Cabarrus County Schools Early Childhood Education Programs HEAD START/NCPK Parent Handbook 2015-2016 1
Table of Contents Welcome... 3 School Safety... 3 School Hours... 4 Drop Off and Pick Up... 4 Inclement Weather... 5 Attendance... 6 Social/Emotional Well Being... 7 Curriculum and Assessment... 8 Health Services... 9 Nutrition... 10 Medications... 11 Illness... 12 Field Trips... 13 Home Visits... 13 School Readiness Plan or School Improvements... 13 Grievance Policy... 14 Confidentiality/HIPPA... 14 Abuse and Neglect Reporting... 14 Parent Committee... 15 Policy Council... 15 Kindergarten Transition... 16 2
Welcome Now that your child is enrolled in preschool, you are both beginning a big adventure. Our goal is to make this a year of learning, fun, and making new friends. Our programs are funded by Head Start and NCPK. Our philosophy and goal is to provide inclusive classes for all children. This handbook was created to help you know what to expect so you and your child will be able to relax, enjoy, and learn together. School Safety Head Start/NCPK strives to maintain a family friendly environment; however, safety of our students and adults is imperative. All visitors must sign in and receive a visitor s tag at the front office before visiting anywhere on campus. The visitor s tag must be worn by the adult(s) at all times while on campus. Please have identification with you. For the safety of your child, all visitors to the school campus will be required to enter through the front office, sign in, get a visitor tag and follow a specific travel pattern. Upon exiting the front office, all visitors will turn right and enter through the safety doors Field trip attendees and classroom volunteers are required to have a criminal background check conducted and receive clearance before volunteering. You will be notified when your background check has been completed. The Criminal Background Check form may be accessed on our school website. It is imperative to notify the school of all current and new phone numbers so we may reach you in the event of an emergency. Please notify the school office when your address or phone numbers change. 3
School Hours Long School hours for the 2015-2016 school year will be 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lockhart Early Learning Center hours for the 2015-16 school year will be 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Carl A. Furr NCPK hours for the 2015-16 school year will be 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Rocky River NCPK hours for the 2015-16 school year will be 8:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. WM Irvin NCPK hours for the 2015-16 school year will be 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Winecoff NCPK hours for the 2015-16 school year will be 7:20 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Drop Off and Pick Up Student Drop Off: 8:00 8:15 a.m. Car riders should be dropped off at the back of the school. It is vital parents follow the school procedures in regards to student drop off and pick up for the safety of the children and staff. After 8:15, students will be considered tardy. The parent/guardian must bring the child in through the front office, sign in, and escort the child to the classroom. Pre-K children may not be in any area of the school building or campus unsupervised. Car riders will be dismissed at their assigned location. During your first home visit, parents will be given a number card. This card should be placed in the windshield of the car. This will serve as identification for student pick up. If the car/student identification is not present, the child will not be released, and the parent/guardian will be directed to drive to the front parking area and come into the front office to verify identity and authorization in order to receive the child. Student Pick Up: 2:30-2:45 p.m. All students are required to be picked up by a parent/guardian or authorized adult by 2:45 p.m. Important Numbers Head Start/NCPK Administrator..... 704-782-5712 Head Start School Nurse... 704-784-3614 Head Start Family Services...704-784-3614 Cabarrus Partnership for Children. 704-262-3683 Mary Frances Wall Center Exceptional Preschool Children. 704-782-5712 Cabarrus County Schools Education Center. 704-786-6191 4
Inclement Weather During periods of inclement weather, the Director of Transportation/staff will survey road conditions and consult with other appropriate agencies. Information regarding road conditions and weather forecasts are discussed with the Superintendent. The Superintendent then makes decisions concerning the dismissal of school or alternatives to the school day. When possible, a decision on school closing will be made the afternoon or evening prior to the day that school is to be closed. This will be done in time to get the information on the evening news. In the event weather conditions deteriorate later during the night, school closing decisions will be made by 5:00 a.m. All announcements regarding school closings or opening delays will be sent via Connect-Ed and will be publicized through all available media including radio, television, school system website, and newspapers. The list follows: TELEVISION STATIONS NBC6 (36) WBT 1110 AM RADIO STATIONS WWMG96.1 FM WBTV (CBS 3) WSOC (ABC 9) WCCB (FOX 18) WRNA 1140 AM WEGO 1410 AM WRKB 1460 AM WDAW 89.9 FM WFAE 90.7 FM WKKT 96.9 FM WPEG 98 FM WBT 99.3 FM WLYT 102.9 FM WSOC103.7 FM WRCM 92 FM WMIX 107.7 FM WEBSITE: www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us VOICE MAIL FOR THE PUBLIC: 704-784-6197 SPANISH: 704/784-6171 5
