Preschool Parent Handbook
The St. Joseph School District – Educating each child for success www.sjsd.k12.mo.us
Table of Contents Preschool Mission ………………………………………….. 3 Preschool Parent Compact Agreement………………… 4 School Calendar.……………………………………………. 5 Appropriate Dress…………………………………………… 6 Administration of Medications……………………………. 6 Attendance Policy/Absences……………………………… 7 Illness………………………………………………………….. 7 Head lice………………………………………………………. 8 Transportation………………………………………………. 8 Food Service/Snacks ………………………………………. 9 Parent Communication…………………………………….. 9 PACT Activities ………………………………………………10 Emergency Dismissals ……………………………………..11 Behavior Management ……………………………………..11 Daily Schedule Components ………………………… 12-13 Notes………………………………………………………14-15
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Mission: Every child is capable of learning. Early Childhood Department Goals & Objectives
To provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment by encouraging and responding to children’s natural interests. To support each child’s individual stage of development by providing a balance of purposeful play and teacher guided activities based on on-going assessments. To engage children in the experiences necessary to construct their own knowledge and prepare them for their next school experience. To recognize parents as the principal influences on their child’s education and development by providing opportunities that reinforce the parent’s role as an educator.
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THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF ST. JOSEPH 1210 Jackson St St. Joseph, Missouri 64503 816-‐273-‐0096 Tammy Flowers
Early Childhood Coordinator
Early Childhood Parent/School Compact Agreement
Cooperation between Home and School is an important part of your child’s education. Together parents and teachers work collaboratively to give your child the best learning opportunities. It is in the best interest of your child that regular attendance is maintained. Coming to school everyday is a routine of great importance. As the parent/guardian of ______________________________, I agree to: 1. See that my child attends school regularly 2. Participate in two home visits 3. Attend parent school meetings 4. Participate in classroom field trips 5. Grant permission for field trips 6. And encourage my child everyday to do his/her best I understand if these conditions are not met, my child and I will have a meeting with the principal and preschool teacher. We want only the best for your child. ____________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature ____________________________ Preschool Teacher ____________________________ Principal
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2015-2016 School Calendar St. Joseph School District Calendar For more info visit www.SJSD.K12.mo.us
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Aug. 10-14 Aug. 14 Aug. 17 Sept. 7 Sept. 21 Oct. 16 Oct 20 Oct. 22 Oct. 23 Nov 9 Nov 25-27 Dec 18 Dec 21-Jan. 1 Jan. 4 Jan. 18 Feb. 12 Feb. 15 Mar. 4 Mar. 21 8 Mar. 10 Mar 11 Mar 21-25 May 12 May 13 May 15 May 16 May 17 May 30 June 9
Teacher Workdays/PD Convocation First Day of School Labor Day (No School) Professional Development (No School) End of First Quarter (43 Days) P/T Conferences (4pm-7pm) P/T Conferences (4pm-7pm) No School Professional Development (No School) Thanksgiving Break End of Second Quarter (40 Days) Christmas Break Professional Development (No School) Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday (No School) Professional Development (No School) Presidents' Day (No School) End of Third Quarter (41 days) P/T Conferences (4pm-7pm) P/T Conferences (4pm-7pm) No School Spring Break (No School) Last Day of School (2 Hour Early Dismissal K-12)(43 Days) All Teacher workday High School Graduation Summer School Work Day First Day of Summer School Memorial Day Last Day of Summer School
First Semester August September October November December Total 1st Semester
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Second Semester January February March April May Total 2nd Semester
18 19 17 21 9 84
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Appropriate Dress: Student dress can have significant effect on learning and behavior. Clothing must cover the body sufficiently and avoid attracting excessive attention or causing disruptions. The following have been found to be a distraction to the learning process and therefore are unacceptable for wearing in the elementary school: 1. Clothing that doesn't sufficiently cover the body including: tube tops swimsuit, backless, halter or strapless tops, bare midriff, mid-cut or see-through shirts, or basketball jerseys that are cut low on the sides 2. Shorts that are inappropriately short 3. Overly long baggy jeans or pajamas 4. Clothing that advertises substances such as alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and violence 5. Clothing that utilizes double play on words, obscenities, profanity or is suggestive in any way 6. Large chains 7. Caps, hats or head coverings unless approved by the principal
Footwear must be worn at all times. Sandals are acceptable if they are safe and adequately secured to the feet. Preschoolers are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes that can withstand messy play and are easy to manipulate when taking care of toileting needs. The principal will make decisions regarding the appropriateness of clothing. In the event that a question arises regarding clothing, parents will be contacted.
Administering Medication To Students: Medications will be given to students during school hours if absolutely necessary. If possible, the parent/guardian will be encouraged to schedule the medication to be given before or after school. However, if this is not possible SJSD board approved policies and procedures must be followed.
