TOYBOX

Offered in coordination with our Early Childhood Education CTE (Career Technical Education) Program allowing for unique STEAM learning opportunities in music, art, science, engineering, and more. Low staff-to-student ratios.

Ages: 3 - 5

School Day: 3 Day or 5 Day, 7:00 am - 4:30 pm

Locations: Located inside all five GPS high schools

Enrolling 2024-25 School Year (currently full/closed)

Program Hours of Operation 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM daily (TOYBOX will close at 3:30 pm the day before Fall, Winter, Spring & Summer Breaks)

We offer a full curriculum, teaching all subjects each day including language and literacy, STEM (science, tools, engineering, and math), social studies, art, music, and PE. Our goal is to prepare children for success in kindergarten as well as their entire educational careers. We work hard to build a positive foundation for school success and a love for learning. The TOYBOX Early Learning Center provides the opportunity for children to develop social relationships with peers, gain a positive self-concept, and foster an attitude of enthusiasm about school at an early age.

Children learn to think critically, solve problems creatively, and interact in group situations. Having the support of high school students helps to maintain a low child-to-adult ratio, resulting in more one-on-one attention and learning. Being on a high school campus allows TOYBOX unique opportunities to participate in many activities, such as trying out the instruments in the orchestra, creating pottery with clay, participating in simple science experiments, making a creative snack with culinary, or visiting the animals in the agricultural lab.

TOYBOX is creatively planned with the child's mind, skills, and interests as the first consideration. We believe it is most important to encourage each child according to his/her developmental level.  

TOYBOX highlights:

• Directed by a highly qualified teacher with a background in early childhood education
• Two paraprofessional specialists trained in early childhood education
• Multiple high school student teachers working toward early childhood-related careers
• The average ratio is 5:1
• TOYBOX uses Wilson’s Fundations Language and Literacy Program
• Children must be 3 by their first day of attendance and be able to use the restroom independently.

To be considered completely independent in toileting, a child must be able to do ALL of the following:

1. Can communicate the need to go to the toilet; including but not limited to, demonstrating control over going if they must wait for someone who is in the bathroom or if away from the bathroom
2. Can independently pull down their underwear and pants and pull them back up when done. This includes clothing with belts, buttons, zippers, etc., if worn to school
3. Can independently clean their bottoms after using the toilet
4. Get on and off the toilet by themselves
5. Wash and dry their hands by themselves
6. Disposable training pants (i.e. Pull-ups) are not permitted per AZDHS Licensing