Four Year Olds (VPK)
Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) is a FREE program for each four-year-old born on or before September 1st of the current school year, who resides in Florida to attend a quality preschool program. The goal of our program is to build a foundation for each child’s educational success. Our VPK quality pre-kindergarten program gives your child an opportunity to perform better in school and throughout life.
VPK classrooms at Pineapple Cove Academy offer experience in intellectual, social, emotional, and physical domains. Using the Imagine It! curriculum, your child’s development is enhanced by an outstanding environment including but not limited to the following: literacy-reading and library-listening centers, puppets, math, science, music, creative art, physical-fine & motor skills, dramatic play, small & large group times, story time, sensory, computer, cooking, enhancement activities, family and community involvement. Your child’s experience with preschool will be the beginning of a lifelong love of learning.
Uniforms
We believe that wearing uniforms helps children share a sense of belonging and camaraderie. This feeling of Ohana and unity helps create school spirit, as well as a sense of community. Our lightweight, comfortable uniforms come in four fun color choices. These beautiful uniforms are custom-made in Hawaii, especially for our students.
What are your teacher qualifications?
All Pineapple Cove Academy teachers meet or exceed the state requirements for child care providers. We also require ongoing professional training that all staff must complete annually. In order to maintain our high safety standards, all staff are also required to hold first-aid and CPR training. Furthermore, a level 2 background screening is required on all staff before employment begins.
Are meals served or should I pack my child a lunch?
Pineapple Cove Academy has a full kitchen and provides each child with a healthy breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack.
What if my child has food allergies?
If your child has a food allergy you will work closely with the director to create a Plan of Care. This agreement will outline our commitment to keep your child safe.
What do I need to provide from home?
Pineapple Cove Academy provides each child with their own comfortable crib & sheet. We ask parents to provide their baby’s diapers, wipes, & ointment.
How do you communicate with parents?
Pineapple Cove Academy utilizes a mobile app called Tadpoles Parents. Through this application parents will receive daily photos, reports, and important meal & diapering information.
What if my child gets sick while at the academy?
Upon enrollment all parents are provided with our Exclusion Policy which outlines when your toddler should stay home, as well as why we would call you to pick your child up from the academy.
Do you have cameras in the classrooms?
Safety is paramount at Pineapple Cove Academy. Therefore; each classroom, playground, and common area is equipped with cameras. If you are ever interested in viewing footage, simply make an appointment with the academy’s director.
What is your discipline policy?
All Pineapple Cove Academy teachers have been trained in positive discipline methods. We encourage positive guidance and teach our students to use calm breathing techniques when a situation has become escalated. We encourage the children to use these self-calming exercises in the provided Safe Place area. A more complete discipline policy will be provided upon enrollment.
Will my child’s progress be assessed?
Yes, our three year teachers assess each student in the fall and spring to determine each child’s specific learning needs.
Is Pineapple Cove Academy accredited?
Yes, Pineapple Cove Academy is accredited through APPLE (Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment). In general, early childhood programs that are APPLE. accredited have demonstrated a commitment to providing high quality programs for young children and their families.
The accreditation process requires each school to meet specific quality standards in areas such as interactions among teachers and children, staff to child ratios, developmental appropriateness of the curriculum, staff qualifications, health and safety, and administration.
It also requires schools to undergo a validation process to verify their compliance with APPLE guidelines which may be more stringent than state licensing requirements.
If you would like to learn more about APPLE Visit www.faccm.com website.