Attendance By accepting enrollment in the Head Start/NCPK Preschool Programs, you must comply with attendance policy set forth by the local NCPK and Head Start Guidelines and Requirements. Regular attendance by every student is mandatory. It is vital to the success of the program, and the children enrolled, that your child be in school each day the program is operational. Therefore, we ask you to make a commitment to have your child in school and on time each day that he/she is able to attend. It is extremely important that children begin good attendance habits early in life. Research confirms that many times a child's success or failure in school is directly related to their attendance. You can contribute to the success of your child by helping him or her to maintain regular school attendance. Please contact your child s teacher to inform them when your child will be absent. If a Head Start/NCPK child is absent more than 3 consecutive days with no parent/school contact, the program will initiate contact by phone, writing, or in person in the form of a home visit Attendance Records School officials will keep an accurate record of attendance and tardiness. Excused Absence Exceptions for an individual child s attendance can be requested for certain conditions such as illness, hospitalization, military leave or crisis requiring family travel. These requests should be sent in writing to the teacher and or principal, who will determine whether the exception is approved. We require documentation for the circumstance regarding the need for the exception, such as documentation from a medical professional. Tardiness If a child reaches 10 tardies, the Head Start/NCPK Administrator reserves the right to request the child s withdrawal from the program. The Head Start/NCPK Administrator reserves the right to request the child's withdrawal from the program if tardiness is deemed unexcused or the parent(s) exhibit a lack of commitment to regular school attendance. Every minute of the instructional day is extremely important, and every effort should be made to have your child in school on time each day. Students with Special Needs In applying this policy, teachers and administrators shall make reasonable accommodations for students who are absent or tardy because of the student s disabilities or special needs. Students with excused absences due to documented chronic health problems will be exempted from this policy. 6
Social/Emotional Well Being Head Start/NCPK practices Conscious Discipline. It is a life-changing, research-based classroom management system and social-emotional learning program for early childhood and elementary schools. It revolutionizes the classroom approach to social-emotional learning by first addressing the adult's behavior and reaction to a situation, which then empowers the adult to teach and model these skills with children. Conscious Discipline is structured around the seven powers for self-control and the seven skills of basic discipline. Parents may access Conscious Discipline information and resources online at www.consciousdiscipline.com. Report the occurrence of disruptive behavior: If the disruptive behavior is not severe, but persists, the teacher may request a referral by the Mental Health Coordinator and report concerns to the Head Start/NCPK Administrator and other specialists as needed. If the disruptive behavior is severe, the School Nurse or Head Start/NCPK Administrator will initiate the social/emotional assistance process. The School Nurse or Head Start/NCKP Administrator will contact the child s parents or guardian to inform them of any action taken and to arrange for them to meet with them. Referral for Mental Health Intervention: The following steps will be implemented at the center level to request/assure social/emotional intervention when needed: 1. Parents/guardian requesting Social/Emotional Intervention should contact the School Nurse. 2. Should the school determine intervention is necessary, the parent/guardian will be contacted by the School Nurse. 3. Teacher will conduct observations and request classroom support. 4. Conscious Discipline strategies will be reviewed with staff. 5. The Inclusion Specialist will arrange a parent conference. 6. The Inclusion Specialist will maintain contact to assess the effectiveness of the Interventions and progress with the referral. 7
Curriculum and Assessment Head Start/NCPK uses Creative Curriculum. Lesson plans are language- and literacy-based and developed according to the children s developmental needs. Projects are presented and based on the children s interest. Center activities and materials are based on the vocabulary and concepts for each project. In addition, children s progress is assessed using Teaching Strategies GOLD, an online assessment tool, and conducted three times per year. Parents will receive a progress report during parent conferences. We also use the Classroom Assessment Scoring system (CLASS) and the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) as classroom assessment tools to determine classroom quality. Childcare licensing regulations mandate that a certain amount of each day is spent in outdoor play, center time play, and teacher directed activities. Daily schedules and lesson plans are posted within each classroom for parents to review. A developmental screening is conducted for all children. Once children have been accepted and enrolled into the program, each child will be screened in the following areas: hearing, vision, height, weight, and dental. These screenings will take place at the program site. Teachers will conduct daily on-going assessments. Student outcomes are also collected through the Teaching Strategies GOLD system. A collection of notes about your child s development, digital pictures documenting children s skills and activities, a collection of work samples, and treatment data will be collected and shared with parents on a regular basis. The results of the assessment will be shared with you during your parent/teacher conferences. Parents are encouraged to register and access their child s information online through TeachingStrategies.com. 8
