ABOUT US
About the Islesboro Preschool
The Islesboro Preschool (IPS) recognizes each child as an individual with their own set of life experiences. Each child will be encouraged to explore, observe, experiment, and discover through direct, concrete interaction with the environment. Children are given activities to challenge and to increase their developmental skills. Children are accepted for where they are in all stages of development and encouraged to develop at their own rate. Character development is fostered in all areas to build caring, honest, respectful, and responsible individuals.
Our Program
The preschool will provide an atmosphere that encourages social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth and development of the child as a whole. Using the Maine Early Childhood Guidelines and Infant/Toddler Guidelines, our program structures activities to meet those goals. Programs such as Creative Curriculum and Handwriting Without Tears provide structure and assessments to guide and monitor children along their developmental continuum. The day includes a variety of activities which includes sharing and conversation time, stories, songs, finger plays; creative arts and crafts; games and large muscle play with outside play; nature, science, and math activities; field trips on island; and exposure to readiness skills for Kindergarten.
Our Daily Routine
Our morning begins with a variety of different tabletop “centers” for children to choose from as our classmates arrive and settle into the morning routine. We officially begin our day with a group circle where we go over routines, share stories and talk about the day ahead. After circle time we break into our morning of “academics” – play-based learning that is developmentally appropriate, and tailored to each child in our small program. We have lunch around 12:30 and settle into nap and quiet time around 1:15. Our afternoon is often devoted to large motor skill development with outdoor play and activities that get our bodies moving.
Our policies
It is of utmost importance to us that our programs and spaces are serving our families, students, and staff members in the most positive ways. In addition to our IPS Handbook that outlines our overall policies and procedures, we have specific health and safety protocols in place that are regularly updated and reviewed. We have also instituted a COVID vaccination policy for all IPS staff.
The Islesboro Preschool was the perfect fit for our family.
It is a wonderful community of families and educators. My children learned everyday and had fun doing it.
Our Staff
LINDSEY GOVONI
Executive Director, Lead Infant & Toddler Teacher
Lindsey joined our staff in 2019 and has been our lead Infant & Toddler teacher since joining. As of August 2022, she is also our IPS Executive Director. Lindsey moved to Islesboro and is raising her family here; she is very excited to be a part of our community and the Preschool. Prior to joining us, Lindsey worked in banking, and was also a nanny for young children earlier in her career.
Allana Michaud
Lead Pre-K Teacher
Allana’s family moved to Islesboro in 2006, and she attended ICS starting in 6th grade and then attended Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire. After college, she moved to Portland where she met her wonderful husband Tom and discovered her love for working with children. She previously worked as a lead teacher at Growing Learners and often took on many administrative/ director duties. She and Tom ultimately decided to move to Islesboro to begin their family, and they welcomed their son Harper who now attends IPS. Allana is excited to be teaching where her son attends and is looking forward to seeing all of the Pre-K students grow and flourish.
Ginny Drew
Assistant Teacher
Ginny Drew is our Pre-K assistant teacher. Ginny loves working with children and watching them grow and discover the world around them. She has worked with children from infancy up to 5th grade, but the infants to preschoolers are her favorite age group to work with. As the floating teacher she finds herself busy at all times. You can find her laughing, singing, playing and smiling every day at school. Ginny looks forward to watching all the children prosper and grow.
Morgan landry
Assistant Teacher
Morgan joined us in the summer of 2021 after spending several years as an Ed Tech in the Sanford, ME school system. She is passionate about helping children and supporting the educational process and is excited to expand her skills working with younger children.