Big Kids (Ages 4 and 5)

As a community of learners, our preschoolers have a variety of opportunities to explore their environment both indoors and outside.

The materials in the classroom offer children the chance to engage in learning possibilities through the use of block building, painting and drawing, stories, social studies, science experiments and neighborhood community walks.

Children are encouraged to pursue their interests and investigations with the support of their teachers. Through observation and documentation, the teachers recognize the child’s strengths, relationships with others and interests as a foundation from which to extend learning. The ideas and interests of children are transformed into the daily curriculum in a meaningful way.

Purple Circle offers families the following Monday through Friday programs, year round, providing four options parents can choose from to meet their unique needs:

  • 8:30am – 1:50pm
  • 8:30am – 4:00pm
  • 8:30am – 6:00pm
  • 2:10pm – 6:00pm

There is also an early morning drop-off option available each day at 8:00am.

A predictable routine helps children develop a sense of competence and involvement in their world. For preschoolers, our schedule varies according to season and children’s and teachers’ needs. Below is a general schedule of daily events.

MORNING:
8:30am – 9am
Arrival

9am – 10am
Free Play, Morning Group Meeting, Circle Time, Music or Story Sharing, Snack

10am – 11am
Outdoor Play

11am – 12pm
Story, Lunch

12pm – 1:30pm
Rest Time

AFTERNOON:
1:30pm – 2pm
Wake Up, Snack

1:50pm – 2:10pm
Dismissal and Arrival

2pm – 3pm
Afternoon Group Meeting, Circle Time, Music or Story Sharing, Free Play

3pm-4pm
Dismissal

4pm-6pm “Late Day”
Snack, Free Play, Story Sharing

A LOOK INSIDE BIG KIDS

MEET THE BIG KIDS TEACHERS

Ashley Sinead Lawrence
Ashley Sinead Lawrence Lead Teacher
Ashley Sinead Lawrence joined Purple Circle as the Big Kids Lead Teacher in March 2022. She is a native of the Republic of Panama and moved to New York in 2007. She is a bilingual speaker in English and Spanish. She has a passion for other languages and has been learning Korean since 2012. Ashley began her studies at Long Island University where she obtained a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She worked as a Science Educator at the American Museum of Natural History’s Science and Nature Enrichment Program teaching content areas such as Marine Biology, Anthropology, Ornithology and other natural sciences. At AMNH she found her passion for teaching young learners about the world around them. Ashley enrolled into the MSED Early Childhood Special and General Education program at the Bank Street Graduate School of Education and is currently still attending. With her love of language and science she hopes to provide a learning environment where children can explore the natural world freely and confidently; and learn about the cultures of diverse peoples. Her favorite activities to do with the children is singing and identifying the interesting plants and animals they discover throughout their day. Ashley’s hours are 8:30am – 4:00pm.
Ricky Brown
Ricky Brown Assistant Teacher
Ricky Brown has a BA in Japanese from North Central College, an MA in Theater Arts from Eastern Michigan University and an MFA in Theater from Sarah Lawrence College. Ricky joined Purple Circle in May 2022 as a floating assistant teacher in the Big Kids and MK2 classrooms. He has over 10 years of teaching experience in many capacities. He’s a former ALT for Sakurayama Elementary School in Higashi Matsuyama, Saitama, Japan. He’s a former Theater Teaching Artist for Sarah Lawrence and Oye Group. He’s a former Head Instructor and New Instructor Trainer for the Bebai Language Program in Tokyo. Ricky is excited to teach in Big Kids this year and share his love of play and language with the children. Ricky’s hours are 8:30am – 4:00pm.
Charlotte Bonnet
Charlotte BonnetLate Day / Assistant Teacher
Charlotte Bonnet is a native New Yorker. She is a bilingual speaker in English and French. She has a BA in French and Francophone Studies from Earlham College and a MS in Studies in Education from Bank Street College School of Education. Charlotte joined Purple Circle in June 2021 as a floating assistant teacher in MK1 and Little Kids classrooms. She worked as an afternoon teacher in MK 2 and a Late Day teacher in the MK2 classroom. Charlotte enjoys reading stories and interacting with children through collages and sensory activities. Charlotte’s hours are 10:00am-6:00pm.

Purple Circle is Accepting Applications for All Age Groups for 2023/2024

Click below to learn more about our application process and to view the online membership application in full

VIEW APPLICATION