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Parent Orientation Packet Preschool and Pre-K (Green, Blue, Purple, and Gold Rooms) The following information should be helpful as your child transitions to a new classroom for the new school year. More specific information from your child’s teachers will be available during orientation. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your school’s director.

The LeafSpring School Philosophy

WE BELIEVE THAT ALL CHILDREN NEED: A SCHOOL designed to promote the success of each child based on their developmental level and diverse needs. A CURRICULUM that provides a balance of child directed and teacher guided activities—one which provides a diversity of experiences designed to initiate d i s c o v e r y a n d a love for learning in our ever-changing world. QUALIFIED TEACHERS capable of preparing a rich learning environment and developing close teacher/child relationships based on the child’s age, need and situation. PRIMARY CARE GROUPS to ensure consistent, quality, meaningful interactions and relationships. A school that involves and communicates regularly with PARENTS -one that supports families in parenting and in enhancing understanding of their child’s growth and development, in an effort to promote positive work-life harmony. An environment that exemplifies WELLNESS through intentional lessons and activities which promote sound health and safety practices, good nutrition and active lifestyles. Opportunities to develop their natural LEADERSHIP skills and talents, to assist them in becoming capable, self-actualized individuals and responsible citizens. A carefully designed setting with a NURTURING ATMOSPHERE—one that fosters acceptance and security. ENVIRONMENT in which to move about with ample age appropriate play equipment and materials. Ongoing AUTHENTIC DEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATION and parent conferences that emphasize progress, accomplishments and areas for continued growth, and guide the appropriate scaffolding of the curriculum to target individual needs. Freedom and guidance to EXPLORE and learn without the fear of failure—a process necessary for the development of self-confidence and pleasure in learning.

Tips for Transitioning your Child Talk about your child’s “new school” in family conversations. • • •

Be sure to talk to your child about their new classroom and LeafSpring School. It will build familiarity with his/her new school and create the opportunity for questions and discussion. Refer to the teacher(s) by name, as well as anything you know about them. Teacher bios are posted in the classrooms and will be available at orientation. Drive by LeafSpring School and point it out to your child when in the area.

Visit your child’s “new school” before the first day of school. • • •

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Children will feel more comfortable if they have had a chance to see and explore their new classroom and school prior to drop-off time on the first day of school. More than one visit may be required for the child who eases into new situations with reluctance. Talk to the teacher to discuss this need, and to help her learn more about your child. Remember that when your child visits, it is necessary for you to remain in the building since your child is not yet an enrolled child. Some parents find it helpful to “duck out” of the room and sit in the lobby for a few minutes to allow their child play and socialization opportunities with them “out of sight”. Please let the teacher know if that is your plan, so she can facilitate the situation. Many of our schools arrange specific visit days and times. Predetermined visitation times are offered in August as the new school year approaches; for mid-year enrollments, please arrange your visitation with the Director.

Create comfortable routines. • • • • •

Establishing routines and procedures is extremely helpful for easing transitions. Remember that children do not understand timelines as much as they understand ordinal markers in their day, i.e. “mommy will be picking you up sometime after you go outside to play this afternoon.” Children enjoy drop off time “rituals”, including silly things like “pushing daddy or mommy out the door”, a kiss on both cheeks and on the nose, etc. It is important to allow enough time for transitions, but also critical to not prolong good-byes. Parents who leave, or say they are leaving, who come back to (indiscreetly) keep checking on things only prolong their child’s adjustment. Sometimes a child likes to retain something of moms or dads to keep in their cubby such as an earring, a watch, or a scarf. They may keep this in their cubby, glance at it at points in the day, and run to retrieve it for you when you arrive at pick up time. Before you know it, your child will greet you at day end with the statement that they are not ready to go home yet--a statement that creates mixed emotions for parents!

Let your child know when routines will change. • • •

Flexible work schedules, however a blessing to the working parent, sometimes wreak havoc for children in transition. Find ways to let your child know what to expect on any given day, again bearing in mind that they don’t understand timelines. If you will be picking up for a doctor’s appointment or stopping by for lunch with your child, it is best to make them aware of that ahead of time, especially if they are returning to school after the doctor’s appointment or staying at school after your “lunch date.” Be sure to inform your child’s teachers if there is going to be a change in your typical daily routine. The teachers can help prepare your child for any changes to their day.

Talk to us often. • • •

Good communications between home and school are essential. We want to be partners with you in sharing the day with your child. Feel free to call and talk to your child’s teacher during the day. Your child’s teacher may not be able to come to the phone each time you call, but he/she will gladly return your call at a time that is convenient to the classroom schedule. Please know that phone calls or emails to check on your child are always welcome. If available to leave the front desk area, our administrative staff will be glad to peek in the room and check on your child at your request.

