Curriculum | Deer Valley Academy

Child Care Program

For Ages 2 Months - 2 Years

Ten essentials are incorporated in the child care program for Infants (2-11 months), Little Tots (12-18 months), Big Tots (19-23 months), and Little Kids (2-3 years old): Social Interaction, Self-esteem, Manners/Respect, Safety, Healthy Environments, Quality Care, Communication, Play, Music, and Reading.

The Academy provides separate rooms for dividing and managing children of like age groups more effectively, with dedicated caregivers and teachers who specialize in the individual needs of each developmental age group. Central to the Academy’s child care philosophy is interacting with the children in a responsive, meaningful way, thus enabling learning through trusting relationships.

For each distinct age grouping, activities include developing gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language and speech, social concepts, art/music/science/number concepts and safety concepts/skills.

Preschool Curriculum

For Ages 3 - 5 Years

The Academy believes in the critical importance of children enjoying and benefiting from early childhood education, with its potential adventures and discoveries. The breadth and depth of children’s learning is greatly magnified when children are given rich and varied experiences in their formative years. Using the nationally recognized, professionally developed Experience Early Learning curriculum, the school plans for and provides enjoyable and challenging learning experiences, so that all children can grow and develop as competent and confident learners.

Deer Valley Academy’s inviting environment encourages and helps children to explore and take advantage of opportunities for fun, choice, freedom, adventure and challenge. Our curriculum fosters all areas of child development, using effective teaching strategies that are developmentally appropriate. Being ideally situated at Deer Valley Resort provides unparalleled opportunities for enriching and beneficial daily outdoor activities, such as winter snow play, skiing for preschool aged children, mountain hikes, crystal hunting and walks to the duck pond.

Family in the Educational Process

Deer Valley Academy and Experience Early Learning believe it is extremely important to provide information and resources that support family involvement in a child's learning experience. We provide a collection of tools that guide parents in taking an active role in their child's education and development. This creates a link from classroom to home learning. Because children come from diverse backgrounds and bring unique perspectives to the learning center, activities are intentionally designed to invite children to bring their experiences from home to the classroom.

We help you stay connected to your child's learning by sending home many projects created by your child, including art, mini-books, games and little journals. Through these interactive projects, children learn letters, numbers, shapes and fun facts about the monthly focus theme. Each month you will also receive a family newsletter highlighting the theme of the month. You will get tips for talking to your child about the topics they are learning. Also included are song lyrics, fingerplays and other fun activities you can share with your child at home.

Academy Essentials

Important Documents to Complete

Immunization Record

25/26 School Calendar

25/26 School Calendar	Event
September 2	First day of Fall Semester
October 2	Parent/Teacher Conference (no school)
October 3	Fall Break (no school)
November 26 - 28	Thanksgiving Break (no school)
December 19	Last day of Fall Semester
December 22 - January 2	Winter Break (no school)
January 5	First day of Spring Semester
January 19	Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no school)
February 16 - 20	Presidents' Week (no school)
March 16	Professional Development Day (no school)
March 17	Parent/Teacher Conference (no school)
April 13 - 17	Spring Break (no school)
May 25	Memorial Day (no school)
May 29	Last day of Spring Semester

25/26 Lesson Plan

Newletters	Theme	Character Trait	Letters & Sounds	Colors	Shapes
September	Family & Pets	Kindness	Ff, Mm, Aa, Pp, Tt & Oo	Red	Circle
October	Down on the Farm	Patience	Nn, li, Ll, Cc, Ee & Ss	Blue	Square
November	Community Helpers	Resourcefulness	Dd, Uu, Hh, Gg, Rr & Ww	Yellow	Triangle
December	Winter in the Woods	Honesty	Bb, Kk, Xx, Vv, Yy & Jj	Green	Rectangle
January	Travel Around the World	Bravery	Zz, Qq, Ff, Mm, Aa & Pp	Purple	Heart
February	Baby Animals	Fairness	Tt, Oo, Nn, li, LI & Cc	Orange	Oval
March	Pond Life	Responsibility	Ee, Ss, Dd, Uu, Hh & Gg	Black	Star
April	Birds & Eggs	Generosity	Rr, Ww, Bb, Kk, Xx & Vv	White	Hexagon
May	Bugs & Crawly Things	Respect	Yy, Jj, Zz & Qq	Brown	Diamond

Frequently Asked Questions

General

My infant is not on a set schedule, is that okay?
Yes, we will address each child's individual sleep and feeding schedule according to their needs.

