Bellwood Elementary - Extended School Program

When Murfreesboro City Schools implemented its pre-k program, there was no title to be given to the program other than The Ruth Bowdoin Pre-K Program. For thirty years, Mrs. Bowdoin was a professional educator in the Murfreesboro City Schools and directed a program called, The Classroom on Wheels Program. Mrs. Bowdoin believed that, you have to involve parents if you want to be successful teaching their children. In an effort to further involve parents in early childhood instruction, Ms. Bowdoin developed the Bowdoin Method of Parent Training, used throughout the United States and in fourteen countries.

In July of 2007 the Murfreesboro City School District dedicated the Bellwood-Bowdoin Pre-Kidergarten building in honor of Mrs. Bowdoin. The school consists of 13 general education pre-k classes for four year olds and 7 special education pre-k classrooms for three & four year olds. There are 436 students who attend the program daily. The program partners with the Murfreesboro Housing authority to offer two pre-k classes in the Franklin Heights Housing Project, two classes in the Mercury Court Project, and two classes in the Oakland Court Project.

The pre-k curriculum consists of social, emotional, communication-language, cognitive, fine motor, self-help, and gross motor development. Each day is filled with hands-on activities, story time, circle time, calendar activities, and center time. The children are provided opportunities to explore and to experience their environment. These experiences include art, outside play, tactile learning, cooking activities, music, physical education, and library classes.

In addition to the opportunities provided for the children, parents are offered Parent University seminars. These seminars provide parents with information concerning the social, emotional, cognitive, and fine motor development of children as well as information about the academic program in which the children are exposed to in school.

Child Ages:

3 years - 6 years

Licenses & Accreditations:

Tennessee Department of Human Services

Vouchers:

This provider accepts vouchers

Special Needs:

Please contact us for more information.

Preschool:

Yes

Hours of Operation:

6:00 AM - 6:00 PM