Our Preschool
The Family Connections Model
Family Connections is a tuition-free parent participation preschool for low-income families. In our bi-lingual (English/Spanish) school parents participate in preschool classes with their children, newborn to age five; they attend weekly parent education classes; and they develop leadership skills through opportunities given to them at the school. There is no charge for attending the school, but we do ask that parents actively participate with jobs in the classroom and two annual fundraisers. Families attend class two or three days a week, depending on the classroom location. There are currently three classroom locations in the Ravenswood City School District, including two locations in Menlo Park and one in East Palo Alto. Locations here.Preparing Children for Success in School
Our goal for the children at Family Connections is to prepare them to be successful learners when they begin kindergarten. During class, children and their parents experience a variety of educationally enriching activities including Kindergarten readiness for the 4 year olds about to transition to Kindergarten, art projects, imaginative play, outdoor play, and exploring educational toys. A part of each class is devoted to promoting cooperation among participants in group activities such as playing with the parachute, group games, story time, and singing together.
Our focus in the classroom is on developing a passion for going to school, learning to get along with one another, developing large and fine motor skills, resolving conflicts, and learning to love books. Before coming to Family Connections most of the children have not been around others their age so they have had no place to develop crucial social skills.The exposure children receive in our school environment prepares them for a smooth, comfortable transition into the formal kindergarten setting. They learn how to sit and participate during circle time, to listen to stories, share supplies while making art projects, and to separate from their parents during group discussions.
Parent Education
At Family Connections parents attend weekly parent education workshops taught by our teachers who have, or are working towards, California State Parent Education Credentials. Although parenting classes cover a variety of parenting topics (child development, nutrition, social skills, kindergarten readiness, literacy, etc.) our primary focus is on positive discipline. Many parents who first come to our school feel frustrated about their children's behavior, and they are looking for more effective approaches to discipline.