Little Kids (Toddler 2s)

Our Little Kids classroom serves children who are 19-24 months old when the school year begins in September.

As our infants transition into the Toddler Classroom, a primary caregiving system continues to support the Toddlers. Purple Circle’s Pedagogy of Care respects the child’s need to be in an environment that provides a relationship-based approach. A sense of trust conveys a message to toddlers that they can venture out to learn without fear.

Through the use of materials and exploration of the outdoors, toddlers recognize cause and effect and develop spacial and mathematical awareness, as well as engage in science, social studies, language and literacy play based activities. Our toddlers explore the daily opportunities of block building, dramatic play, art, music, sand and water play, story time and outdoor play.

We believe that children benefit from the yearlong friendships and care that they receive from consistent primary caregiving in the same classroom for 12 months. All children, even infants and young toddlers, begin the school year together in September and remain together as a cohort through the following August. The placement of children into a specific classroom is completely at the discretion of the School Director and is non-negotiable. Parents can inquire with the school prior to acceptance about potential classroom placement. Since our care is based on a year-long curriculum, children are never moved to a new classroom midyear, even if children age into a new classroom.

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.

The Classroom

A LOOK INSIDE LITTLE KIDS

MEET THE LITTLE KIDS TEACHERS

Sanghamitra (Tina) Mukherjee
Sanghamitra (Tina) MukherjeeLead Teacher
Sanghamitra Mukherjee, best known as Tina, joined Purple Circle in 1997 as an assistant teacher in the Middle Kids 2 classroom. She has resided as an assistant teacher in the Little Kids classroom for the last eleven years. Tina earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Calcutta University in India. She expands upon her early childhood education experience through audited courses at Westchester Community College over the past 6 years. Tina’s experience has led to a passion in the documentation of young children. During this process, Tina collects children’s work through sets of photographs, all the while recording their words and stories for a complete view of the child’s work from start to finish. Tina’s hours are 8:30am –2:30pm.
Selene Balbuena
Selene BalbuenaAssistant Teacher
Selene Balbuena was born in Mexico and raised in the United States. This is Selene’s third year at Purple Circle. She is bilingual speaking Spanish and English. She started at various programs like the Ideal School of Manhattan as well as the International Academy of New York. Selene started as an Assistant Teacher at the International Academy of New York. At the Ideal School of Manhattan she assisted preparing lunch for the students and for all of the staff daily. She worked in various educational places before beginning her Fieldwork towards her CDA in the early childhood education with children from birth to ages 5. She is so excited to be a part of the Purple Circle community and can’t wait to see what this year has in store. Selene’s hours are from 8:30am – 4:00pm.
Judith Williams
Judith WilliamsAssistant Teacher
Judith Williams was born in London, England and her family migrated to the United States when we was twelve years old. Judith’s teaching career began at Pratt Institute where she pursued her interest in Fine Art and Education. She holds a BFA and also a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from City College. Judith has worked in both private and public school settings, and has worked at Purple Circle for over five years. Judith’s hours are 1:00pm – 6:00pm and she is our Late Day teacher.
Lydia Krajick
Lydia KrajickAssistant Teacher
Lydia Krajick is an Assistant Teacher and a proud native New Yorker. She earned her B.A. in Professional Writing from Goucher College, but her true passion has always been working with children. Since her teenage years, she has dedicated herself to caring for and supporting young people through summer camps, tutoring, nannying, and afterschool programs. She plans to continue her education with afocus on childcare, further deepening her ability to nurture and guide the next generation. She treasures the joy, warmth, and laughter that children bring into her life and admires their honesty and openness. At home, Lydia is just as full of personality—she shares her space with a beloved pet bunny and a growing collection of shoes. Her hours are 10:00-6:00pm.

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