years of age. As a mixed age program, each child and family contributes to the context and identity of the school. We are located in the heart of Mar Vista in a single family home in a residential area. The school was established in February 2018 and has been dedicated to offering child care to families in and around the Mar Vista area. We welcome all families to our community and offer a financial assistance program.
Our program values the key principles of the Reggio Emilia approach which honors the whole child as a unique individual within the larger community. We believe in a strong image of the child and value the importance of child, teacher and parent collaboration. The environment acts a third teacher where children can explore, investigate and co-construct ideas with their peers using a wide variety of materials to express themselves.
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
Our emergent curriculum is based on our constant observation, reflection and documentation of every child’s experience. Through revisiting their ideas, collaborating with their peers and through hands on learning experiences, children take an active role in their own learning and the development of the curriculum. We value the importance of social/emotional growth, developing problem solving strategies and supporting a strong sense of self identity.
OUR PROGRAM GOALS…..
To provide a nurturing and safe environment for all children.
Give children the opportunity to share their ideas and their creativity through the many languages of expression (music and movement, dramatic play, art materials, etc.)
For children to be active participants in the learning processes.
For every child to be seen as an individual in this larger community.
For children to build meaningful relationships with the environment, their peers and the materials
To develop confidence and a sense of self
To support children in developing problem solving and conflict resolution skills
For children to learn how to be part of large and small group experiences by listening to their peers Idas and sharing their own.
Build and strengthen fine and gross motor skills
To provide a space where children, parents and teachers are in constant collaboration/dialogue to support the child and their relationships at school.
April Estrada-Morgan Director, Educator
April has over 20 years of experience working with children ages 3mo-6 years of age. In 2000, she began teaching at The Growing Place - Marine Park, where they incorporated aspects of the RIE approach as well as the Reggio Emilia approach with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. During that time she traveled to Reggio Emilia, Italy for a study tour and St. Louis, Missouri for a conference to continue her learning about this approach with young children.
In 2004, April began working at First Presbyterian Nursery School under director Mary Hartzell, a developmental specialist, parent educator, and mentor to April. During her 14 years at First Pres she helped develop classroom curriculum and create presentations with her co-teachers showcasing her classroom projects for educator tours, school conferences, and class meetings. She has attended educator conferences throughout the country to deepen her study with other schools that are inspired by this approach. April has also participated in school collaboratives with several local schools in the Santa Monica and Los Angeles area.
April grew up in the Venice, California and now resides in Mar Vista. She is a wife and has three children; two girls ages 17 and 9, and one boy age 14. She is dedicated to her family and to the education of young children.
Sue Migliaccio, Science and Nature
During my college years, I traveled to Bahia de Los Angeles, Mexico with my marine biology class. We lived in an old mining station for over a month, converted with a marine biology lab. Then there after, with another marine biology class I traveled to the Tahitian Islands for 3 weeks to study the local fauna and marine life. In 1991, as a sole proprietor,
I opened Environs, an ecological environmental store on Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. After two years I closed the store, and 3 months later, I was employed by Earth Share of CA in Santa Monica, which raised funds for 91 environmental groups. Of the many we worked closely with, were Heal the Bay and Tree People. In late 1995, I gave birth to my eldest son and his younger brother followed 3 1/2 years later. It was at this stage, I put my love and care into the children of the future. First as a parent, and then as a teacher for over 15 years, of which over 12 years as Science teacher at 1st Presbyterian Nursery School and now The Local Preschool.
In the Science & Nature program, the principal goals are to encourage and foster the children to make their own discoveries. During our experiences, the process is a collection of thoughts and speculations with in the small group of seekers. Together the children doing research, helps them to use new words and to have schools of thoughts. When the children share this knowledge as learners, they better understand concepts. In our Science discussions, it affords them the opportunity for the children to further develop their ability to express themselves and helps expand their vocabulary. By offering specimens and artifacts to view up close, it gives them an incentive for using new language and also so they can share their investigations with family and friends.