Welcome the Fullerton School District Preschool Early Childhood Education Program Beechwood Elementary 714 447-2850 Sunset Lane Elementary 714 447-7750 Child Development Services (714) 447-7477 Mission Statement To provide a safe, structured, child-centered environment. To create an atmosphere that fosters personal, social-emotional, physical, and cognitive academic growth, that results in real life learning. To consistently evaluate program standards in order to effectively meet the changing needs and interests of the growing child. Hands on experiences enable the child to grow physically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially with opportunities to practice and improve his/her skills and techniques that build positive attitudes towards learning. To educate and support parents in becoming active partner s in their child s education. Philosophy The Preschool program uses Developmentally Appropriate Practices to provide a safe and caring environment that stimulates the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of children and supports the relationship between children and their families and the preschool. The program is committed to providing an innovative curriculum with materials, activities and teaching methods that are based on the principles of child development and the Developmentally Appropriate guidelines from the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Children learn through play, so all of the learning activities are presented through play, based on age appropriateness and individual appropriateness. These activities engage the children so they can explore, experiment, imitate, ask questions and be questioned to further their thinking and problem solving skills and help them 1
construct their own knowledge to learn about the world around them and prepare them for their next school environment. Active exploration is encouraged through learning areas and interaction with adults and peers. The difficulty, complexity, and challenge of activities increase as the children develop understanding of concepts and skills. The program offers a balance of indoor and outdoor activities, restful and active movement activities, and a varied curriculum encompassing readiness, art, language, math, music, drama, physical education, science, and social awareness. Each child is an individual. Teachers observe and record each child s special interests and developmental progress in order to meet the needs of children who demonstrate unusual interest and capabilities outside the normal developmental range. Pre-School programs are designed to develop character, integrity, self-esteem, and positive feelings toward learning. Goals Children will: Develop socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively; Develop critical thinking and problem solving skills; Learn to cooperate to become a member of a group and relate to others; Learn to become a member of a group and relate to others; Learn to appreciate individual differences and value diversity; Develop self control and independence; Develop a positive self concept and self identity; Develop self expression and creative expression; Develop mutual respect and build community in the classroom; Develop social interaction skills; Develop communication skills. Participate in a variety of experiences that support the skills and concepts for kindergarten readiness. Curriculum- A Plan for Learning The preschool program presents an integrated curriculum in addition to projects where children take an in-depth exploration of a topic of personal interest. All experiences are designed to support the skills and concepts for school readiness. Art, drama, language, math, music, nature, science, social studies, plus games and physical play are infused throughout the learning day. 2
Admissions This program is designed for children that will be entering preschool Fall 2012 therefore; children must be age 3 by June 1, 2012. Proof of age with a birth certificate will be required. The following forms must be completed before the child can participate in the program. Registration Form / Admission Agreement Original Birth Certificate Identification and Emergency Information Card (LIC 700) Child s Preadmission Health History (LIC 702) Physicians report (LIC 701) Copy of current Immunization Record Consent for Emergency Medical Treatment (LIC 627) California School Immunization Cards (PM286) A written statement form parent(s) or authorized representative exempting child from medical assessment, immunizations, and treatment because of adherence to a religious faith that practices healing by prayer or other spiritual means; or physical statement that immunization is not indicated, is required in lieu of immunization records. Notification of Parents Rights (LIC 995) Personal Rights (LIC 613A) Emergency Card Parent Consent for Health screening What To Bring Healthy snack packed in a labeled container including beverage. Sodas are not permitted. Due to food sensitivities and allergies, please do not pack peanut butter or other peanut derivative foods. Appropriate Shoes -- For safety, children must wear tennis shoes or soft-soled shoes. (No cowboy boots or open-toed shoes, please!) Dress in play clothes ; we will be painting, exploring, building, running etc. Change of clothes, labeled (incase of excessive paint, water spill, etc.) Field Trips The Preschool may take fieldtrips or have on site guest speakers. Parents will be notified in advance of any special programs. In order for offsite field trips, we ask the support of the parents in transporting and supervising their child. (Each child 3