Health Services All children enrolled in the Head Start and NCPK programs are required to have screenings within 30 calendar days of enrollment. The following will be included: Ø Vision Screening Ø Hearing Screening Ø Social/Emotional Screening Ø Height & Weight Ø Developmental Screening Ø Lead Screening Physical Exams: Each child MUST have a physical examination within the previous 12 months, which includes a lead screening. All children should have a medical physician. Cabarrus County Schools Preschool Programs require children to present a health assessment and immunization record within 30 calendar days of enrollment. Your child will be asked not to come to school until these guidelines are met. Brushing Teeth Self-care oral hygiene is emphasized daily as part of the classroom experience. Head Start children brush their teeth daily in conjunction with a meal. Head Start provides toothbrushes and toothpaste. 9
Nutrition Restrictive Diets The goals of the food program are to provide nutritious and appetizing meals and snacks for children, introduce different types of foods, and help teach good eating habits. In keeping with childcare licensing rules, children must be served items on the approved menu. Our program provides snacks and meals at no cost to families. We are only able to provide the meals on the menu. If your child cannot eat the food offered on the menu due to medical needs, you will need to send their lunch or collaborate with the school to provide a special diet. A special diet form from the physician is required. The form will need to state the reason for the special diet and what the child cannot eat. Please remember that all food products must be nut-free. The school nurse will work with each family to assure a healthy meal pattern. If you prefer your child not eat the school lunch, you have the option of sending the lunch. The proper paperwork will need to be completed. The school can provide a snack, and you can provide lunch, or you can provide both snack and lunch. If you provide meals, you will need to send them in a sealed, clear bag with the child s name and the current date on the outside of the bag. Lunch boxes cannot be accepted. The food will be placed in the refrigerator and will be served straight from the refrigerator. We do not have the equipment nor are we allowed to reheat food. Please know that we will work with individual families to ensure the best food option for your child. * WE ARE A NUT-FREE FACILITY - NO NUTS OR NUT-BASED PRODUCTS OF ANY TYPE ARE ALLOWED * 10
Medications If your child must have medication, either prescription and/or over-the-counter, during school hours, you have the following choices: 1. You may come to school and give the medication to your child at the appropriate time(s). 2. You may obtain a copy of a Physician Authorization of Prescription and Non-prescription Medication form from the School Nurse. This form must be completed and signed by a physician and signed by a parent/guardian. Once completed, classroom staff or the school nurse will administer the medication. 3. You may discuss with your child s doctor an alternative schedule for administering medication outside school hours. Prescription medicines must be brought to school in a pharmacy-labeled bottle. Over-the-counter drugs must be received in the original container. Both must be labeled with administration instructions and your child s name. Over the counter medication will be administered according to the doctor s written instructions. Medications must be delivered to the School Nurse by an adult. School personnel will not administer any medication to students unless they have received a medication form properly completed and signed by the doctor; and the medication has been received in an appropriately labeled container. To protect the safety of your child, there will be no exceptions to this policy. If you have any questions about this policy, or other issues related to the administration of medication in the schools, please contact the School Nurse. If your child is subject to unusual health hazards such as an allergy to bee stings and/or requires special medical intervention (e.g., asthma, diabetes, seizures, etc.), please notify the School Nurse. You will need to complete a care plan form with specific instructions for your child. At the conclusion of a student s treatment, the unused medication must be removed from the school by the parent. (See teacher at final conference). 11
Illness If a child is not able to participate in the daily activities, including outdoor time, due to sickness, he/she should not attend school. Due to staffing ratios and visual supervision regulations, children will not be allowed to stay indoors while their classroom participates in outdoor activities. Our center will call you concerning your child if any of the following conditions occur: Diarrhea; nausea or vomiting; fever over 99 degrees auxiliary or 100 degrees tympanic; earache; sore throat; skin rash or open sores; if the child appears excessively sleepy or lethargic. If you have any questions about this policy or other issues related to the administration of medication in the schools, please contact the School Nurse. If you wish to be called in circumstances other than those listed above, please indicate that on the Emergency form. Please keep all phone contact numbers up-to-date. It is a good idea to have substitute child care planned for emergencies. Please call to reschedule parent conferences and home visits should you or a family member become ill. Contagious Illnesses: If your child has had a communicable disease, such as measles, strep throat, chicken pox, virus, flu, etc., he/she should not be sent to school. Please contact our School Nurse for information about what you need to do before your child is permitted back into the classroom. Some illnesses will require a note from your child s medical provider before your child may reenter the classroom. IF YOUR CHILD HAS A FEVER, IS VOMITING OR HAS DIARRHEA DURING THE NIGHT, PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL THE FOLLOWING DAY. CHILDREN MUST BE SYMPTOM- FREE FOR 24 HOURS WITHOUT MEDICATION BEFORE RETURNING TO SCHOOL. Germs can spread to other children and staff by puzzles, toys, and sneezes. Children who are sick will be considered "excused" from class or home visits. 12