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Attendance Policy: Each parent signs a parent/school compact agreement stating that their child will attend school regularly. Regularly is defined as no more than 10 unexcused absences in a school year. Absences are considered unexcused if a reason for the absence has not been verified. • Attendance at funeral of family member - Signed note or call from parent/guardian • Attendance at school-sponsored event/activity Name on list of students attending activity as verified by school sponsor (teacher, administrator) • Hospitalization - Signed note or call from health professional or hospital papers • Religious holiday - Signed note or call from parent/guardian • Vacation - Approved Request for Vacation Leave form • Illness - Signed note or call from parent or health professional
Each preschool session is divided into 3 periods, if a child misses more than half of a period, they will be considered absent for that period. Absence from 3 periods is equal to one full absence. Verification by a doctor is required following 3 consecutive absences. The Saint Joseph School district sometimes maintains an extensive waiting list therefore after 10 unexcused absences, the district reserves the right to forfeit the student’s placement in the program.
Illness/Injury: Parents should keep students home from school if they have a temperature of 100 degrees or above or other symptoms of illness. An ill student may not return to school until: The student is fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever lowering medication. • The student has been free of vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours. • If a child becomes ill or seriously injured during the school day, the school will make every effort to contact the parent/guardian. The emergency contacts listed for the child will be called if the parents cannot be reached. Please keep the school notified of any phone number changes or changes in emergency contacts. If your child is absent, contact the school via phone or written notice. •
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Head lice: •
When an examination reveals “nits only” (and the nits are greater than ¼ inch from the scalp), the student may stay in the school setting. Parents will be notified regarding the presence of “old” nits and that removal of the nits is needed, thus making it easier to monitor for re-infestation.
Removal of nits often takes days to weeks before all are removed. The school nurse will be able to make the decision if improvement in the removal of nits is occurring. •
If live lice are found upon examination, the student should be sent home. The parent will be contacted and will be asked to pick the child up immediately. All information regarding the treatment of the child and the home environment should be given to the parent.
Transportation: The Saint Joseph School District Preschools do not offer transportation to Title 1 preschoolers. These students must be dropped off and picked up by a parent or another adult that has been authorized to transport the child.
Fieldtrips: Each family signs a parent/school compact agreement that grants permission for fieldtrips throughout the year. All fieldtrips will be educationally based and connected to the Early Childhood Curriculum. Fieldtrips may include walking to a nearby location or riding a bus provided by the school district. All students are required to accompany district staff when traveling to the fieldtrip, but may be signed out for release of district responsibility upon leaving. In the event that your student is tardy and has missed the bus, please contact the school.
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Food Service/Snacks: It is a requirement that all students have a Free and Reduced lunch form on file with the school. Snacks are provided on a daily basis at no expense to the family, and some school locations participate in the free breakfast program. All students are given the option to eat a school lunch, but must be accompanied by a parent or adult while eating. Classroom Treats: For the safety of students, food provided by the families must be commercially prepared. This includes food for all class parties and birthday treats that families provide. Commercially prepared treats include the following: sealed packages of unwrapped treats, or individually wrapped treats and commercial bakery products. As another option, the school district offers birthday packages prepared by the school kitchen for a fee. NO HOME BAKED TREATS MAY BE DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS
When providing snacks please check with the preschool teacher for classroom guidelines or recommendations in cases of classmates with severe food allergies.
Parent Communication: Early Childhood Teachers will send home newsletters at least once per month to inform parents of upcoming preschool activities. PACT: Each family signs a parent/school compact agreement that states they agree to attend Parent school meetings. See page 10 for a description of PACT activities. Home visits: Each family signs a parent/school compact agreement that states they agree to participate in 2 home visits. These visits are utilized to inform parents in regards to their child’s progress, and to strengthen the family-home connection. 9
Parents And Children Together What is PACT? An opportunity for families, children and school to come together.
Why is PACT important? Parents/family members get to see what their child is doing in Preschool Opportunity to see what your child is learning so it can be applied at home Opportunity to observe your child interact with adults and other children Opportunity to interact with your child and other children and parents Important link between school and home Quality one-on-one time with child and teacher Strengthens the communication Receive parenting/management/education tips Sends a message to your child that you value their education
When is PACT? Teachers will notify parents at the beginning of the year of all monthly PACT dates and times.
Who can come to PACT? Parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, childcare provider…the more the merrier!
