Welcome to Sunshine Academy
Quality Learning Environment
Welcome to Sunshine Academy
Quality Learning Environment
A message from Theresa, Owner and Founder
Learn more about Miss TT, as her students call her. You'll hear about her mission, motivation for teaching, and the core values she brings to Sunshine Academy!
Our Services
Only the best!
Sunshine Academy, open Monday - Friday, 7AM - 5PM provides the best Universal Preschool and Daycare program you can find in this area! Sunshine Academy utilizes a HighScope Curriculum with a Montessori influence serving students of a mixed age group from 18 months to 5 years old. Run by a Montessori trained educator, our staff supports a child’s ability to make choices, take risks and solve problems. Children learn to facilitate rich vocabulary in the context of play and natural conversation. In our safe, organized environment we provide materials that are relevant, creative, challenging and create a sense of curiosity. Our daily routine is structured yet flexible enough to meet the needs of the individual child. At Sunshine Academy, children are immersed in a print and vocabulary rich environment as well as immersed in materials and activities that teach letters, sounds, numbers, shapes, colors and patterns. Our large and small group activities include art, story time and music and movement!
Toddlers
Come visit our two fabulous toddler classrooms where children sing, dance, play instruments and enjoy a fun filled story time every morning. We learn our letters, shapes, colors and numbers by engaging in daily arts and craft activities.
Pre-Schoolers
We are open 7am until 5pm, Monday through Friday and offer childcare for your preschoolers! Our days are structured yet flexible enough to provide the freedom for your child to become independent, confident and empathetic.
Universal Preschool
Our Universal Preschool and Daycare program is a cut above the rest! We provide a morning class where students are immersed in a environment rich in materials and practices that enhance reading and writing readiness.
Take a Virtual Tour!
If you would like to schedule a visit at our facilities then click below to get in touch! We would love to show you the environment your children will be learning in!
About us
Our Philosophy
We are a childcare facility that offers a Pre-School Program with a mixed age group of 3 to 5-year- old children. We provide extended opportunities for children to explore and manipulate materials. Our large and small group activities include art, story time and music and movement. We utilize the highly researched and validated HighScope curriculum. Our Mission: At Sunshine Academy we create an atmosphere where children feel safe, unconditionally loved and respected. All social and emotional well-being begins with unconditional love and acceptance. This is accomplished by providing a community that builds healthy relationships where self-confidence, independence and empathy for others are encouraged. We also welcome parental involvement and supportive relationships between parents, teachers and children.
Our trained staff supports a child’s ability to make choices, take risks and solve problems. They facilitate rich vocabulary in the context of play and natural conversation. In our safe, organized environment we provide materials that are relevant, creative, challenging and create a sense of curiosity.
Our environment is designed to encourage children to persist and repeat skills which lead to exploring new learning opportunities without fear of failure. In essence, our goal is to create active lifetime learners.
We provide daily routines and activities that are predictable, yet flexible enough to meet the needs of an individual child. Enhanced learning takes place during brief teacher directed, large and small group activities. Our print and vocabulary rich classroom emphasizes reading stories that rhyme, repeat and illustrate order. Fine motor materials that motivate manipulation and exploration are supplied. Singing is also promoted during music and movement times and used effectively throughout the day. Children are encouraged to care for oneself by supporting personal hygiene, good nutrition, gross motor physical activities and rest.
Infrastructure
Our daily routines and activities are predictable yet flexible to meet the needs of each child.
Certified Teachers
Our educators are highly experienced and educated in the field of early childhood education! Some of the certifications held include: HighScope, Montessori, TESOL, elementary education, early childhood education and special education for elementary aged children.
Licensed Program
Sunshine Academy is licensed by the New York State Office of Child and Family Services.
Small Group Size
Our Small Groups provide an intimate setting which helps to foster a more one-on- one environment between teacher and student.
Outdoor Activities
A brand new outdoor space allows us to spend time in play as well as learning activities outdoors as weather permits!
Safety First
Sunshine Academy prides itself in holding the safety of the students above all else. We take all the necessary precautions to ensure your child’s safety.
What Parents Think
My granddaughter has been a student at Sunshine Academy for the past two years. It has been a wonderful experience. I am amazed at how Rylie has blossomed over the past two years!
Peggy G
We can be at ease when he is at school knowing he is cared for, safe, and in a place that facilitates his future success. To top it off, our son is excited to go to school every day and returns home to share his experiences!
Kathryn T
Every day my daughter can't wait to go to Sunshine Academy! She loves her teachers and friends - and so do I! I am so happy to have such warm, friendly and truly kind hearted people caring for my child.
Amy F
There was no question as to where she would attend UPK once we found out about Sunshine Academy. Theresa and her staff are caring and extremely loving, making each child feel so special and one of a kind.
Rachel V
The genuine affection and concern that the staff show the children at school truly makes Sunshine Academy a child’s “home away from home”. I know it is rare to find a pre-school with all these outstanding qualities which is why I cannot recommend Sunshine Academy enough to friends, family and anyone who wants a wonderful caring and nurturing learning environment for their child.
Nicole P
Our Team
Meet our Qualified Staff
Our team members are not only qualified, but feel a calling and passion for what we do. We come from diverse backgrounds, but one thing we all have in common is our desire to create a peaceful, engaging learning environment for our students. We can't wait to meet you!
Theresa Caponi
Owner, Founder
Katie Bacigalupo
Teacher
Silvia Ryan
Teacher
Allie Trevisan
Teacher
Our Activities
Circle Time
Changes to the daily schedule are discussed and important information is conveyed to the children. This is important because the children feel secure and have less anxiety when they know what to anticipate. Children view the message board at the morning meeting which is the agenda for the day. The visual description of the days helps the children feel more settled when they begin to understand the idea of a routine. Discussing what is different about the day begins to prepare children for a change in their routine.
Large Group Time
Large group activities usually consist of singing songs and music and movement. Children choose songs to sing and incorporate musical instruments and make up their own movements. Every week, parents are sent the songs of the week to encourage practicing with their children.
Small Group
Children are divided into small groups of 5-7 children based on developmental level. This is a teacher-led activity where children have a set of materials in which they interact with. Teachers support the creative process by interjecting pertinent information in the appropriate context.
Snack Time / Lunch Time
Students are educated in healthy hygiene and eating habits as a part of the curriculum at Sunshine Academy. They are able to choose the snacks and lunch provided for them which gives them a sense of ownership and independence. During lunch time usually a story is read to the children.
Outdoor Play
Sunshine Academy has a recently renovated playground for the children that is directly outside of the premises. Outdoor play is valued and we try an get the children outside as much as possible and as much as weather permits!
Contact us
Information
Call us +1 631 - 398 - 2286
We are located at 90 Meeting House Road Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.