Overview of Preschool

1. Overview of Preschool

2. Recap of RTI (Response to Interventions) • Initial Screening (to identify potential developmental delays) • Child attends 2 weeks of “Camp Preschool” (interventions) during which, teachers collect data in the area of potential delay and transfer that information to a 2nd screening tool. • If the second screening confirms a potential delay, a referral for further testing will be made. • Standardized tests will be performed evaluating the child in the area of suspected delay. • If the testing reveals a true delay, parents and staff will meet to discuss the testing results and goals to meet the child’s educational needs. Parents will need to give permission for the child to receive services in the preschool setting. * 4 year olds who show no delay at the initial screeningmay still qualify through free/reduced lunch guidelines.

3. TRANSPORTATION • You will receive a large red 4 to post on a tree or mailbox to let drivers know to stop for a preschooler. • All buses that transport preschool studentshave a monitor on the bus in charge of their safety. • Arriving at school, monitors give students to a staff member who then escorts the student to the room. • Parents/sitters must meet the bus to take the child from the monitor when arriving at home. • If no one is home or meeting the bus, students will be taken back to school and parents will be called to pick them up. • Students with parent transportation must be delivered to the room by an adult. • Parents will fill out a bus stop pick up card, stating who may receive the student from the bus staff. • All changes to a student’s transportation information must be made through the preschool office, who will alert the transportation dept.

4. BREAKFAST - LUNCH • Morning students eat breakfast and afternoon students eat lunch. • Breakfast offers a variety of choices each day, including cereal and toast, yogurt and toast and usually two more choices, as well as fresh fruit, milk and juice. • Lunch offers a main course with an alternative like a cheese sandwich or peanut butter and jelly as well as vegetables and fruit. • Preschool students are allowed to pack lunch. • Preschool students do not purchase ice creams, but do receive a frozen juice bar on Thursdays. • It is helpful if lunch money is paid by the week or even month. Please put cash or check in an envelope in the communication folder. The food service dept. also offers an online meal pay option, which allows parents to check on balances and deposit money into student accounts.

5. SCHEDULE • AM class is from 8-11 am and PM class is from 12-3. • We follow the Pendleton Co. school calendar, except preschool is not in session on Fridays. • In case of 1 hour delay, there will be no AM preschool. If an early dismissal is called early enough, there will be no PM class that day. • Early dismissal forms are sent home at the beginning and mid year, it is VERY IMPORTANT to keep current information on file, so that children will be delivered to the correct place in case of an early dismissal. • Our preschool calendar starts later and ends earlier than other students due to required elements for preschool teachers such as: testing, meetings, home visits, etc.

6. BACKPACKS • Backpacks need to be full size, and be brought to school everyday. • Communication folders need to be returned to school each day. • Important notes from the teacher will always be in the folder. Please check for important information daily, especially on Monday and Thursday. • Any communication from home (notes, money, etc.) to the teacher also needs to be sent in the folder. • Some backpacks have LOTS of pockets and having important items in the communication folder will prevent them from being overlooked.

7. VOLUNTEERING • Field Trips: All adults must have the volunteer training in order to chaperone a group of students on a field trip. • Parties: Each class needs a head room mother and room helpers to plan and carry out party activities. You may be called upon to help with other activities in addition to parties. • Volunteer Training: Fall and Spring dates are available to receive the training. You must submit a fingerprint in order to be approved as a chaperone.

8. HOME VISITS • Teachers are required to do two home visits per year. At the beginning and again at the end of the school year. • Teachers use this opportunity to meet their students and families and to pass along information, including forms required by the school, (this allows us to have important information, including contact info, health info, etc. on the first day) as well as to give parents the chance to ask questions, etc. • These visits are scheduled in advance and usually very short in length. • If you cannot be home at the designated time of the meeting, please let teachers know ahead of time.

9. REQUIRED FORMS • ALL children MUST have : • a birth certificate • social security card • a school physical • a CURRENT immunization form with an expiration date, BEFORE they will be allowed to start school. • An eye exam performed by an eye doctor is required BEFORE January 1st of their first year in preschool. • Additional forms required by the school will be sent home at the beginning of the school year. Please fill them out and return as soon as possible.

10. EASE THE TRANSITION INTO PRESCHOOL • ROUTINE – Change your routine long before the first day of school. • An early waking time for days or weeks before school starts and giving the opportunity for lots of active play encourages an early bedtime. • Talk with your child about what needs to be done before bedtime and in the morning. • Give your child responsibilities, even if it’s as simple as being responsible for shoes and backpack being ready and handy for the morning routine. • Allow extra time at first, until you see how long your morning routine will take. Nothing creates stress like trying to find needed items while trying to rush out the door.