Does Deer Valley Academy offer a nap/quiet time?
We follow Utah state licensing guidelines that require us to provide a rest time each day, up to two hours, for the children in our care. Our rest period typically runs from 12 -2 p.m. We ask that you please plan pick-ups and drop-offs outside of this time when possible.

Does the Deer Valley Academy preschool curriculum meet the Utah Early Childhood Core Standards?
Yes, the Experience Early Learning (formerly Mother Goose Time) curriculum is a professionally designed curriculum that nurtures the whole child and supports the child's social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth. It creatively builds a knowledge web by weaving together activities within six domains: language arts, physical development, mathematics, creative development, science and socio-emotional development. For more information, please visit their website.

Why must I submit my child's immunization records prior to the first day of school? Can't I just bring them later?
State Licensing requires that we have your child's immunization records from your doctor on file before we can let him or her attend the Academy. Failure to do so can result in fines and/or school closure until the regulations have been met. For exemptions, it is required to have a blank, signed immunization record with applicable exemption documentation.

If my child turns three during the school semester, can he be moved to preschool?
If your child has a birthday mid-semester, they will be eligible for the next room at the beginning of the next semester. If you have any questions, please contact the Children's Center Supervisor.

Why does the Academy open about a week after the Park City Schools open?
Historically, we open the Academy a week later for several reasons. Summer Adventure Camp ends just before the Park City Schools open, so we use that week to deep-clean the Center in preparation for Academy students and to meet licensing regulations. Teacher training and licensing tests are conducted that week as well. Finally, we hold a Parent/Child Open House before Academy begins to allow you to visit the Center and meet your child's teachers.

PolicieS

How can I prepare my child for the Academy and avoid separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety is a common and natural reaction that young children feel when being separated from their parents or primary caregivers for the first time. To help your child, you should first look within for whatever ambivalence you may have about leaving your child, because he/she will pick up on those feelings. If there's any hesitation or discomfort or doubt, which there often is--you hate to leave your child when he's unhappy about it--your child's going to sense it in you. The first thing you have to do to prepare your child is to prepare yourself. See Saying Goodbye on the Policies & Procedures webpage for more information.

What is the policy for children who are biting or displaying negative physical behavior toward my child?
To address these situations, we have a Biting & Aggression Policy that can be found on the Policies & Procedures webpage. This policy applies to both toddlers and preschool-aged children. Please let the center director know immediately if you suspect inappropriate behavior of any kind.

Can I have a birthday party for my child at the Center?
To ensure the safety of all children, we cannot hold birthday parties in the Center. We encourage you to bring a healthy, nut-free, store-bought treat for the end of the day to share with all the children in your child’s class. Please see the Celebrations, Holidays and Birthdays Policy on the Policies & Procedures webpage.

Skiing Benefit

Can my child make up a missed ski day?
Unfortunately, no. Our ski instructors are assigned to the Academy children as well as to our other children's ski programs. When a child does not show up for a ski lesson, the instructor misses a lesson as well because he/she was assigned for that day/time. With ample notice, we will try to accommodate your child when possible.

Will my child have the same ski instructor all season?
Our ski instructors are assigned to the Academy children, as well as to our other children's ski programs, throughout the winter based on bookings, their work schedules, etc. We cannot guarantee that your child will have the same instructor all season, but often they will have recurring instructors. All of our instructors are highly qualified to teach young children. In addition, it is beneficial for your child to experience a variety of teaching styles and personalities.

My child will be 3 years old on February 21. Can she ski in January?
For liability and developmental reasons, children must have reached their 3-year birthday in order to ski. Your child can ski beginning February 21.

Can we leave our child’s ski equipment at the center over the weekend?
Because the resort and the center are open seven days a week during the ski season, we ask that you take your child’s ski equipment home over the weekends. We don’t want to run the risk of them getting mixed in with our weekend child care and Fawn programs, especially during our busier periods. Also, you will not be on our security checklist at the Children’s Center front desk, which could create an inconvenience for you, our staff and our other guests. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Can my preschool child ski more than the one time during the school week that is included in his tuition?
You may sign your preschool child up for additional ski time during the week for an additional cost. Additional ski time is based upon instructor availability and is not guaranteed. If your child participates, be sure to leave his/her ski equipment and clothes at the Center from Monday through Friday. Please see the center director for details and to request additional ski time for your child.

Our Curriculum