Our Staff
Eve and Tony purchased the Oliver Day School in September 2017. Eve had worked at the Oliver Day School prior to that as the Education Coordinator. Tony has a degree in Business from Rhode Island College and Eve went to UMass Dartmouth for Business Information Systems. After having their first child, Kayle, Eve decided to open a home childcare. Little Bears Family Daycare stayed opened as a state licensed home child care for 10 years. One employee was hired to work with Eve and we always had full enrollment. Eve found an opportunity to go to CCRI and take Early Childhood classes in 2009. She obtained her lead teacher certification and went on to gain her Pre-K through 2 license. Eve runs the day to day operations at the school while Tony handles all of the bills and finances. Kayle and Gabriella also take a large roll in helping out with the school as well.
About Our School
Our History
Oliver Day School first opened its doors over fifty years ago as one of the first preschools in the state of Rhode Island. About twenty years ago the Infant and Toddler programs were added to the existing preschool. We are very proud of our tradition and reputation here at Oliver Day and have had children of previous students attend. We can’t wait for you to be a part of our family!
Our Mission
At Oliver Day School, our mission is to welcome all children and their families into our safe, secure and supervised program. We want every child to feel important and know that they will be heard by their teachers who will respond with smiles and positive verbal interactions.
We provide a developmentally age-appropriate program with accommodations for children with gifted, special needs and/or dual language learners. We strive to provide a well-thought out environment where students will have many opportunities to explore, wonder, inquire, observe, play and interact. We provide a rich-language and academic program with frequent monitoring of progress. Each child is encouraged and guided to reach their full potential in all areas of development.
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy is based on early childhood research and the work of Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky and Howard Gardner, noted theorists in the early childhood field. Like Piaget, we believe that children learn in a continuous process through play in a high quality environment. Our intentionally planned play opportunities are designed with materials and activities that encourage the children to progress from sensory to symbolic play. The higher level symbolic dramatic play produces documented cognitive, social, and emotional benefits in the preschool child.
Similar to Vygotsky, we believe that children need to interact with other children, more knowledgeable peers, parents and teachers who will scaffold their learning. We provide a social context for children to take an active role in their own learning. We offer the children an opportunity to socialize, grow and develop at their own rate through experiences that are developmentally appropriate.
Based on Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, we believe that all children should have access to information and learning in a variety of ways. We appeal to all learners by offering play centers, large group, small group and individualized activities which are purposefully planned by the teachers who know the children and are cognizant of their cultural context, personal interests and learning styles.
Research by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has shown that children need positive relationships so that they feel comfortable and learn how to cooperate with others. At Oliver Day School, we believe that children need to bond with their teachers in nurturing, respectful, and positive relationships. When children make a connection with a caring and responsive adult, children’s learning will be optimal.
NAEYC research has also shown that when parents are involved in their child’s education, children will have improved outcomes. It is our belief that the family is the most important influence in a child’s life and that we have a responsibility to partner with families to share information about the child.
