Program Orientation 2014-2015

1. Program Orientation2014-2015 AGENDA

2. WELCOME/INTRODUCTION Dear parents I welcome you to the Head Start/State preschool program as the MOST VALUABLE MEMBERS of our teaching team (cheering Fatherhood Involvement PSA ) Welcome

3. TRANSITION INTO THE HEAD START • The changes that children face when entering HS are very difficult for them • We need to help them to adjust to the new environment by talking about the importance of learning and attending school • Some come from being single child in the family • Never exposed to new experiences outside of their homes • Youngest child in the family

4. HELPING CHILDREN COPE WITH SCHOOL TRANSITIONS • Make a list of your child's concerns • Create a folder with your pictures, and child can see at any time • Make a badge with parents’ pictures • Let him/her bring a security item; e.g. stuffed animal, toy

5. TRANSITIONS…Cont.. •  To help ease separation and build trust • Allow yourself extra time to stay in the classroom as needed • Do not leave without saying “good-bye” to your child. Assure him/her that you will return

6. PARENT’S HANDBOOK • Attendance • Birthday Recognition • Clothing • Emergency Information • End of the Year Activity • Picture and videos/Field trips • Health Guidelines-Exclusion/Medication • Assessments • Home Visits and Parent Conferences • Mandated Child Abuse Report • Nutrition • Parent Meetings • Volunteer Time/Activity Log • Walking/Pedestrian Safety

7. ATTENDANCE (pg 7) • Regular and punctual attendance, support a child’s success in the program. • Children are expected to attend the program in accordance with the center’s scheduled days and hours. (Other arrangements may be made for children with disabilities.) • In case of a family emergency, a child may be absent with prior arrangements with the staff. • Regular attendance is crucial to the program’s funding.

8. ATTENDANCE Cont.. (pg 7) • Just a mathematical view of attendance scenario • We have 90 classes, if ONLY 1 child is absent for each class we have 90 children • 90 x 1= 90 daily • 90 x 5 = 450 weekly • 450 x 4 = 1800 monthly

9. CHILD ABSENTEEISM POLICY (pg 7) • We ask that you call each day your child is absent. • Prior arrangements must be made with the CDS if a child needs to be absent longer than (3) • CDS will notify teachers, FSA, and Family Service Coordinator. • In circumstances where chronic absenteeism persists the child’s slot must be considered an enrollment vacancy.

10. EXCUSED (pg 7) • Acceptable reasons for your child’s absence are: Illness, Family Emergency, or a Medical/Dental appointment for the child. Absences can also be excused if it is “in the best interest of the child”.

11. “In the best interest of the child” includes: • Transportation: ONLY when there is absolutely no adult available to bring or pick-up the child, or if parent(s) deem it is unsafe to bring the child • Emergency closure of site or home due to health and safety issue • Family functions • Court Order • *Any other reason other than what is listed above must be discussed with the CDS to determine if the reason is “excused” or “unexcused”

12. ARRIVAL/PICK-UP PROCEDURES (pg 8) • Parents/Guardians must sign their child in and out every day and record the exact time. • Children should arrive, and be picked up on time by a person 18 years or older. • The person must be listed on the emergency card and have a valid photo ID available for identification. • Any changes to the names on the emergency card must be made in person – phone calls will not be accepted. • If the adult has not arrived at the end of the child’s program hours, and no one can be reached at the emergency numbers, the local police department will be contacted.

13. ARRIVAL/PICK-UP PROCEDURES… Cont…(pgs 8) • Please note: If the assigned caregivers are unable to pick up the child, they can not give permission for someone else to sign-out the child. • Chronic lateness, poor attendance, or excessive absences may result in a child being dropped from the program. • The Family Services Associate is available to assist families in order to avoid this outcome.

14. BIRTHDAY RECOGNITION (pg 8) • Each child’s birthday is recognized and celebrated individually. (i.e. songs, birthday crown, button, card). • Parents are included in the planning. • According to our nutrition guidelines, cakes and other sweets are not permitted

15. CLOTHING (pg 8) • Dress your child according to the weather.   • Clothes that allow him/her to feel free to work with water, sand, paint, etc. • Comfortable closed shoes (i.e. rubber shoes, sneakers, tennis shoes).

16. CLOTHING cont… (pg 8) • ALL CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM WILL NEED: • A full set of weather-appropriate clothes (shirts, pants/shorts, socks, underwear) to be kept at the site • Crib-size Blanket & fitted sheet (Full Day Program only) • Soft, stuffed toy for rest time if needed (Full Day Program only) • NOTE: No shoes with raised heels; No shoes with slippery soles • Please remember to write your child’s name on all articles of clothing and personal belongings.

17. REST TIME (pg 9) • Full day only • The program includes nap time daily • Children rest on cots with sheets and blankets (as required by licensing & H Deparment)

18. EMERGENCY INFORMATION (pg 9) • Sites are equipped with food, water, and emergency supplies, such as flashlights, blankets, radios, first aid kits, etc. • Each site has an emergency action plan (please see posted plan). • Children will have opportunities to learn what to do in emergency situations, such as using the telephone to seek.

