Infants

Infants (4-12 Months)

Our Infant Program provides a warm, nurturing, and responsive environment designed to meet the unique needs of our youngest learners. Experienced caregivers focus on building secure relationships while supporting each child’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

Through gentle interactions, sensory exploration, music, and age-appropriate activities, infants begin developing early communication skills, motor coordination, and emotional regulation. Daily routines are individualized to honor each child’s schedule for feeding, sleeping, and play, ensuring a calm and loving atmosphere where infants feel safe, comforted, and valued.

Our goal is to create a strong foundation of trust, curiosity, and confidence during these important early months.

Class Overview

  • Name of Class: Otters & Beavers

  • Days of the Week: Our Infants, Ones, and Twos have the option of two days a week (Tues./Thurs.), Three days a week (Mon./Wed./Fri.), or all five days.

  • Hours: 9-1pm

  • Staff-to-Child Ratio: Infants 2:8

  • Max # of Students: 8 Students

  • Chapel & Family Chapel: N/A

Classroom Layout

Welcome to our infant classroom, where thoughtful organization and a stimulating environment create the ideal space for our little learners. Here is a general overview of the classroom layout and set up:

Infant playing

Learning Stations:

  • Various designated areas for activities such as tummy time, sensory play, and quiet moments.
  • Age appropriate toys, books and learning materials strategically places in each station.

Rest Area:

  • There is a designated area for napping.

Feeding Zone:

  • A comfortable area for feeding with high chairs and seating arrangements

Diaper and Hygiene Center:

    • A designated location for changing tables and essential diapering supplies.

Classroom Atmosphere:

  • Our classrooms have decor that creates a warm and engaging atmosphere.
  • Placement of visual aids, such as posters and learning charts.

Our Schedules & Routines

A structured daily schedule is like a roadmap that ensures smooth navigation through daily activities. It provides children with a sense of predictability and security, knowing what to expect and when.

By setting consistent daily activities we create a reassuring routine that children can rely on. They know that after playtime, it’s time for a story and after that its snack time. This predictability not only fosters a sense of security but also helps children transition smoothly between activities. It strikes a balance that nurtures their cognitive, social and emotional development and enriches their overall growth.

Sample Classroom Schedule

Time Activity
9:00 am Arrival
9:00 am – 9:30 am Greeting/Classroom Time/Free Play
9:30 am – 9:50 am Handwashing & Snack
9:50 am – 10:00 am Diapering/Free Play
10:00 am – 10:30 am Playground
10:30 am – 12:00 pm Free Play, Open Centers, Music & Movement, Art, Outdoor Nature Activities
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Handwashing & Lunch
12:30 pm – 12:45 pm Diapering/Free Play/Prepare for Nap/Pick-up
1:00 pm Dismissal

Our Infants’ Team

All teachers and staff that interact with the children have undergone and passed extensive background checks, as mandated by state and local licensing requirements. Teaching staff are certified in CPR and First Aid. Our teachers engage in continuous training on the best practices in early childhood education.

Gretchen Griffin - Lead infants teacher

Gretchen Griffin

Lead Infants Teacher

Ms. Gretchen is our Lead Infant teacher and brings 19 years of experience in early childhood education to the classroom. She has competed all required DCF training from birth through VPK and has a deep passion for hands-on learning and helping children reach important developmental milestones.

Ms. Gretchen believes every child should feel loved, valued, and special, and she works hard to create a nurturing classroom where all children are treated with kindness and respect. She especially enjoys incorporating art and music into her day and loves reading I Love You Like No Otter with her students.

Outside of school, Ms. Gretchen enjoys spending time at the beach, her happy place. She has worked at WPPP for almost four years and says her favorite part of the school is “my babies”.

Sarah Drake - Lead Infant teacher

Sarah Drake

Lead Infants Teacher

Ms. Sarah is our Lead Infant Teacher and has two years of experience in early childhood education. She holds all required DCF training hours and is CPR and First Aid certified, bringing a caring and attentive approach to her classroom each day.

Ms. Sarah loves watching children grow and thrive, especially during the important infant years. Her teaching philosophy centers on being loving, caring, and responsive, helping each child feel safe, happy, and supported. She believes strong communication with families is key and wants parents to know they can always count on her to stay connected.

She incorporated kindness and character by greeting children with warmth, smiles, and gentle care so they know they are truly happy and loved at school. Ms. Sarah enjoys reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar, signing songs with her class, and has been part of the WPPP family for five months. She values the school’s family-oriented environment and flexibility, which allows her to give her best to both her students and her own family.

Gianna Mehrtens - Assistant Infants Teacher

Gianna Mehrtens

Assistant Infants Teacher

Ms. Gianna is an Assistant Teacher at Winter Park Presbyterian Preschool and has five years of experience in early childhood education. She is a high school graduate with a CDA and brings a genuine love for helping children grow into their own unique selves.

Ms. Gianna believes the most important part of the classroom is allowing children to be authentic, confident, and loved. She creates a warm and accepting environment where students feel safe to explore their personalities, build relationships, and enjoy learning. She hopes families know how deeply she cares for her students and how much joy she finds in being part of such an important time in their lives.

She incorporates kindness, faith and character by fostering a loving and inclusive classroom community. Ms. Gianna enjoys reading Pete the Cat books, engaging children in art and sensory play, and has been part of the WPPP family for nearly three years. She especially loves building strong bonds with both the children and her fellow teachers.

Maribel Pagan - Assistant Infants Teacher

Maribel Pagan

Assistant Infants Teacher

Ms. Maribel is an Infant Assistant Teacher who brings over seven years of experience in early childhood education to our school community. She is passionate about creating a safe, clean, and nurturing environment where infants can learn and grow through play, exploration, and routine.

Ms. Maribel believes children learn best when they feel secure and loved, and she incorporates kindness, music, and reading into daily moments to support early development and faith. She finds great joy in being part of each child’s growth and helping provide a comforting, engaging start to their learning journey.

We foster independent thinking…

Giving kids freedom, let them try, let them fail, encourage them, let them succeed, and rejoice with them!