Parent Advisory Board

LeafSpring School’s Parent Advisory Board is comprised of parent representatives from the various age groups served at the school. Although membership on the Parent Advisory Board is by invitation, anyone interested in serving on the school’s board should discuss their interest with the Director.

What It Is: The Mission of the Board is to: •

Assist the Director(s) in the planning of school wide events.

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Assist the classroom and teacher in planning classroom events.

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Identify and execute ongoing projects that support the school.

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Solicit the help of other parents as needed for special projects.

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Develop faculty/staff appreciation initiatives.

What It Isn’t: The Parent Board: •

Does not assist in making school policy or procedure.

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Does not field parent complaints.

Notes on Discipline

Discipline and guidance are based on an understanding of each child’s individual needs and his/her current developmental stage. The purpose of all discipline is to teach the child acceptable behavior and to guide him/her toward appropriate self-management. Depending on your child’s age and the situation, one or more of the following discipline methods may be used: 1.

Positive reinforcement of desirable behaviors

Positively focused communication, appropriate to child’s age level

Proactive and preventative classroom management that promotes desirable behaviors

Encouraging “Use of Words” in problem solving

Discussion of natural and logical consequences

Distraction/repeated redirection

Time away from the group (to be used as last resort ONLY)

In more challenging discipline situations, a collaborative plan will be developed between the parents and the Director and/or teacher for behavior modification.

Children are never subjected to harsh and cruel treatment, humiliation, abusive language, physical punishment, or any discipline associated with food, napping, or toilet training. Children are never subjected to verbal abuse that would include, but not be limited to, threats, belittling remarks about any child, his family, his race, his religion, or his cultural background, or other statements that are frightening or humiliating to the child. LeafSpring School adheres to a ZERO tolerance stance on breaches to our discipline policy. We request that parents abide by these same provisions while in the school or at school events.

Field Trip Fun

Field trips are a fun way to enhance the curriculum and/or provide recreation for the children. Trips are selected based on developmental appropriateness and educational or recreational value. Field trips also provide the opportunity for children to interact with the community and practice their self-management skills in a public environment. Field trips are a regular experience for children ages three (3) and up. An occasional field trip for two-year-old children is planned if there is enough parental involvement to adequately supervise these busy children. Parents are notified at least two weeks in advance of each field trip experience. Plans for field trip experiences are publicized in the monthly classroom newsletter and on the Field Trip Planner. Even though field trip authorization is obtained at the time of enrollment, parents are notified of each trip, so they may individually select their childâ€™s experiences. When the Field Trip Planner is posted, parents are asked to sign permission for that specific trip and indicate their phone number for the field trip day. The Field Trip Planner contains pertinent information relating to the length of the field trip experience, the time of departure from and the return to LeafSpring School. To help guarantee field trip accountability, parents MAY NOT drop children off at the field trip location. Parents who wish to transport their child to the field trip must stay for the duration of the field trip and transport their child back to the school. To facilitate supervision, ALL CHILDREN MUST WEAR A LEAFSPRING SCHOOL T-SHIRT TO GO ON THE FIELD TRIP. Parents are responsible for providing the appropriate attire for field trip days. Some field trip experiences incur additional fees which you will be notified of in advance. Once you have signed permission for your child to go on the trip, your account will be billed for the appropriate amount. If for some reason your child does not attend, these charges will not be waived. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask your teacher or your director. We are happy to provide you additional information.

ÂŠ 2017 LeafSpring School

Birthday Parties At LeafSpring School, we try to keep birthdays “special but simple”. Children need to enjoy their special day without the pressure of having a party more spectacular than the last child’s classroom celebration. To that end, we have developed a simple list of Birthday Party “dos and don’ts” which we ask you to follow: Birthday “Dos” – In an effort to keep it “special”, please: o Feel free to provide a special snack, to be eaten at afternoon snack. 

Make sure to prearrange this with your child’s teacher.

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Please check with teacher to be aware of all classroom allergies.

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Please make sure your snack is all the same flavor!

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Items must be store purchased with ingredients listed.

o Bring a Birthday Book 

Feel free to donate a copy of your child’s favorite book to the classroom library. This can include a special inscription on the inside cover to honor your child!

o Become a Parent Reader 

Often parents will choose to come and read the donated book to the class, a custom we welcome and encourage!

Birthday “Dont’s” – In an effort to keep it “simple”, please: o No special entertainers o No goody bags or special decorations o No helium balloons, as these are a choking hazard o No birthday presents for the birthday child while at the school. If you would like to plan a special party that might involve some of the things we cannot allow in the school, we encourage you to plan a party during the evening or on the weekend. We will gladly assist you in distributing your party invitations if all children in the class are invited. If only a portion of the class is invited to a birthday party, we request that invitations not be distributed at school to avoid the possibility of hurt feelings.