Family Orientation

1. Family Orientation Everett Community College Early Learning Center Throughout this presentation, press Enter to move to the next page

2. Washington State Licensing • The ELC complies with all Washington State Childcare regulations. • The Department of Early Learning is responsible for setting standards in Washington. • Learn more at: http://www.del.wa.gov

3. Program Services • The primary mission of the ELC is to serve EvCC students, faculty and staff. • Community families are enrolled on a space available basis. • Part-time or full time options are available to EvCC student families. • Qualifying families may be enrolled in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP).

4. Parenting students thrive when the care and education their child receives is near by, high quality, affordable, accessible, and inclusive.

5. ELC Philosophy & Goals Children thrive: • in a healthy, safe, environment designed to encourage their curiosity, creativity, confidence and sense of community • where their individual ideas, feelings and questions are valued, and their capabilities are never underestimated • when adults teach through modeling compassion, respect, responsibility and appreciation of our diverse community. • where families are recognized and supported as children’s first and most important teachers

6. Staffing • Each ELC classroom is staffed with trained lead and assistant teachers. • The lead teacher plans the classroom environment and curriculum, and conferences with families. • All staff participate in on-going staff development or college courses. • Volunteers, including adult family members, Early Childhood Education students and college and community volunteers, add to the children’s experiences and are always supervised by staff.

7. Enrollment & Payment • All families are asked to tour the facility and learn about the program before being added to the waitlist. • Current families have priority enrollment. Enrollment dates coincide with academic enrollment dates on campus. • Once space is confirmed, registration fees must be paid and all required paperwork must be completed, submitted and reviewed before attendance. • Within the first 10 days, families are also required to attend an ELC Orientation or complete this PowerPoint. • Monthly payments are made at the Cashiers’ Office in the Jackson center or on-line through the Student Kiosk. • The Childcare Agreement outlines the policies and additional fees for late payments and late pickups.

8. Family Participation For your child, the benefits of your involvement in their education and care are clear – better outcomes, in their overall development now, and in their future success. Family participation: • Contributes to optimum social, emotional, physical and cognitive development for children. • Is an opportunity to know your children’s teacher, friends, routines and preferences. • Allows you to see your child in a group setting to give you added insight to their strengths and challenges. • Is a chance to meet other families who can be a great source of support, information and fun! Every ELC Family is registered in a one credit Family Life Class.

9. Family Life Class Choices • You can choose from a wide variety of ways to earn the 20 points required in the Family Life class. • Five points must be earned by spending 5 hours participating in your child’s classroom. • The additional 15 points can be earned by: • Completing home to school projects, such as an “All About Me” poster, surveys, etc (5 points each) • Attending Parenting Workshops, Family Nights, Open houses (5 points each) • Participating in Parent Teacher conferences, ELC Parent Committee Meetings (5 points each) • Responding to articles or videos online (5 points each) • Additional options will be listed in your syllabus, e-mailed to you, or posted in the lobby. • Your Family Life Syllabus and Participation Points Log is kept in a binder in your child’s classroom, and collected the last week of the quarter.

10. ELC Curriculum • ELC curriculum is child centered. It is designed to be responsive to children’s interests and ideas, while building skills in all domains: cognitive, physical, social and emotional development. • Throughout the day there are developmentally appropriate choices and challenges provided in each classroom. • Children are given time and support to interact with each other and adults while exploring open-ended materials in a carefully designed environment. • Children are exposed to rich language and literacy activities. • Children follow a daily schedule that provides a consistent and comforting routine. • The curriculum has both elements that are planned in advance by teachers, and also other elements that evolve in response to each child’s strengths, interests, personality and family culture.

11. Religious and Cultural Activities • Based on respect for the diversity of our community, the ELC does not promote or plan for any particular religious activities. Cultural traditions such as holidays, foods, languages, literature and music are acknowledged and respected as a part of family culture and integrated in the classroom as a learning experience when appropriate. • Children are given opportunities to explore and celebrate diversity. • Families are encouraged to share their family traditions with the ELC Community.

12. Arrivals, Departures and Daily Schedules • Sign your child in and out in the front office. This is our most requested legal document. It is also used to account for your child during a fire drill! • Drop off and pick up times are more successful if they can be at a predictable time, and not rushed. Please give yourself 10-15 minutes to help transition your child, connect with their teacher and collect their things and leave on time. • Familiarize yourself with your child’s classroom schedule which is posted in each room .We ask that you arrive before 10:00 AM every day so your child has time to play and learn before lunch and nap. • Help your child wash their hands upon entering the classroom. This is a licensing requirement, and a healthy practice when you leave at the end of the day as well. • Please refrain from using your cell phone while in the center.