19. EMERGENCY INFORMATION Cont..(pg 9) • Parents are required to notify the staff (FSA/Teachers) of any changes in their emergency information, within (5) five calendar days of the change. • If there are any changes in who has permission to pick your child up from school you must come into the center and fill out the emergency card in person. We will not accept phone calls for changes in emergency pick up.

20. HOLIDAYS (pg 9) • Holidays are observed in ways that are respectful to our families. • No particular set of beliefs is promoted, but children experience different customs and cultural traditions. • There will be no fundraising for the purpose of purchasing gifts

21. END OF THE YEAR ACTIVITY (pg 9) … • The end of the year activity is not a “graduation”. • Traditional graduation exercises are not permitted. Teachers and parents will plan transition activities one month before the end of the school year. • Children must be in attendance for the entire scheduled day.

22. END OF THE YEAR ACTIVITY… Cont… (pg 9) … • Please send your child in regular comfortable every day school clothes. • Reminder: The Agency Policy does not allow any outside food in the classroom during operating hours.

24. PICTURES AND VIDEO (pg 10) • A release form must be completed and signed by all program parents before picture taking or videotaping is allowed to take place during special activities (e.g. End of the Year Celebration).

25. FIELD TRIPS (pg 10) • Community walking fieldtrips are part of the curriculum • Parents will be notified in advance. • Each child will be assigned to a specific staff member for the duration of the field trip. • Head counts will be conducted before, during, and after each field trip. • Parents are encouraged to take part in these learning experiences with their child. Parents must have a valid TB test clearance on file before you can volunteer in the program or on fieldtrips

26. HEALTH GUIDELINES (pgs 10) • All children enrolled in the program, MUST have: • Physical & Dental Exam up-to-date • Immunization Record updated • Children will not be able to start the program without proof of proper immunizations as required by de state • T.B. Test or Chest X-Ray Results • Reminder: Submit these requirements ASAP

27. EXCLUSION INFORMATION (pg 11) • Keep your child at home if he/she has: • A temperature of 100 degrees or higher. • Eye discharge or pink eye. • Rash with fever. • Sore throat with fever and swollen glands or mouth sores. • Diarrhea or vomiting. • Head lice • Severe coughing.

28. MEDICATION (pg 11) • Non-Medical Staff received training by a licensed nurse on how to administer medication to your child according to the physician’s instructions. • The medication container must be clearly labeled with the following information: • Child’s full name • Physician’s name • Name of medication • Dosage, frequency, and form of dosage • Date of expiration of prescription

29. ASSESSMENTS (pg 12) • Children are assessed within 60 days of enrollment to ensure their progress in the domains, physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development: • We use the Desired Results Developmental Profile, to assess the development of children • Parent input is a necessary component of this assessment. • The assessment is also used to plan and conduct age and developmentally appropriate activities for the children.

30. HOME VISITS & PARENT CONFERENCE (pg 12 & 14) • A minimum of two home visits & two parent conferences, are conducted each year. • These visits and conferences provide a special time for parents and teachers to share information regarding the child’s progress. • This is a time when parents and teachers plan together for the child’s goals. • Teachers will arrange a home visit and conferences schedule in order to meet Agency’s TIMELINE

31. MANDATED CHILD ABUSE REPORTING (pg 13) In accordance with child abuse reporting laws of the State of California (Penal Code sections 11165-11174.5), all professionals working with children are obligated to report suspected child abuse. This includes teachers, consultants, supervisors, family service associates, etc. Therefore, each individual Foundation staff member or volunteer is a mandated reporter. Failure to report is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, and/or up to $1,000 fine (Penal Code 11172[e]). Failure to report may also result in civil liability for damages, especially if the child-victim or another child is further victimized because of the failure to report (Landeros vs. Flood [1976] 17c.3d 399

32. NUTRITION (pg 13) • Meals are served in a family style setting. • Based on food program guidelines, Head Start children may only eat food provided by the agency. No food shall be removed from the site, as this could create health issues. No food shall be brought to the site from home or store.

33. NUTRITION… Cont… (pg 13) • Food is never used as punishment or reward. • Language development occurs during meal time through conversations about the food been served • If your child is allergic to any foods, an Allergy Statement form must be completed by the child’s physician and returned to the child’s teacher • Substitute foods will be arranged for children with allergies

34. Parent Meeting (pg 14) • Parents are a vital part of our program! • Monthly Parent Meetings are held to meet these requirements • Parent meetings provide various opportunities for parent education and involvement • These meetings also provide information about site and agency activities. • Siblings: Due to licensing capacity in our classrooms we encourage all parents to make arrangements for sibling care prior to attending parent meetings.

35. VOLUNTEER TIME (pg 15) • As a non-profit agency, we are required to raise at least 20% of our total program budget through in-kind contributions • Therefore, we encourage all parents to volunteer regularly every month. • Parents activities log Activity Log for month one.docx • Volunteers must have a current TB test clearance

36. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS TO PARTICIPATE(pg 16) • Parent Workshops • F.R.E.E. Library + School to Home Connection • Transitional Activities • Leap Frog “Ready Set Leap” Program • Parent meetings • PC meetings • Program Planning Committee • (Show fathers Inv PP)

37. Walking/Pedestrian Safety (pg 18) Safety tips for walkers: Review pg 18

38. Announcements * Sign and return the last page of the parent handbook Thank you