Where is PACT located? In your child’s preschool classroom. It is important that someone is present at every PACT with your child to share the entire experience. Research proves that family involvement leads to higher success in school. What a wonderful message you send to your child by being present! Let’s make a “PACT” to come together and make a difference in our children’s lives! 10
Emergency Dismissals: The St. Joseph School District uses the ParentLink System that notifies all families in the case of classes being cancelled for bad weather or any other circumstances. This is an opt-in program and parents can sign up for notifications at http://notifications.sjsd.k12.mo.us/Pages/default.aspx You may also find school closings on the school website www.sjsd.k12.mo.us, KQ2 Television Station, and SJSD Channel 41. Early Dismissals: In the event of an early dismissal that is called prior to 7 am, the SJSD preschool programs will operate on a shortened schedule for both sessions. Each class will attend classes for 2 hours, with a final afternoon dismissal time that is two hours earlier than regular dismissal times. In the event of an early dismissal that is called after 7 am, the SJSD morning session will operate on a regular schedule and the afternoon session will be canceled for the day. However, due to transportation accommodations, any student receiving transportation in the morning session will dismiss one hour early. Late Starts: In the event of a late start, the SJSD preschool programs will operate on a shortened schedule for both sessions. Each class will attend classes for 2 hours with the first session beginning 2 hours past regular start times.
Behavior Management: In our Early Childhood Classrooms there are various techniques used to manage behaviors, and to maximize each student’s success. CHOICES : The student is given at least two choices to help them work through a problem. MODELING : The teacher or instructional assistant demonstrates the appropriate behavior.
HAND-OVER-HAND : The teacher or instructional assistant places
their hand over the student’s to assist the child through the activity. REMOVAL : The student is removed from the activity then brought back to the activity after a specified amount of time. CONSISTENCY : The teacher and instructional assistant will respond the same each time. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT : The teacher and instructional assistant will praise and encourage the students throughout the day by catching them being good. 11
Preschool Daily Routine Components
The daily routine is a predictable sequence of events, with room for students to make choices within that routine. The organization of the daily routine may vary from classroom to classroom, but all components will be included within the specified times. This routine supports student initiative, provides a social community, creates a sense of security and control, and provides a framework for adults to observe and plan. Large Group (10-‐15 min.): The large group is a time when all children and adults participate in an activity together. This can involve a variety of activities. For example, it may include games, music, read alouds, presenters, etc. Although large group time works on many skills, some of the more important skills are turn-‐taking, listening skills, lengthening attention span, being respectful of other’s ideas/feelings and building a classroom community. Writing Time (10-‐15 min.) This piece of the schedule provides fine motor development. Writing time may include a variety of writing experiences including pencils, markers, whiteboards, chalk, shaving cream, and more. Other forms of letter work may be used during this time such as letter stamps and play-‐doh with letters cutters. A mini lesson may be used at the beginning of this time on topics including but not limited to capital vs. lowercase, directionality, and holding a pencil. The teacher’s and para’s role may include taking documentation, collecting writing samples, and discussing the writing with the students. Planning (5-‐10 min) Planning for work time provides an opportunity for children to expand their oral language abilities. The act of planning can look very different and can involve reviewing a variety of concepts. As the teacher listens to a child’s plan, the teacher can document the plan to see if a child is doing the same activity or a variety of activities from day to day. If the planning activity involves reviewing concepts, the teacher can check and document the mastery of those concepts. Work Time (45-‐50 min.) This is the longest piece of the daily schedule. During this time, the students are working (playing) in areas throughout the room. In addition to pre academic skills, the students are learning problem solving skills, conflict resolution, and social skills. The teacher’s and para’s jobs may include being actively involved in play, working 12
one on one with students, and taking documentation. A collaborative classroom clean up should follow at the end of work time. Recall (5-‐10 min.) It is a time to strengthen oral language. It is a share time where students practice listening and asking questions. Each child is given the opportunity to recall throughout the week, but not necessarily on a daily basis. Snack (10-‐15 min.) Students develop table manners, gain nutritional knowledge and practice social skills while enjoying a pre-‐planned snack. A variety of concepts and self-‐help skills are also emphasized during this time. Small Group (15-‐20 min.) Students are divided into small groups led by a teacher or para. These groups are formed to explore materials and concepts with a planned purpose and goal. Teacher and para take documentation of skills displayed through a variety of developmentally appropriate activities. Small group does not always produce a product. Gross Motor Time (15-‐20 min.) Gross motor time can be indoors and out, and should last 15-‐20 minutes daily. It may consist of structured activities such as games or dances, or may also be unstructured. Gross motor time is always supervised closely. Gross motor time is important to the daily routine as it not only encourages physical fitness, but it teaches conflict resolution, turn-‐taking, rules, and cooperation. Read Aloud (5-‐10 min.) This is a time to expose the children to a variety of literature. It serves many purposes including: increasing attention span and listening skills, building schema, concepts of print, directionality, discussing parts of the book, making predictions, visualization, and comprehension strategies.
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Notes
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Notes
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