Welcome to Parent Orientation! August 20, 2012

1. Welcome to Parent Orientation! August 20, 2012 The Susan Gray School Where knowledge meets nurture

2. WELCOME! OUR GOALS FOR TODAY ARE TO.. • …share a bit about what happens at SGS. • …highlight important points from our Parent Handbook. • …answer any questions you have about SGS!

3. MEET THE SGS STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION TEAM • Kiersten Kinder, Site Director • Michelle Wyatt, Assistant Director • Tracy Tatum, Office Manager

4. MEET THE SGS STAFF FACULTY DIRECTORS (INTERIM) • Mary Louise Hemmeter & Ann Kaiser

5. MEET THE SGS STAFF CLASSROOM TEAMS • Teacher, Co-Teacher, Susan Gray Teaching Fellow, (possibly) Metro Para-professional

6. MEET THE SGS STAFF SUPPORT STAFF • Liz Story, Erin Beller, Yvonne Maxwell, Carolyn Bass • Theresa Hook, RN • Heather Winters, OT & Caryn Givens, PT

7. WHO ARE THE CHILDREN OF SGS? • We serve approximately 85 children in our building. Approximately 32 have special needs and the rest are developing typically. • Beyond our doors, we also serve 79 other children with special needs in the Nashville community by four SGS Outreach Teachers. • Our families represent a variety of cultures and were built in a variety of ways! Our commitment to confidentiality…

8. WHAT SUPPORTS OUR SCHOOL? Our belief about children and learning Our four-fold mission Our accreditation & licensing agencies Our partners Our financial supporters Our families We believe that ALL children are special and that they grow the most when children with and without disabilities play and learn together. To serving our families; to training; to research; to demonstration. NAEYC, TN 3-Star Rating, TN-DOE TEIS, MNPS Peabody College, State, Local, & Foundation Grants, Private Donations Countless and creative ways you can support your child’s experience at SGS!

9. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM?

10. HOW DO PARENTS KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING? • Weekly classroom newsletters • Monthly school-wide parent newsletters • Drop-in, phone call, email • Observation booths • Greeting board by sign-in clock • After-care communication board

11. WE ARE PREPARED FOR BUMPS ALONG THE WAY! • Change can be bumpy. • Beginning of the year “bumps” • As we go along… • Accidents happen! Boo-boo reports help you know what happened and what was done. • Incident reports help us learn from behaviors and keep you informed. COMMUNICATION IS KEY!

12. BUMPS CAN HAVE GOOD OUTCOMES! • “Face-lifting” our environment throughout the coming year SUSANGRAY

13. THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT US! • We try to avoid “time-outs” and instead give children the chance to participate appropriately when they are ready. • We tell the child what he CAN do instead of what he can’t do. • We offer most of the attention to children doing the right thing. • We understand that certain behaviors need to be handled differently and these are addressed with individual families.

14. THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT US! • We encourage developmentally appropriate independence. • Whenever possible, we try to speak to the children calmly, kindly, and in close proximity. • We offer specific praise so children know what we are looking for. • We reinforce the positive behaviors. • We offer choices to the child. You’re going to be hearing more about being a “SGS star” soon!

15. OTHERS WAYS TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL CONNECTION BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL • Talk with your child about her day! • Predictable morning and evening routine at home • Appropriate amount of sleep • Toddlers (Ages 1-3): 12-14 hours per day • Preschoolers (Ages 3-5): 11-13 hours per day • Predictable drop off and pick up routine, including being on time and, please, hang up cell phones. • Send children in true “play clothes” – our staff is dressed to play!

16. OTHERS WAYS TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL CONNECTION BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL • Schedule a time to talk with teachers if you need to discuss something beyond basic daily information • Provide tissues and wipes with tuition • Keep sick children at home. What is “sick”? What requires a doctor’s note? • If possible, schedule doctor’s appointments around the 11am-2pm window • Consider us all members of your child’s team 

17. PLEASE HELP US ENCOURAGE SAFETY BY… • Walking feet in the hallways • Help children stay out of empty classrooms • Do not leave your car running or children in the car! • Close classroom doors and gates behind you • Help your child wash their hands when they enter the classroom

18. CELEBRATIONS! THINGS TO NOTE… • Birthdays are times to celebrate, but please keep them simple. A favorite, prepackaged snack is welcomed, but not required. • Candy Cautions! • SGS is a NUT FREE ZONE!!!!!!!! • On our calendar: yearly fundraiser, International Potluck and Open House, Family Orientation, Family Outing, Punkin’ Parade, Holidays Around the World, Grandparents’ Tea, Spring Picnic, Graduation • Expectations for family participation

19. LOOKING AHEAD… • Metro schools, the SGS calendar, and what it means to be a year-round facility. • SNOW DAYS: If MNPS are closed, SGS will automatically go on a 2 hour delay. Please check Channel Four Snowbird reports for the most current information. On WSMV’s website, you can sign up to have your email account notified if SGS or any other school is closed.

20. THANK YOU… • …for sharing your children with us – we consider it a privilege! • …for partnering with us and keeping the home-school communication open. • …for taking the time to be here today!

21. HERE’S TO A GREAT YEAR!