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to the JFC BGM Montessori School
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Who Are We
The purpose of Jonestown Family Center for Education and Wellness is to improve the general welfare of the people in Jonestown and the surrounding area. The Family Center strives to increase educational and health opportunities through its programs.
Who Are We
The Jonestown Family Center began in 1992 as the Jonestown Learning Center with one mother volunteer and two Catholic sisters, including Sister Teresa Shields, SNJM. With a grant from the Phil Hardin Foundation, we purchased an eight-room house on Main Street, which was used for a small play-group and after-school tutoring. We chose three-year old children who were too young to attend Head Start. In 1998, Sister Deanna Randall, BVM, came to the center. She trained two local pre-school teachers in the Montessori curriculum. They both received their International Montessori Credential for ages 3-6. Because she was a credentialed teacher in Mississippi, we were able to have a full day three-year program, including Kindergarten. Our graduates left our programs knowing how to read and compute. Because the Montessori was squeezing out our after-school program due to its wonderful individualized materials, we built a new building, The Montessori Children’s House, on our grounds for the Montessori children in 2002.We could then take twenty-four children and still keep the after-school program in the main building. In 2003, we started a “toddler play group” for two year old as a feed-in to the Montessori program. Our mission has always been to increase educational and health opportunities through all our programs.
Toddler
The Family Center has a toddler, Montessori and Fitness program. The toddler program enrolls children from ages 20 months – 3 years old (preferably already “potty-trained”). The teachers of this age group emphasize the use of “fine” and “gross” motor skills; developmental. Cognitive and language skills. A child’s comprehension and use of language is fundamental for social interaction. Our curriculum builds on and supports healthy development.
Montessori
Our Montessori program acknowledges children diversity and distinctive learning styles. This helps the teacher to meet activity and learning needs. Cognitive skill building is done daily. Thinking, problem-solving, abstract thoughts and shapes are emphasized in our classroom.
Fitness
The Fitness Center is a community tool we use to engage the entire community in a healthy lifestyle. The parents of our children are encouraged to take advantage of the center. It has equipment that allows for a range of “fitness workouts” and an instructor to provide instructions for specific areas you might want to target. The cost is only $1.00 a day.
Educational Statement
The purpose of Jonestown Family Center for Education and Wellness is to improve the general welfare of the people in Jonestown and the surrounding area. The Family Center strives to increase educational and health opportunities through its programs.
Development
Our programs teach “nutrition basics” to our children as part of their neutron education which supports emotional & social development. These topics also allows for exploration & discovery activities. Emphasis is placed on health & safety to prevent illness (ex. proper hand washing technique) and infections. We encourage the use of art to develop creativity, imagination and fine motor skills. Through participation in our program, we believe that our students develop readiness in the areas of physical well-being, motor skill development, social and emotional development and language development. Our students reach these milestones through independent play & study, group activity, expressing feelings and sharing.
Social Development & Socio-Dramatic Play
Social development/Socio-dramatic play – Our program allows/includes the use of make believe play for observational purposes. It is through these observable assessments that our teachers are able to determine areas that need additional attention. Our play areas use art materials to allow children to communicate or express themselves. In both the Montessori and Toddler programs, conflict resolution and cooperation is developed.