Field Trips Field trips will be held on a limited basis. Information concerning trips will be provided, and permission slips are required. If the permission slip is not returned, a child may not attend a scheduled field trip. Background checks for any attending adults must be completed prior to the trip. Home Visits Your child's teacher will schedule home visits with you at least twice during the school year. The teacher will talk with you about your child's progress, accomplishments, and any problems he/she may be experiencing. Your child s teacher also welcomes the opportunity to talk with you about your child at other times. The best time for parent/teacher conferences is after school dismissal. School Readiness Plan or School Improvements The basic principle of the School Leadership Team is to hear and address concerns, perceptions, and ideas of staff members and parents. The function of the SLT is to facilitate the involvement of the school community in designing and implementing the School Readiness Plan; coordinate activities associated with the design and implementation of the School Readiness Plan; and encourage, support, and create opportunities for involvement for parents of the community. 13
Grievance Policy In the event that a person has a grievance with regard to their child s Early Childhood Program, the parent must first seek resolution of that grievance with their child s teacher. If the parent does not feel satisfied with the results of that meeting, the parent may contact the Head Start/NCPK Administrator. If the Head Start/NCPK Administrator cannot resolve the grievance, she will refer the grievance, depending on the program, to the appropriate higher authority for review. If the issue is not resolved, the parent may appeal to the Cabarrus County Board of Education. Confidentiality/HIPPA It is the policy of the Cabarrus County Preschool Programs to hold in the strictest confidence all information and records regarding any child or family involved with the program. Per our Policy on Privacy Rights, no information is released without the written consent of the child s parents or legal guardian, except in the case of an emergency or other situation in which we are legally bound and/or it is in the best interest of your child for us to do so. This includes disclosure of information to consumer advocates such as a Guardian Ad Litem or a DSS Social Worker. These persons are responsible for the safeguarding of any and all confidential information as required by HIPPA. We may also disclose confidential information for the purposes of general research or clinical, financial or administrative audits if there is a need for such information. Persons receiving confidential information may not directly or indirectly identify any child in any report of the research, or audit or otherwise identify the child. We may also disclose information, as necessary, to healthcare providers regarding any Advance Instruction pertaining to healthcare. All staff and volunteer information is considered confidential as well. All staff and regular volunteers sign assurance of confidentiality statements annually. Abuse and Neglect Reporting Anyone who is aware that a child has an injury or a physical or mental condition that appears to be caused by abuse or neglect must report it immediately to law enforcement or to the Department of Human Services. If the reporting person gives their name, it will be kept confidential. Those who report in good faith are immune from criminal or civil liability as a result of the report. Cabarrus County Schools Early Childhood Program staff have training in child abuse detection and reporting and follows the laws of the State of North Carolina. 14
Parent Committee There are many opportunities for you to be involved in your child s school. Whether attending field trips, parent meetings, or being on committees, your help is always appreciated. Parents are needed to serve on the Head Start Policy Council, the Health Services Advisory Committee, and the School Improvement Team. Teachers welcome volunteers to help with activities in their classrooms. Your child s teacher will discuss this with you further at your first home visit. Every Long School Parent is automatically a member of the Parent Committee. Long Preschool regularly schedules monthly Parent Committee Meetings. These meetings include training programs on child development, parenting, nutrition, crafts and other activities for YOU. Also, this group makes decisions about our program, including special events for the children. Please try to attend and be involved in this parent group. It is a chance to meet other parents, learn, and HAVE FUN too! Policy Council Each year a Head Start Policy Council must be formed. Head Start Parents are elected to represent the Head Start Program. Representatives from the community are elected to serve as well. The Policy Council works with the Cabarrus County School Board of Education and key management staff to develop, revise, and approve or disapprove specific policies and procedures for the Head Start Program. 15
Kindergarten Transition At the end of each school year, each program will assist the parents of rising kindergarten students in enrolling their child in the appropriate kindergarten program at their home school. Some children will attend other schools. Parents will be invited to a parent workshop on Transition to Kindergarten. Every effort is made to assist the family in a smooth transition. If a child has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), special planning and discussion will take place before the IEP team makes recommendations for a child s transition to kindergarten. The child s IEP Team will meet to review/revise the IEP as necessary to assure that all appropriate services are in place for the coming school year. 16
Cabarrus County Schools Early Childhood Education Programs Parents Signature Page I have received, read, understand and agree to the policies and procedures outlined in this Cabarrus county Schools Early childhood Education Programs (Head Start/NCPK). Parent Signature Date I have read and agree with the Cabarrus County Schools Early Childhood Education Programs parent handbook. 17