The Friendship Children's Center is a small, inviting school that encourages parents and children to build and maintain close relationships with other families and the teachers within the school. Many opportunities present themselves for parent involvement. Of course, we have an open-door policy and encourage parents to visit at any time. You may find a parent sitting along side a child at Circle Time, leading a cooking project, or even conducting an art project. Parents are invited to participate as chaperones on field trips or to lend a hand in the classroom when special visitors stop by.

Our students are placed in the classroom best suited to their emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Movement into the next classroom is based on development, not chronological age.

Before enrollment, the school strongly encourages a conference between the child's prospective teacher, the parents, and the child. In this way, families can develop a strong relationship with the individuals with whom they will be working daily. Also, families can begin to understand the goals of their child's teacher and developmental levels students are expected to reach.

As a child becomes ready for the next classroom, a gradual transition will occur. Visits to the next classroom will begin. The length of these visits will increase until the child appears ready to move to the next classroom full-time. Most transitions take about two weeks, although the individual transition period may vary greatly from one child to another.

As a rule, a child will not be placed into a classroom where the majority of the children in that classroom are significantly younger or older than the new child. We make every attempt to place children in the appropriate classroom in the beginning. Incorrect classroom placement can cause a great deal of emotional distress to children, so it is critical that the Director, teachers, and parents agree on the classroom placement of a new child prior to enrollment.