Open Door Preschool provides a positive, nurturing environment for a child’s total growth. Art, music, dramatic play, story time, large and small motor activities as well as social interactions in a play setting are all a part of the developmentally appropriate program at Open Door. We encourage effective interaction providing opportunities for emotional, physical, cognitive and social growth. The staff at Open Door seeks to nurture self-esteem and to develop healthy attitudes toward self, others and school. At Open Door Preschool, children are free to be children. Activities and equipment are designed especially for them. Open Door is currently exploring the use of The Creative Curriculum which will allow us to continue to implement a curriculum that is based on the children’s interests and needs. This curriculum will allow us to focuses on ”purposeful play” based on principals supported by (among others) Vygotsky and Dewey.
OUR COLLABORATIONS
Open Door loves to collaborate with community organizations. We have the following partnerships and are always looking to add more!
St. Olaf College
Part of our environmental education program has long been through a collaboration with St. Olaf College. Three times a year, once each season, we go up to campus and spend the day walking through the Natural Lands, led by student naturalists. The naturalists also plan other activities for the ODP students and sometimes bring the learning to us at our home classroom.
Carleton College
We have recently reignited a collaboration with Carleton College in the form of a day of Dance! ODP spent the day at the Carleton Weitz Center and participated in two dance classes led by Daphne McCoy. The students, little and big, loved getting to know each other and move together!
Three Links Care Center
We believe in the value of intergenerational relationships and we have enjoyed connecting the ODP little ones with Three Links Care Center residents. We “trick-or-treat” there, sing for them, and bring them seasonal artwork to brighten up their room.
Northfield Curbside Compost
To reduce our environmental impact ODP is a member of the Northfield Curbside Compost Coop. Through this, the kids learn what items from their snack, lunch and other parts of the day are compostable, what are recyclable, and what is trash for the landfill.
