C.D.E. was founded in 1947 by a group of parents who felt the need for their children to share in a preschool experience. Our school has grown and changed over the years to better serve the needs of its families.

C.D.E. is a licensed non-profit parent cooperative. Our classes meet Monday through Friday, and closely follow Regional School District #4's school calendar. Our three-year-old program meets Tuesday and Thursday. Our four-year-old program meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Morning sessions meet 9:00-11:30 and afternoon sessions meet 12:30-3:00.

Our goal is to provide your child with a developmentally appropriate school experience, offered in a safe and nurturing environment. Our curriculum is based on the "hands on" theories of Piaget, and follows The State of Connecticut guidelines in early childhood education and the recommendations of The National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Our center-based classroom offers children the opportunity to select activities in science, math and language arts and promotes social and emotional development and small and gross motor skills.

Monthly themes offer a wide range of topics that are related to classroom activities in music, art and literature. Our multi-sensory approach to learning recognizes the individual learning styles of each of our students.

There are two staff members present at all times maintaining a 1:8 staff to child ratio.

Upon arrival, children are greeted and activity choices suggested. The children are encouraged to experiment at the science table, spend a quiet moment at the story corner, engage in building a Duplo tower with friends or create a playdough sculpture.

After the children have settled in and have spent time exploring the various centers it is time to clean up and participate in a group activity. "Group Time" is a teacher directed activity that is often theme related. Songs and poems are introduced as well as discussion of weather and calendar facts. Helpers are assigned for the day and children learn to take turns in sharing ideas and experiences.

Next, it is time to wash up before snack is served. Children are responsible for cleaning up after they finish eating.

We now begin our theme related project for the day and open several areas for play including block and truck rug, sensory table, dramatic play area, manipulatives, puzzles and math center.

Before we know it, it is time to clean up and get ready for another teacher directed activity. The children sit and listen to a theme-related story and respond to questions related to the book. We end our day with some large motor play, either on our playground or on our indoor equipment. Children are dismissed from the group when their parents arrive to sign them out.

Monthly themes are often literature based or centered on seasonal interests. Themes have included fairy tales, pond life, dinosaur discovery, colors & shapes and multi-cultural holidays. Field trips and community visitors enhance our curriculum.

As a member of a parent cooperative, you have a direct voice in your child's nursery school experience. Our qualified staff prepares the curriculum and may request parental assistance in further executing that program. For example, a parent who is a dentist might be asked to talk about teeth and their care, or a parent who has a hobby that relates to a monthly theme may be asked to visit.

Parent volunteers also make up the C.D.E. Executive Board. Officers include: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Members at Large are elected as representatives from each class and are invited to attend Executive Board meetings. Other parental responsibilities include providing healthy snacks for your child's class two or three times per year, attending an occasional evening meeting and fund raising to support our non-profit school.

C.D.E.'s Director, Linda Hall, has been on our staff since 1989. She was promoted to her current position as Director in 1994. Mrs. Hall earned a degree from Eastern Connecticut State University and attended the University of Bridgeport. She holds a State of Connecticut Head Teacher Certification. Linda is also an active member of the Region 4 Early Childhood Education Council, working to ensure quality education for young children. Linda has served as the Chairman of the Deep River Board of Education and is currently a member of the Region 4 Board of Education. She has helped to coordinate the children's Summer Reading Program at Deep River Public Library.

Donna May has been a teacher on our staff here at C.D.E. since 1994. Mrs. May attended the University of Connecticut's School of Business Administration in Storrs. She served on the Deep River Elementary School Board of Education from 1997 to 1999. Mrs. May is trained in C.P.R. and Infant and Child First Aid and is an active participant in Early Childhood Education Workshops.