must be in an age appropriate car seat to go on a field trip!) Written permission is required from parent or guardian before a child may go on a field trip. Invitations & Birthday Celebrations Parties at Preschool - If you would like to celebrate your child's birthday at Preschool, please talk to the teacher to arrange a time and a healthy snack for that day. Please, NO party favors. Classroom Observance of Holidays The Fullerton School District Preschool programs do not celebrate specific holidays such as Halloween or Valentine s Day and use classroom opportunities to discover seasons or specific concepts. Instead of Halloween we will focus on fall harvest, apples, corn, pumpkins, the colors of the season etc. For example, relative to Valentines Day we set up a letters to loved ones in the writing center. We do this knowing that children at this age do not have a full understanding of the concept of time, space and the significance of specific celebrations. Preschool children, with their limited understanding of time concepts, may not remember what their families did last year and may have difficulty thinking about celebrations that will take place several weeks from now. Further we need to preserve the regular routines of the classroom. Holidays can be over stimulating for young children. Following the simple routines that they have learned in the classroom can be comforting. More importantly, as they enter the early primary grades there is ample opportunity to children to become actively engage in traditions and other celebrations. Emergency Information It is important that the emergency card for each child be filled out carefully and completely. Contact information home and work phone numbers - must be current at all times. At least two local contacts other than parents must be listed in case of emergencies. Be sure these local contacts are willing and able to care for your child in an emergency. The information about other adults who are authorized to pick-up your child must be complete, accurate and current. Be sure to include on the emergency card any medical problems for which your child may need extra care such as allergies, asthma, etc. Be as specific as you can about your child s special needs. Please make sure that the individual site is updated with current emergency phone numbers and information as well as pick up authorizations. Only those listed on the form will be allowed to pick up a child. 4
Tuition Monthly fees are a flat rate. Payments are due by the first of the month to the preschool staff. If the whole payment is not received by the 5 th business day, a twenty-five dollar ($25) late fee will be assessed and your child will not be allowed to return the following day until the unpaid balance is paid in full. The person that signs the registration packet is responsible for the tuition. We will not accept fees from two separate parties. Delinquent payments will result in automatic termination from the program. A minimum of thirty days is required for withdrawal from the program along with the monthly tuition. Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) All checks returned for any reason will be assessed a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) returned check fee. Returned checks must be replaced with a money order or cashiers check the day following notification in order to avoid being referred to a collection agency. At this point you will no longer be able to pay with personal checks for the remainder of the school year, payments must be made by money orders or cashiers check ONLY (NO CASH). The Childcare program is supported entirely through parent fees. The program receives no funding from the Fullerton School District or the City of Fullerton. Receiving payments in a timely manner is essential to our planning and budgeting processes. Tax Information The Fullerton School District Federal Tax identification number is 95-6001405. and the State Tax identification number is 800-8889-1. We do NOT provide an end-ofyear tax report. Please save your cancelled checks and receipts as records of your childcare payments. Late Pick-up Fees The Preschool Program operates from 8:00 a.m. until 12 p.m. Children must be signed out by the close of the program day at 12:00 p.m. There will be a late pick-up fee charge of one dollar ($1.00) per child for the first five (5) minutes after 12:00 p.m. and then an additional charge of one dollar ($1.00) per child per minute for each additional minute after that. Late fees will be due and payable with next monthly tuition fee payment. Please notify the Childcare Program site if you know you will be late picking-up your child. However, notification of your tardiness does not excuse you from a late pick-up charge. After the third occurrence of excessive or chronic lateness the Director may dismiss the child from the program. The clock at the preschool site will be used to determine the pick-up time. 5
Termination from Program We reserve the right to terminate the enrollment of any child from the program for any reason including, but not limited to: non-cooperation of child or parent, delinquency or non-payment of fees, inability or unwillingness of the child or parent to follow the program s policies, procedures or rules, determination that the child is unable to benefit or impairs the ability of others to benefit from the program, or that his/her continued presence in the program presents a danger to others or to property. These findings will be made by, the program administrators. Parents will be given ten days notice following the decision to terminate enrollment. Program Calendar of Operation The Preschool Program will follow the instructional calendar of the Fullerton School District and will be closed on all school holidays. Procedures for Signing In and Out All children MUST be signed in and out at the preschool program each day and may not be dropped off. This is an absolute must for all children at all times. The steps for signing students in and out are listed below. Failure to follow any step of this procedure will be grounds for dismissal from the Childcare Program. Signing In! An authorized adult (18 yrs. old or older) whose name is listed on the emergency card must sign each child in and out of the program daily.! Signing In includes a legible signature (no initials) and time of the Sign In. This is our legal record of the time your child arrived at the site. We cannot and will not accept responsibility for students dropped off at the site without having been signed in by an authorized adult. You may not sign your child in prior to the opening of the program at 8:00 a.m. Staff cannot sign your child in (am care) or out (pm care). Signing Out! Only parents/guardians or authorized adults (18 yrs. old or older) listed on the emergency card will be allowed to sign children out of the program. A valid picture I.D. may be required at anytime.! Sign Out includes a legible signature (no initials) and the time of Sign Out.! There must be a signed, written note or phone call from the parent/guardian if a person not listed on the emergency card is to sign a child out. That person must have a valid picture I.D.* which is inspected and noted by staff prior to signing the child out. If a phone call is made to give permission for another person to pick up your child, please be prepared to provide your Social Security number as a password. 6
