Rhythms
Rhythm of the day
We spend much of the morning in child-led activity time, during which children choose from a variety of developmentally appropriate activities–building, reading, painting, dramatic play, games, puzzles, etc.
A sunlit classroom has shelves filled with exciting materials calling to your child to explore them. Our art area is always stocked and open for children to create, and there is a large motor room for blocks, trains, movement, dress-up, and group circle time.
Outside
We go outside for a full hour each day. Our covered patio is used for ramps and cars, chalk, blocks, and white board drawing. On the lawn is a play house, gravel box, and equipment for building obstacle courses.
Spring through fall, the children love to get their hands in the dirt as we plant, tend, and harvest the flowers, vegetables and herbs in our garden. We collect snails for observation and watch compost turn to dirt in our worm bins.
Seasonal Rhythm
We follow the seasons with celebrations and projects. In Autumn, we collect colorful leaves and mix our own birdseed to fill the feeders in the yard. In winter, we make stone soup and have a solstice fire to make wishes for the new year. We trace our shadows on Groundhog day. On May Day, we leave baskets of flowers on our neighbors’ door knobs. In spring, we plant seeds in clear bags on the window and observe their roots and shoots popping out.
Calendar
Chrysalis’ school years run from September to June. We are closed on National holidays, as well as Winter and Spring breaks.
Important Dates 2024-2025:
First Day of School September 3
Parent Conferences in evenings November 6-8
Parent Meeting in evening December 5
Winter Break (Closed) December 23 - January 3
Spring Break (Closed) March 24- 28
Parent Meeting in evening April 8
Parent Conferences in evenings. April 28 - 30
Last Day of School June 20
We follow David Douglas School District for weather closures, but we do not close for their planning days.
Teacher Communication
At Chrysalis, we have two rounds of formal parent-teacher conferences each year. We use the Brightwheel app to send you photos and notes about your child. At our group parent meetings, we discuss topics of interest to parents around behavior, struggles, creating family objectives, and more.
After Chrysalis
After spending their preschool years at Chrysalis, our children have successfully transitioned to Arbor School of Arts and Sciences, Catlin Gabel, Oregon Episcopal School, All Saints, and a wide variety of magnet programs, language immersion schools and Portland Public Schools.
Read our Parent Testimonials
A Kindergarten teacher, upon learning I was the director at Chrysalis, told me “I can always tell the children who come from Chrysalis. They are so kind.”
—Colleen Strohm, Director and Lead Teacher
