The Goddard School

We have a year-round, extended-day program from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Our program is designed to enhance the emotional, social, intellectual and physical development of your child from six weeks to six years of age. We also offer after-school enrichment and a summer program for children up to seven years of age.

We are privileged to provide your child with a foundation for a lifelong love of learning in a safe and nurturing environment. To learn more about The Goddard School in Austell, please call (770) 943-0655.

OUR GUARANTEE
In today’s economy, we want to provide an added level of assurance to your family. If you enroll in our program, and lose your income before your child starts, we will refund 100% of your registration fees. In addition, we will extend complimentary ‘interview care’ for your child while you seek new employment.

THE GODDARD DIFFERENCE
As parents, we devote a lot of time to make educated decisions about the best possible child care environment for our children. Before you make this very important decision for your child, please schedule a tour of our new state of the art facility custom designed to provide a safe, healthy, and stimulating environment. Two separate playgrounds have been designed to challenge and delight your child at every age.

The Goddard School incorporates a learning philosophy rooted in the teachings of child development experts like Jean Piaget and Erik Erikson. The FLEX Learning Program, a Fun Learning Experience, is based on the latest research in how children learn and provides the optimal environment for a young childs development. The programs foundation is the learning continuum that encompasses:
*Developmental Guidelines with Formative Assessments
*Child-focused lesson plans
*Creative and Fun Environment
*Personalized Child-centered Approach that meets each childs needs.
Goddard’s Developmental Guidelines meet or exceed state standards. FLEX Learning incorporates seven core, academically accepted learning domains. These are the standard learning domains that are included in most state guidelines for quality early childhood education and are part of the curriculum requirements for most accreditations. The domains are:

*Personal and Social Development
*Language and Literacy
*Mathematical Thinking
*Scientific Thinking (including technology)
*Social Studies
*Creative Expression
*Physical Development
FLEX Learning is delivered by professional, trained teachers who use assessment results to select the materials and activities that create a fun, challenging and safe learning experience. The result is a confident learner who is ready for school!

OUR FACULTY
We believe that learning begins at birth and children are encouraged to progress at their own pace based on their individual needs and abilities in a warm and stimulating classroom. Our well qualified faculty has a passion for early childhood education and carefully plan educational and developmental programs that meet the needs of each child. Please visit Faculty Bios for more information.

Goddard Schools provide a unique advantage to their teachers – professional development through Goddard Systems University (GSU). To apply to be part of our faculty, please submit your application online.

QUALITY ASSURANCE
The primary concern of each Goddard School is the health and well-being of the children in its care. Although every state has a licensing agency that oversees state requirements, Goddard Schools are additionally obligated to fulfill the Goddard Quality Assurance (QA) review.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
There is no additional cost for these programs
Developmentally Appropriate Enrichment Programs that augment the core curriculum and to enhance each child’s learning experience, are integrated into lesson plans. Following is a brief description of some of the enrichment programs that we offer at The Goddard School located in Austell.

Foreign Language
The Explorer program by Trampoline introduces children to Spanish language and culture. With hundreds of games, songs and activities, the program provides both learning and fun.

Studies have concluded that learning a foreign language is extremely beneficial for children and has been shown to make talking and listening more interesting in both languages.
*Foreign language study often enhances academic achievement in reading, math and social studies.
*Learning a foreign language may improve creative inquiry, problem solving, conceptualizing, reasoning and critical thinking skills.
*Foreign language study develops an increased sensitivity and understanding of other languages and cultures.
Sign Language
The sign language program, developed by Time to Sign, Inc., introduces children to American Sign Language (ASL), a manual form of communication where sign mimics experiences with ideas or objects. Children, even infants, learn to sign through the use of songs, games, stories and play.

Research indicates that a bilingual approach with hearing children enhances literacy skills and activates brain growth and development.
*Sign helps children communicate, understand, acquire, spell, speak and read words more effectively.
*Sign has been shown to reduce conflict, facilitate an understanding of human emotions, and increase childrens confidence and self-esteem.
*Sign allows babies to communicate their pre-verbal wants and needs.
Music
The goal of the Music Preludes program is to enrich children’s cognitive, social and physical development through learning experiences focused on the achievement of music literacy and the stimulation of self-expression, creativity and exploration.

*Studies have shown that learning to process music in a meaningful way enhances the development of cognitive capacities for math, reading and science.
*Makin’ Music provides CDs to complement the Music Preludes program.
*Recognizing notes and rhythm patterns develops an awareness of dynamics and tempo and enables children to begin to read music.
Fitness
B.A.S.E. for Fitness, developed by SPARK, exposes children to the skills necessary to support their active lives, to develop positive self-esteem, and to set the foundation for a healthy life-style. The program has been specifically designed for preschool children with four curricular goals that address physical fitness: B – Balance A – Agility S – Strength E- Endurance

*Studies have shown that physical education is linked to social skill acquisition, which includes sharing, kindness, helpfulness and cooperation.
*The development of readiness skills such as listening, creativity and problem solving have been linked to physical education.
*Physical education has been associated with the development of basic motor skills including spatial awareness, rhythm and creative expression.
Playball
Playball offers six different sport and movement programs for boys and girls between the ages of two and eight. All of the programs are taught in a fun-filled, energetic and positive environment and for the last 25 years, children from all over the world have enjoyed the positive impact that Playball programs have had on their lives.

*The success of this seemingly sport program is in actual fact that through competent sports participation, achieved through sound coaching principles, children secure a solid base from which to develop many other and more important aspects of their lives.
*All the programs have been developed, improved and re-designed over the past 25 years resulting in a coaching system that is educational and appropriate in every aspect. The programs are age specific, with each program taking into account the difference in the cognitive, emotional and social development of the children taught in each age group.
Yoga
Teachers use the Apple Blossom Yoga guidelines, developed by the Yoga School, to augment cross-curricular learning through motor skills, science, math, language arts and social skills. Using nature, animals, and a little imagination, young learners gain improvements in focus, body awareness and control, balance, creativity and flexibility.

*The program is designed to educate the whole child through age-appropriate activities to enhance the emotional, social, intellectual and physical development of each child.
*Regular yoga practice helps children become more aware of their inner selves which, in turn, helps them learn to release anger, frustration and fears.
*Physical fitness and basic movement skills assist in children’s spatial awareness, rhythm and creative expression.

Services Provided: Transport to/from School

Child Ages:

6 weeks - 7 years

Licenses & Accreditations:

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

Preschool:

Yes

Hours of Operation:

Months of Operation: Year Round
Days of Operation: M-F
Hours of Operation: 6:30 AM - 6:30 PM