Open Door Nursery School

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 Open Door Nursery School (O.D.N.S.) provides children ages 2 through 5 with intellectual, social, and physical experiences in a safe, secure, loving setting. Founded in 1970, the preschool is operated on a nonprofit basis by Williamsville United Methodist Church. Registration is open to all races and religions; respect and recognition of the cultures and religions represented are taught. Classes are guided by state certified teachers, and class size is limited to assure individual attention. O.D.N.S. uses a variety of learning activities with an emphasis on play to facilitate cognitive, social, and emotional growth and language development. To learn more about our teaching staff, visit the O.D.N.S. Staff Bios page of this Web site. Also, on the Learn More About O.D.N.S. page of this Web site includes articles from the our director and teachers about some of the recent learning activities and events at O.D.N.S.

Philosophy

O.D.N.S. is dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment for preschoolers while promoting all aspects of their development. Children are valued as individuals and treated with respect. We believe children are active learners and we provide an environment that allows them to explore the world in which they live.

Educational Goals

Our goal is to present a curriculum designed to foster pre-reading, pre-math, and other kindergarten readiness skills.

• To introduce basic skills through which future learning can take place.
• To encourage the development of self-esteem and positive feelings toward self and others.

Our educational goals are achieved through a wide variety of aesthetic experiences including:

• Literature
• Art mediums
• Drama
• Music and movement

 

Our Program and Teachers

Our program emphasizes:

• Pre-math, pre-reading, pre-writing skills
• Social and emotional development
• Language development
• Learning through curiosity and experience

Our certified teachers provide developmentally appropriate, creative experiences that allow for:

• Discovery learning through problem solving and hands-on experimentation
• Promotion of self-esteem and respect for all people
• Independence and accountability
• Opportunities for solitary, parallel, and group play
• Large and small motor development
• Individual expression

 Learn more about our staff by visiting the Open Door Nursery School Staff Bios page.

 

Highlights and Facts

• Informal, but carefully planned environment.
• Limited class size.
• Appropriate child/teacher ratio.
• Indoor and outdoor large motor facilities.
• Walking trips throughout the Village.
• Field trips to nearby points of interest.
• CPR and child safety trained staff.
• Coordination of readiness skills with local kindergarten programs.
• Excellent child-centered art program that values the process over the product.
• Extensive inventory of educational toys and equipment.
• Promote family involvement through special events such as Parent-Teacher Open House, holiday parties, pancake breakfast, and art show.
• Promote community awareness through field trips and visiting education programs including the Touch Tank, Zoo Trunk, police, and a dental hygienist.
• Board of Directors consists of school director, parents, church members, and pastor.

 

 

Open Door Class Choices

 

Our school year begins the first Monday after Labor Day and ends the Friday before Memorial Day.

Two-Year-Old Program

The class for two-year-olds includes a maximum of 8 children with one teacher and an aide. Each child must be two-years-old by December 1^st.

Available Two-Year-Old Classes
Monday and Wednesday     9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday and Thursday       9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Three-Year-Old Program

Each class for three-year-olds includes a maximum of 11 children with one teacher and one aide. Each child must be three-years-old by December 1st. 

Available Three-Year-Old Classes
Monday and Wednesday                      9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday and Thursday                        9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Friday - Optional Literature Day Class*   9:00 – 11:30 a.m.                                  

* For more information about this optional class, refer to the downloadable "Literature Day for Our 3's" flyer.

Four-Year-Old Pre-K Program

The class for four-year-olds includes a maximum of 21 children with two teachers and one aide. Each child must be four-years-old by December 1^st.

Available Four-Year-Old Pre-K Class
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday     9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon

Five-Year-Old Kindergarten Readiness Program

The Five-Year-Old Kindergarten Readiness class is specifically designed as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten for children with fall birthdays. Daily activities include instruction in beginning reading through the use of letter workbooks, beginning math activities, independence skills practice, art expression, free play, and gross motor play. The class consists of a maximum of 12 children with one teacher and one teacher aide. It is recommended that the child be five-years-old by December 1st.

More information about Open Door's Kindergarten Readiness Program is included in the article titled "Kindergarten - Ready or Not?" that is located on the Learn More About ODNS page of this Web site.

Available Kindergarten Readiness Class
Monday through Thursday     9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon

Downloadable Forms and Contact Information

You can learn more about O.D.N.S. by downloading the Policies and Information form. Additional information about the programs available this school year including the cost of each program is included in the downloadable Registration Form form. You can begin the registration process by downloading and printing the Application and Agreement forms. When you have completed the Application and Agreement forms, mail them to:

Judith Knab

Open Door Nursery School

5681 Main Street

Williamsville, NY 14221

For more information or to schedule a visit of Open Door Nursery School, feel free to contact Judy Knab by phone at 716-633-1655. Alternatively, you can e-mail Judy at Open Door or through Williamsville United Methodist Church.