Our Program
At Cypress' Classroom we believe nature is the best teacher. Our students have open space, fresh air to explore risky play and fill their unique sensory needs. Our approach focuses on the whole child and incorporates the inquiry method and project-based learning. By using this approach, children learn to apply subject matter to real world problems relevant to their age and community.
Children have a way of interacting with the world that we tend to lose as we enter adulthood. They learn with their heart and all their senses which helps them absorb information and concepts. At Cypress’ Classroom it is our goal to not rush them through these stages but to guide them into new discoveries and ideas. It is our hope that during their time in our program our students will not only learn academics but also form deep and meaningful relationships as well as how to respect each other and our planet.
Rhythm of our Day
Community Circle Time to connect, listen to read-alouds, sing songs, do yoga, and share ideas for the day ahead. Children are encouraged to share feelings and listen to friends during this time. We will often introduce new concepts or themes to dive deeper into throughout the day.
Exploration and Free Play Some days, this will be a hike to explore a new area of the park, or we might jump back into an imaginative game from a previous day. The children will guide this time, and magic will unfold. Topics to explore in the coming week will be pulled from what they discover and light up about during their explorations.
Lunch and Mindfulness Sharing a meal with friends creates community and connection. While we won't share food, children will get a peek inside each other's cultures and learn more about one another when we slow down during this time together. Before we start our projects we will often do meditations to aid in focus.
Lessons and Projects We will end our time together each day with hands-on learning through games, manipulatives, loose parts play, and art. While these activities will be more teacher organized, they will be inspired from the children's interests. We will also use this time to touch on humanitarian topics in age appropriate ways.
We do not follow a full curriculum but will pull from: Wild Math Blossom and Roots Handwriting without Tears A Walking Curriculum - Evoking Wonder and Developing Sense of Place Playing in the Muck and Other Art Activities
Enjoying All Weather, Year Round
Cypress' Classroom will operate rain or shine as long as conditions remain safe for our students and staff. We will monitor severe weather via multiple weather apps to determine when it is appropriate to cancel class for the day or close early. During rainy days, we will keep our gear under cover but continue exploration. Students will have the option to stay dry but most will find new exciting ways to play.
Enjoying the same parks all year gives our students the chance to notice the changing seasons even in our Florida climate. We learn about local habitats and wildlife and improve identification skills as the leaves change and flowers blossom around us. We acknowledge each equinox and solstice through books, poetry and drawing the changes we see unfold.
Seasonal Session September to May 10am to 2pm Mondays in Winter Park Wednesdays in Debary
Summer Session July - August (6 weeks) 9am to 12pm Wednesdays in Debary
Tuition
Yearly Registration fee: $75
Monthly Tuition: Two day option: $480 One day option: $280
Summer Tuition: $300
Families have the option of enrolling in one or both days. Tuition is paid monthly through Brightwheel which is also where families can find our calendar and see updates. Families are provided with a weekly newsletter full of our discoveries, projects we are working on, a list of books we read together as well as photos of the students in action. Tuition is reimbursable with UA and PEP Step Up Scholarships. Families can enroll mid year if needed or join our waiting list if we are at capacity.
