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Gray Farms Nursery School
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884 Newfield Avenue
Stamford, CT 06905
(203) 322-8787
Monday - Friday, 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
3,4 and 5 Day Programs
Extended Afternoons |
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Gray Farms Nursery School provides a warm, caring, safe environment indoors and outdoors that uses a wide range of equipment
and materials to meet the varied developmental needs of children aged three and four. Our low student teacher ratio allows us to
attend to the needs of each child as an individual.
Our licensed and accredited program is designed and continually updated by our Director, Debbie Lanzaro, our faculty and
suggestions from our active, supportive Parent’s Exchange. We include the use of art, science, language, music and muscle coordination.
Each day our activities are spread over varying periods of time with sufficient change of pace to meet the emotional, physical,
social, and intellectual needs of the child. Through play, our children develop new skills and ideas while learning to use their
creativity and imagination. Our staff works closely together to help your child to be happy with themselves and with each other.
School Hours - School hours are 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. We ask that you bring your child to his/her room no
earlier than this time and pick him/her up promptly at 12:15 p.m.
Holidays generally correspond to the Stamford Public School.
Program Activities - Acceptance of each child at his or her level of physical and mental development is the
primary objective of our program.
Parent-Teacher-Child conferences are the first step in understanding each child.
The flexible daily schedule alternates activities so that each child is given an opportunity to participate in free play
to help enhance and develop social growth, self-confidence and security. Free playtime is also used to develop large motor
muscles in indoor and outdoor play. It is a time to engage in dramatic play or role-playing and an opportunity to make choices
of friends and activities. It also gives the child a chance to resolve conflicts, to take turns and to share. Free playtime
affords an opportunity to develop small motor skills, to work puzzles, solve problems, manipulate clay, build and design with
blocks, and use a variety of table games.
Schedule- To give you some idea of the routine of school, we include an approximate schedule. It may vary
from day to day depending upon any special activities or the needs of the children.
- Creative projects in Classroom
- Music or Show and Tell
- Snacks
- Stories, Finger plays
- Big room for wheel toys and activities
- Art
Statement of Discipline Policy - Our approach with discipline problems is to point out the acceptable
behavior in any given situation. We do this by encouraging politeness, discussing quietly with the child his/her negative
behavior, and as a final resort, separating the child to an area of the Classroom slightly away from the group. If a
serious problem persists, the teacher will have a conference with the child and parent.
Preparation for School - Before your child comes to Nursery School, prepare him/her for the new experience.
Discuss the adults he/she will be meeting, the teachers and their names. Tell him/her how long you will be away from him/her and
that you will pick him/her up before lunch. Explain what the rest of the family will be doing while he/she is in school. Encourage
him/her to dress himself/herself and handle his/her toilet needs. Avoid comparisons with other children.
Parent’s Exchange
The Parent’s Exchange provides a forum for our parents to meet and discuss children and family issues both in general
and specifically as it relates to our program.
Background Gray Farms Nursery School was established in 1954. Originally founded as an outreach to the
community children, we enjoy an excellent working relationship with the staff and congregation of St. John’s Lutheran
Church. The Gray Farms curriculum is nonsectarian. Our facility includes three Classrooms, one large activity room and an
outdoor playground all located at St. John’s.
Faculty - Our Director, Debbie Lanzaro, has been with Gray Farms since 1997. Her educational background
includes a Child Development Associates Degree and B.S.
Our teachers have degrees in education and/or related fields. Most have been with us for a number of years and some are
working toward their Child Development Associate credential, a nationally recognized degree. They are members of the
National Association for the Education of Young Children in addition to being members of the local and regional branches.
All teachers attend continuing education courses and workshops, keeping abreast of new developments in the field of
education for young children.
Philosophy/Statement of Purpose- Gray Farms Nursery School’s goal is to prepare the children for
a successful school experience. We teach the children how to get along, to share, to express themselves through various
media of play provided, and to learn in any environment, making the children socially and intellectually ready to start
kindergarten with enthusiasm.
Licensure and Accreditation- Gray Farms is licensed by the State of Connecticut and accredited by the
National Academy of Early Childhood Programs.
Safety Policy Statement- The safety of the children is always one of our main concerns. At no time
will any child be unsupervised. Our policy is that parents must escort the child into the Classroom and come to the
room to pick him/her up.
We are to be informed by the parents involved of any car pool arrangements.
The children will have periodic fire drills.
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