FAQs

	Where is IDS located?
	IDS is conveniently located in Middlefield, Connecticut. We are just 30 minutes away from both New Haven and Hartford. An easy commute makes IDS the school of choice for families from over 30 towns. Our campus includes 33 acres of woodlands, wetlands, fields, and gardens including a pond, nature trail, two playgrounds, and fields for team sports. Still, we are only 10 minutes away from the city of Middletown and Wesleyan University, resources we use wisely to enrich our curriculum.

	Do you have a Pre-School?
	Yes, we have a Beginners (three-year-old) program, from 8:10 a.m.-12:00 noon, in which we offer a three or five morning a week option (depending upon openings.) We also have a Pre-K (four-year-old program), five mornings a week, from 8:10 a.m.-12:00 noon.

	Do you have a full day Kindergarten?
	Yes, The Independent Day School has a full-day Kindergarten experience, 8:10 a.m.-3:10 p.m. The program combines structure with flexibility. It is a balance of free-choice and more direct instruction. The program supports the children in the transition from Pre-K as they are guided in the development of beginning work skills and being resourceful in their learning.

	Do you have care for IDS students before and after school?
	Campus is open daily from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and care is available for students of all ages. Before School Programs are for Beginners through grade eight. They run from 7:30-8:00 a.m. There is no fee for Before School care. Beginners and Pre-K students may participate in our Extended Day Program from 12:00-3:10 and our After School Program from 3:10-5:30. Students in Kindergarten through grade eight may participate in our After School Program from 3:10/3:20-5:30. In addition to our After School Program, a variety of co-curricular activities are offered after school throughout the year.

	What can you tell me about the size of IDS?
	Intentionally small, IDS is a supportive, nurturing community. We are small enough to be nimble and innovative, yet large enough to offer our students outstanding academics and a full range of co-curricular experiences.

	What can you tell me about diversity at IDS?
	IDS welcomes students of all races, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds. African-American, Latino/Hispanic, Asian American, Middle Eastern American, and multiracial children currently represent over 19% of the enrollment. 33% of students received financial aid for the 2011-12 school year. This diversity enriches our community and prepares children well for the world which awaits them.

	When does Spanish begin?
	World Language, a critical part of our curriculum, begins in Pre-K and continues through grade eight.

	When does Science begin?
	Teachers in our Pre-school foster interest in the natural world through daily opportunities for hands-on inquiry and experimentation. Beginning in Kindergarten, students travel to a kid-scaled lab to work with a Science teacher. Science class is a yearlong academic subject for every student in the middle school. These students work in another lab space designed especially for them.

	Do you have athletics?
	Yes, all students, including our three-year-olds participate in the IDS Physical Education program. We are committed to keeping our children active and fit and we value Physical Education and team sports as outstanding opportunities for our students to learn about collaboration and sportsmanship. Various intramural sports are offered throughout the year. Beginning in sixth grade, our students compete with teams from other independent schools in soccer, cross country, basketball, and lacrosse.

	What opportunities are available in the Performing Arts?
	Singing, playing instruments, and moving are an important part of preschool. Pre-K students also have music with the Kindergarteners once a week. Students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade work with a music specialist. Beginning in 4th grade and continuing through 8th, every IDS student learns to play an instrument and performs in our band. Fourth and fifth graders sing in a chorus. Optional performing groups include Middle School Chorus, Jazz Band, and Chamber Strings. Each year, every class, Kindergarten through 5th grade, performs a play. More than half of our Middle School students choose to be part of the annual middle school musical. Middle School students also participate in a weekly Theater Arts class. Afterschool, IDS students sing, play, dance, and act at the Middlesex Academy for the Performing Arts.