13. Personal Items • Each child will have a cubby, and an identified spot for diapers if needed. • Please bring a bag with a complete change of clothes for your child, including socks and underwear, to be stored in the classroom. • Remember to label everything you bring to the center for your child with your child’s name. • Children are happiest wearing clothes and shoes appropriate to the weather and a day of playing inside and outside. • No food, beverages or medications of any kind can be brought in the center. • Each classroom will ask to have or take a photo of you and your child, so that the classroom feels a little more like home.

14. Guidance & Behavior Management • ELC teachers use principles from Guiding Young Children: A Problem Solving Approach by Eleanor Reynolds . They include using: • Active Listening – interpreting and reflecting a child’s feelings • Negotiation – facilitating children in conflicts to talk to each other and look for solutions and solve problems respectfully • Setting Limits – teaching children self control through limits based on safety, responsibility and respect. • Affirmations – acknowledgements of children’s importance • Using this approach increases children’s ability to recognize and respond to their feelings and the feelings of others, to think creatively, and to grow in competence, responsibility and confidence.

15. ELC Health Care Policy • Staff are trained annually to follow the ELC Health Care Policy which is developed to meet licensing standards and reviewed by the Snohomish County Health District. • The policy details: • Practices regarding health, including health records, immunizations, food service, nutrition, physical activity, and medication management. • Procedures for excluding ill children, staff and volunteers and communicable disease reporting • Practices regarding sanitation including diapering, handwashing, general cleaning, sanitizing and laundry. • Practices regarding safety including injury prevention, emergency procedures, child abuse and neglect reporting policy. • Policies regarding field trips, pets and animals. • Policies regarding the care of children with special health and developmental needs

16. Families Help the ELC be a Healthy and Safe Environment . • It is important that families provide up-to-date health records, including immunizations and allergies. All forms must be reviewed and updated quarterly and as needed. • Children may only leave the center with people identified as authorized for pick up on their Emergency Consent and Permission form. Photo identification is required. • Families are expected to call if a child will not be at school; knowing why may allow us to recognize early symptoms of other children, and also assists us in planning for meals and naps.

17. When Children are Ill To safeguard the health of your child and others, children may not attend or will be sent home if they have the following symptoms: • fever of at least 99 º F under arm (axillary) or 100º F orally AND who also have one or more of the following: headache, earache, sore throat or rash • Vomiting on 2 or more occasions within the past 24 hours • Diarrhea: Increased fluidity and/or frequency of bowel movements relative to the person's usual pattern, occurring 3 or more times within 24 hours; or any bloody stool • Any suspected communicable infection of the skin or eyes such as impetigo, pinkeye, and scabies • Open or oozing sores, unless properly covered and 24 hours has passed since starting antibiotic treatment, if treatment is necessary • Lice or nits. For head lice, children and staff may return to childcare after treatment and if no nits are visible. • Fatigue, irritability, or confusion that prevents participation in regular activities, such as sleeping or resting more than usual for that child, not wanting to eat, or multiple cold symptoms that keep the child from regular activities.

18. Sending a Child Home • If a child appears uncomfortable, teachers will monitor the child and take their temperature. If it is mildly elevated, they will check it again within half an hour. If the temperature remains elevated or continues to rise, you will be called to keep you informed, or to ask you to pick up your child. • If your child needs to be sent home we will follow your “Backup Plan” from the Family Agreement. Generally we will attempt to call you first. • Your cell phone number will be called. Although your phone is likely silenced during classes, you are expected to call the center at the first opportunity. • If you are not reached or don’t respond, a representative from Student Activities or Campus Security may go to your classroom. • Next, people listed on your Emergency Contacts from your Emergency Consent Form will be contacted • Ill children will rest in the Office until they are picked up.

19. Injury, Abuse, Prevention & Reporting • We take security very seriously and we take every possible step to ensure the safety of everyone at the ELC. • Any incidents and injuries are documented on a Report of Concern. After signing the form, parents keep one copy and turn the other in to the Office where it is recorded in the child’s file. • In the unlikely event of a major injury at the ELC, parents will be called immediately. Protocols outlined in the Health Care Policy will be followed. • There are multiple reasons that developing children acquire bruises, if your child took a tumble, talk to your teacher – keep us informed. • We are a mandatory reporting agency and all staff is trained in Child Abuse Prevention, Detection and Reporting Policy.