*A valid picture I.D. is required. Please be patient when a staff member checks for I.D. It is required any time a staff member does not recognize an adult. This is for your child s protection and safety. Please inform anyone picking up your child that they must provide proper, valid picture identification and a note signed by you releasing your child to their care. PLEASE NOTE: School and/or preschool staff cannot legally prevent either parent from picking a child up unless we have on file a current, legal court order that specifically restrains a parent for contact with and/or custody of a child. We do not enforce those court orders but rather contact local law enforcement to enforce the orders of the court. Staff is authorized to deny access to a parent or guardian when that person is behaving in a way that poses a significant risk to the child. Absences/Attendance If your child is to be absent you must notify the preschool teacher no later than 8:30 a.m. Days of absence may not be made up and tuition credits or refunds are not given for absences. If your child is absent from the program for more that 10 consecutive school days for any reason other than verified illness or other excused absence, and fees have not been paid, he/she will be dropped from the program. Withdrawal from the Program A minimum of thirty days is required if you are terminating your child from the program. All tuition/fee balances must be paid in full at the time of termination. Re-Enrollment Re-enrollment in the program after any absence of two (2) weeks or ten (10) consecutive days will be allowed only if space is available and all past due tuition/fee balances are paid in full. A non-refundable re-enrollment fee will be charged. Hygiene All children must be able to attend to bathroom needs by being completely toilet trained. Pull-ups are not allowed. If a child needs a change of clothing, parents/guardians will be called to pick the child up from school. 7
Sick Children We are not able to provide childcare for students who are ill. If your child shows any signs of an oncoming illness, this includes a rash we would appreciate it if you would make alternative childcare arrangements until he/she is well. This is for your child s well being and for the well being of the other children and the staff. A child who appears to be ill will not be admitted to the program and parents or an authorized adult will be contacted to pick the child up within thirty (30) minutes of being contacted. The child will be in an isolated area until parent or guardian arrives. After a child has been ill he/she needs to have been free of fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, without the aid of medication or medical treatment, for at least 24 hours before returning to school or to the Childcare Program. Injuries/Medical Emergencies Staff is trained in First Aid/CPR and will handle minor injuries. Staff will use their best judgment in evaluating the severity of injuries and/or illnesses. Staff will notify parents of minor injuries, as they are made aware of them by placing a note in the daily folder. Typical first aid treatment includes washing the wound with soap and water, applying a cold compress or bandage as needed. In the case of more severe bumps, cuts, scrapes, etc. parents will be notified by phone. Parents contacted by phone concerning injuries are responsible for deciding if medical attention is needed. For this reason parents must keep all phone numbers current and accurate. If parents cannot be reached, the Site Lead will make a determination as to the need to contact the child s physician or contact emergency services personnel through 9-1-1. Once either of those has been contacted the staff will follow their directions in meeting the medical needs of the child. Parents are responsible for all costs incurred in the treatment of injuries/illnesses that may occur while their child attends preschool. If your child receives an injury at home, please inform the staff. If your child cannot participate in the normal routines and activities, then he/she should not attend the program until he/she is fully able to participate. Insurance The Preschool Program and/or the Fullerton School District are not liable for injuries due to accident. All expenses incurred in the treatment of injuries are the responsibility of the parent/guardian. Medications The staff does not administer medications. Children may not have medications either over-the-counter or prescription medications - and may not medicate 8
themselves at school. Medications includes but is not limited to all pills, injections, inhalers, eye and eardrops, cough drops, cough medicine, aspirin, Tylenol, throat lozenge or any other medication. Personal Belongings All personal items must be labeled with the child s name lunch boxes, sweaters, jackets, etc. Neither the preschool nor the school is responsible for the care and/or safety of personal belongings. School personnel are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Even though children are responsible for the care and safety of their own belongings, the staff will do all that they can to help ensure that items are not lost or stolen. Toys Preschool is well supplied with appropriate games, equipment, materials, and toys for all children in the program. Personal toys and equipment should not be brought to the program since we cannot guarantee their care and safety or prevent them from being lost, stolen or broken. Parent Folders There are parent/child folders provided for each child at each site. This will be the major way the teacher will communicate with parents. It will be the responsibility of parents to check their child s folder daily when they sign them in and/or out of the program. We will place announcement, program Parents are responsible for the information in the signed contract as well as other preschool enrollment documents. Child Abuse Reporting While everyone should report suspected child abuse and/or neglect, the California Penal Code provides that certain groups of professionals and lay people are mandated to report any suspected child abuse to the proper authorities. Please be advised that the staff of the school is mandated to report any suspected case of child abuse or neglect. Guidance and Discipline In accordance with Title 22 Section 101223 PERSONAL RIGHTS (a) the licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: (1) To be accorded dignity in his/her personal relationships with staff and other persons. 9
