Bright Futures


		Bright Futures Child Care Information System

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Provider: Bellwether School, The

Provider ID:

2881

IMPORTANT NOTE: The program submitted the information on this page to the Child Development Division. If a program has not updated the information, then some of it may not be up to date or accurate at this time. You are encouraged to contact the program directly to verify the information and to obtain more specific information about the program. You may also contact your local child care referral specialist for additional information about programs in your community and possible child care openings. The program's profile is shared with you only for the purposes of your child care search and does not represent a recommendation by the Child Development Division. Contact information for your local child care referral agencies is available at http://dcf.vermont.gov/partners/cccsa.

Site Address:	1186 South Brownell Road Williston, VT 05495 City: Williston	Contact Phone:	(802)863-4839
E-mail:	laura.hoopes@bellwetherschool.org	Website:	https://www.bellwetherschool.org/
License Date:	03/30/2005	License Type:	Center Based Child Care and Preschool Program
Owner:		Director:	Laura Hoopes
		Number of children program is licensed to care for at any one time:	16

Vacancy and Capacity Information

Current as of:	04/15/2024
Infant Capacity:	0	Vacancies:	0
Toddler Capacity:	0	Vacancies:	0
Pre-School Capacity:	16	Vacancies:	0
School-Age Capacity:	35	Vacancies:	0
Total Capacity:	51	Current Vacancy:	0

Program Information

Guidance:	Classroom Management: At Bellwether, teachers create thoughtful classroom environments designed to be developmentally appropriate and safe. Teachers provide guidance that helps students build their self-esteem and become comfortable in the classroom community. Teachers approach classroom management with Positive Behavioral Supports. Behavior is a central mode of communication for children and one that gives great insightinto a child's needs. This means teachers will not use any treats or rewards or punishments such as time out. Rather than developing morals, punishments and rewards merely keep children obedient. Therefore, when a puzzling or disruptive behavior occurs, teacher seek to find the purpose of the behavior, and strive to find other ways for that student to have his/her needs met without unduly impacting the learning community. Teachers strive to meetthe need so that the undesirable behavior is unnecessary or provide the student with tools so that s/he can get his/her needs met in an appropriate way. Some of the Positive Behavior Supports you may see include: A lap for a child to sit in at meeting; using humor to make a child feel welcome in the classroom; creating spaces for a child to be alone; defining areas of a classroom for louder voices and energetic movements. Teachers helping students understand when they may need to take a break from a classroom activity due to behavior choices that are disrupting an activity or disturbing other children. Teachers do not use the more punitive "time out" knowing that just removing a child does not teach the child the necessary skills to successfully participate next time. Instead, teachers use an instructional approach sometimes called a "time in" or take a break, which involves actions as sitting with a child to find out what is going on, validating the child's feelings of being upset or hurt, and/or talking through what is needed in order to rejoin the group. Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution: At Bellwether, students, staff and parents are part of a community working together toward a shared goal. Our teachers work with students to establish classroom communities which in turn contribute to the whole school community. Students work with their teachers in establishing classroom rules and expectations. In conflict situations, students problem-solve in order to to address the conflict. A staff person may serve as a facilitator for this process if the students are unable to resolve the conflict themselves. We believe that the process of conflict resolution is a learning opportunity for our students. The skills developed in this process will support them into adulthood.	Program:	Educational Philosophy and Core Principals: Holistic education aims to nurture and develop the varied interrelated capacities of the human being. Thus, while it addresses the intellectual development, it is equally concerned with the child's development as a physical, emotional, artistic, social, moral, and spiritual being. It aims to create a person who is well-rounded and in a broad sense healthy, a human being who has developed each aspect of his or her humanity.-Ron Miller, Founder. A holistic approach recognizes the interconnected nature of child's learning and development. It is an integrative approach and its highest goal is the cultivation of relationships between and within the learner and their world. Meaningful relationships between self, society, humanity and nature, intellect and emotion, adult and child, history and the present, and so on. What does holistic education at Bellwether look like? What are the principles that support the Bellwether philosophy? What is it about what we do and how we do it that brings everything together and results in compassionate, curious, responsible young children? We feel it can be boiled down to three words: Engage, Inquire, Emerge. These three words are at the heart of every moment and interaction at Bellwether. It is how we think about Explore choices and workshop concepts. We find chances for all of us to ENGAGE with the world, INQUIRE about new experiences and learning and EMERGE with deep understanding and connection. Looking at learning with these three words in mind allows us to approach our daily lives in the classrooms with a sense of investment and opportunity. Our Principles: a. We a support and are responsive to each child's whole development including intellectual, social, emotional, artistic, physical, and spiritual development. b. We draw forth intrinsic motivation of each child so that learning becomes an interactive process that values imagination, creativity and joy. c. We encourage members of our learning community to understand, honor, and respect diversity and to pursue this in their actions. d. Our teachers build relationships, allow students to construct their own learning, and foster the inquiry and critical thinking skills that inspire a child's connection to his/her world. e. We teach children to honor the rights of the individual and embrace responsibility to community. f. We develop in children an understanding of how to live harmoniously with the environment both now and over time. To learn more about our philosophy and how we put these Holistic Education principles into practice, see our website or ask a staff member.
Ages Willing to Serve:	Preschool, School Age	Program Participation:	Pre-K Program
Special Services:	Yes	Religious Activity:	No
Sibling Discount:	Yes	Subsidy Provider:	Yes
Area Description:	Fenced Yard, Smoke Free	Building Type/Setting:	Non-Residential
Pets:

Provider Schedule and Services

Type of Care:	After School, Full-Time	Languages Supported:
Special Schedule:		Usual Operating Hours:	08:00:00 to 17:30:00
Days of Operation:	Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday	Transportation:
Schools Served:		Program Meals:	Allergy Awareness