11. BE POSITIVE • Our actions, words and attitudes often influence our children’s attitudes. • Parents may feel more apprehension about their child starting school than their child does. • If they hear worrying or stressing aloud, it may turn some of their excitement into fear. • Be positive and upbeat about the beginning of the school year. It really is fun, so approach it that way. • Try reading books about school, then discussing it. • Ask questions, and address any concerns your child may have. • Talk about what your child can expect to do at school. • Discuss the events of the day when you reunite.

12. FIRST DAY • This may be the hard one! • If your child will be riding the bus daily, please allow them to do so on the first day. They will be in good hands. • Usually, children are so excited about riding the bus, that they start having fun and forget any fears they may have. If the separation is done at the bus stop, very often any tears are over and they are ready to participate upon arrival at school. • Long goodbyes in the classroom often make it harder for children and parents. • MOST children have all excitement and no fears at all. Maybe with some preparation, this can be all children.

13. WHAT WILL MY CHILD DO AT SCHOOL? • DAILY SCHEDULE – Morning and afternoon schedules contain the same components. • RESTROOM • BREAKFAST OR LUNCH • CIRCLE TIME – introduction to a theme or skill • SMALL GROUP – teacher directed activity centered around a skill • WORK TIME – child initiated activities in the area of their choice • LARGE MOTOR TIME – play on the playground or in the gym • RESTROOM • PREPARE FOR DEPARTURE

14. CURRICULUM • We are now using Creative Curriculum, a research based program that provides materials, activity plans and assessments that are designed to work together. • This program aligns with state standards and allows teacher to observe and assess during everyday activities. • Children are encouraged to explore their interests in an age appropriate, literacy rich environment, providing learning opportunities in every area of the classroom. • It is designed to stimulate children’s thinking, problem solving, communication and social skills.

15. GOALS • Our main goal is to prepare our students for success in kindergarten and give them a foundation of good academic and social skills to build on for personal growth and continued success throughout their school career. • Some skills and attributes we strive to develop include: • independent thinking, problem solving, early literacy and math skills, good choice and decision making skills, self discipline, respect for themselves, each other and property, and self confidence. • All of these things involve teaching and modeling countless smaller skills to accomplish these goals.

16. WHAT CAN WE DO AT HOME? • ENCOURAGE LANGUAGE SKILLS – READ, READ, READ! • Reading is one of the single most important things you can do to develop early literacy skills. • Ask questions that evoke thought to come up with an answer besides yes or no. Ex. “What did you do at small group today?” “Who did you play with?” or “What was the story about today?” instead of “Did you have fun today? • Provide opportunities for children to express themselves with paper and writing/drawing supplies. • Talk about what they are drawing, sometimes there is a definite meaning to what they are creating, and sometimes it may be “just for fun.” • Describe everyday items, activities and sights.

17. GIVE RESPONSIBILITIES • Children have responsibilities at school. We help them with many tasks, but try to do so in such a way that they can master the skill themselves. • Some responsibilities include: taking off and putting on their own coat, giving the folder to a teacher, hanging up their own backpack, taking care of zippers, etc. in the bathroom, putting materials in the correct place when finished and carrying breakfast/lunch tray. • This may seem like a lot, but some are surprised by what they can actually do for themselves, given the opportunity. • Remember to praise their effort as they learn a skill, not just success when they do it “correctly.”

18. DISCIPLINE • HAVE CLEAR RULES AT HOME, with clear, consistent , appropriate consequences when these are not obeyed. • OFFER CHOICES, children will be expected to make many choices at school, so practice this skill at home. This is also helpful when there is a difficult situation. • Offering choices gives you control, but also allows the child some control, because they are making the choice. • This makes their behavior and its consequences their responsibility. It was their choice. Make sure the choices are ones that you will accept and stand by, and sometimes, one of the choices may the loss of a privilege or time out. • ACKNOWLEDGE AND/OR REWARD GOOD CHOICES.

19. PARENT – TEACHER PARTNERSHIP • We consider your role as a parent in your child’s education a very important one. We know that you are your child’s first and most important teacher. • We value your input, participation and cooperation. • We like to keep an open line of communication between our staff and families. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher if you have a concern. If there is an event or situation that may affect your child’s behavior at school, it may be helpful to share it with their teacher. • Please share in a note, e-mail or brief phone call. Our teachers have a limited amount of free time during the school day, but want to know important information about their students.