20. Naps & Nutrition • Each child has an identified cot and sleeping space. Sheets are provided and laundered weekly. • Families provide and launder blankets and any needed comfort items. • During the school year, the ELC provides balanced meals as part of the USDA Food Program. Breakfast, AM Snack, Lunch, and PM Snack are served. Meals are posted by the kitchen and copies are available in the lobby. • Necessary dietary substitutions can be accommodated with a note from the child’s health care provider. • All meals are served family style. Children, as they are able, are encouraged to pass food and serve themselves, and have relaxed conversations with adults who eat with them. Families are welcome to join us.

21. Inclement Weather Policy • The ELC follows EvCC emergency closures, however, it is important that families and staff carefully judge safety issues for themselves. • Emergency closure information is posted on the opening screen of the EvCC website http://www.everettcc.edu/ • It is also listed on www.schoolreport.org. • Families are advised to sign up for the EvCC emergency text message service: http://www.everettcc.edu/emergency/  This service will provide immediate information by text or email.

22. Fire Prevention & Safety Procedures • EvCC Security conducts monthly fire drills with the children. Some children may be frightened at first, although most children learn to stay calm. Teachers are very aware of individual children’s reactions and make every effort to support them. • In accordance with EvCC, we have a ELC Crisis Response Handbook with detailed procedures. The handbook is available online, in each classroom and in the Family Resource Room. • We encourage all adult family members to carry an ELC card with emergency phone numbers.

23. Pet Policy • We encourage your children to learn about nature and their environment. You will periodically be asked to sign a waiver allowing your child to interact with a specific animal. • Licensing dictates which pets are allowed at the Center and how they will interact with the children, including sanitation procedures. We respectfully ask that you bring pet photos only to school. • All rules and restrictions are outlined in our Pet and Animal Policy

24. Important Reminders • Sign your child in and out every day using your full signature. This is our single most requested legal document. • Wash your hands and your child’s hands upon entering the classroom. • Children and Adults should not attend when their medical symptoms meet the criteria outlined under “When Children are Ill” • No outside food, snacks, drinks, candy, gum, medication or unsafe toys are to be brought into the center in pockets, diaper bags or backpacks. Due to allergies and choking hazards, this is a major safety concern. • Update your Emergency and Health Care Information regularly; keep your child’s Immunization Records up-to-date. • Remember to use appropriate language and voices while at the ELC. • Every day make sure your child has the diapers, wipes, extra clothes, warm clothes or safe shoes to enjoy a full day of active learning.

25. ELC Family HandbookYour ELC Resource • Philosophy • Staffing • Program Service • Enrollment • Rates & Payments • The Family Life Class • Personal Items • Arrival & Departure • Daily Schedule & Curriculum • Child Guidance • Volunteering in the Classroom • Common Questions Volunteers Ask • Naps & Nutrition • Family Meal Service • Field trips • Inclement Weather Policy • Health & Safety Standards • Major Emergencies • Minor Emergencies • Policies Regarding Pets & Animals This slideshow Family Orientation is an only an overview. For more information please talk to staff and refer to the ELC Family Handbook where you will find more detailed information about:

26. Additional Resources for ELC Families The ELC Family Handbook, as well as the Health Care Policy, Crisis Response Manual , Pet and Animal Policyand Bloodborne Pathogens Handbook are also available online at: ELC Handbooks and Policies

27. Everett Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability, or status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran in its program and activities, or employment. • The Vice President of Student Services has been designated to handle inquiries regarding student-related non-discrimination policies and can be reached at 2000 Tower Street, Everett, WA 98201, or by phone at (425)388-9589. • The Vice President of Human Resources has been designated to handle employment-related inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and can be reached at 2000 Tower Street, Everett, WA 98201, or by phone at (425)388-9232.

28. Thank You for your Support • Continued communication with families helps us provide the best care for children. • Daily reminders are posted on the whiteboard in the office. • Additional information will come in your child’s cubby and via e-mail. • Please share your questions and comments about this orientation and about any of our policies and procedures. • Now that you have finished viewing this presentation, please sign our Family Orientation Checklist, and return it to the front office. • You can also record and earn 5 Famiy Life Class participation points.