(2) To be accorded safe, healthful and comfortable accommodations, furnishings and equipment to meet his/her needs. (3) To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule, coercion, threat, mental abuse or other actions of a punitive nature including but not limited to: interference with functions of daily living including eating, sleeping or toileting; or withholding of shelter, clothing, medication or aids to physical functioning. (4) To be informed, and to have his/her authorized representative informed by the licensee of the law regarding complaints including, but not limited to, information on confidentiality and the address and telephone number of the Department's complaint unit. Guidance refers to methods of leading children s behaviors in positive directions so that children learn self-control, develop a healthy conscience, and preserve selfesteem. The role of guidance is for the child to become self disciplined. The role of the teacher is to guide the child so that he or she understands appropriate and inappropriate behavior. The goal is for the child to learn to control impulses, selfdiscipline and become intrinsically motivated. It is important to understand appropriate behavioral exceptions for each stage of development. Factors that influence the behavior of children: Method adults use to initiate interactions. How adults talk to children. Set-up of the Environment. Choice of Equipment materials activities and projects. The method adults use to deal with unsocial zed behaviors The following questions should be considered when interpreting the underlying message in a child s behavior. 1. Are the child s basic needs being met? 2. Does the environment fit the child? 3. Is the child s behavior a cry for attention? 4. Is the child s behavior a response to feeling powerless? 5. Did the child learn this behavior by being rewarded for it in the past? 6. Does the child clearly understand why his or her behavior is appropriate? In order for effective leadership and guidance to occur it is necessary to establish and set physical limits and boundaries. This includes inside and outside behavior. I.e. Running games and tag are for outside. If guidelines are not established children will not understand why certain behaviors are not acceptable and will act accordingly regardless of environment. 10
Questions to be considered when setting limits: Has the child outgrown the limit? Is there a valid reason for the limit? Can I rearrange the environment to eliminate the restriction? Within the context of the program teachers will incorporate the following: Teaching Children to Express Their Feelings Modeling Pro-social Behaviors Teach children the differences between emotion and behaviors Positive Guidance Techniques Time-Out will be used when a child cannot control their behavior. This will enable the child to be removed from a situation in which they are uncomfortable. This involves removing a child from the scene and placed in a safe space for a period of time no longer than 1 minute per age. Children need to be closely monitored and talked to about the behavior. Indiscriminate use of time-out is not an effective method of guidance for minor situations, as it does not teach the child appropriate behavior, how to interact with others or self-sufficiency skills. Learning From Consequences Children learn form experiencing the consequences to their actions. If the direction is to not fill their glass of milk to full or it will spill and the glass is filled to the edge and spills the child learns the meaning of the direction in a tangible way. This also refers to consequences of behavior, if the child throws sand they do not get to play in the sandbox because this is not how we play with sand. Explain the reasons for not throwing sand. Redirection Distraction is a sharp change in focus designed to get a child s mind off of whatever he is feeling, in contrast redirection respects the child s energy and feelings but shifts them in a direction or to an activity that is more acceptable under the circumstances. Communication Communicating with the child on a one-to one basis is a critical component of positive guidance. In all instances it is the role of the teacher to calmly discuss the situation one-on one with the child. It is important to remember to acknowledge feelings, to model appropriate expression and guide the child to a resolution based on his or her developmental level (Gonzalez-Mena, 1998). 11
Program Goals for Effective Guidance To expand the learning environment and link activities to other areas of study. This provides opportunities for relationships to develop between what is learned and how to apply that knowledge. Provide experiences to gain independence. Model positive, nurturing, and compassionate behavior. Provide structure, values, and a foundation so that the child will develop selfdiscipline. Opportunities for children to have their own space. Provide rituals routines and traditions. Teach children how to relax. Allow children to express their dreams and guide them to activities that will support their individual talents. Child Development Services Director, Child Development Services Supervisor, Child Development Services 1401 W. Valencia Drive Marilee Cosgrove Monique Bosse Fullerton, CA 92833 714-447-2858 714-447-7477 12