PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM PARENT HANDBOOK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Philosophy
Discipline
Staff
Daily Classroom Schedule
General Policies
A. Attendance
B. School Closings
C. Health Policies
D. Snack
E. Transportation
F. Personal Items
G. Rules
H. Field Trips
I. Outdoor/Indoor Play
Welcome to the Indian Creek Prekindergarten Program. In this handbook, you will find very important information regarding the practices and policies of the program. Please read the handbook thoroughly and carefully. We anticipate a wonderful year with all of you and your children.
We, at Prekindergarten, believe that all children can learn and learn best through play. Every child is unique and learns at his or her own pace through the avenue of play. Play activities include block building, working on puzzles, dramatic play, creative art expression, etc. By providing activities that require children to have hands-on experiences, learning is taking place. These types of activities foster growth in all areas of children’s development:
1. Large Muscle
2. Small Eye-Hand Coordination
3. Social and Emotional Skills
4. Reasoning and Thinking
5. Language and Speech
These five key areas provide the framework for developing self-worth, self-discipline and positive experiences for young children.
Parents also play a key role in the Prekindergarten classroom. Children learn best when the home and school are working together, communicating information and supporting one another. We encourage and anticipate parents being involved in classroom experiences.
The Prekindergarten Program has developed a Resource Library specifically for parents and guardians. The library contains books, pamphlets and videos for parents to read and serves as additional support for parents and guardians.
We believe that children learn best through experiences. We believe that the teachers must lovingly guide and redirect the children to help them learn to cooperate with their peers and to have positive educational experiences. We desire to encourage and enhance their growth and development while in our care. We feel we can best accomplish these goals by:
1. Providing a variety of stimulating and interesting activities for the children that are age equivalent and developmentally appropriate.
2. Using group management techniques, limiting the number of children in each area of the room to avoid overcrowding and to allow for sufficient materials and the opportunity for constructive interactions.
3. Having a low ratio of adults to students.
4. Speaking with a child if their behavior is inappropriate for the area or material they are using. Example: we take blocks down; this is the way to use the paintbrush, etc.
5. Using positive language with the children to give praise for appropriate behavior or to encourage children when they are frustrated. Example: “You did a good job sitting in the circle, Sue.” Or “I can tell you are really thinking and trying hard, Jim. Let’s think of a different way together.”
Redirection and reinforcing appropriate behavior, combined together with praising children promotes a positive working environment for all of the children. If a problem still remains, then constant communications with the parents/guardians is vital to encouraging the child to act appropriately within the classroom. Any form of hitting, corporal punishment, abusive language, ridicule, harsh, humiliating, or frightening treatment is against our philosophy. None of these behaviors will ever take place at the Indian Creek Prekindergarten Program.
Our staff consists if a Certified teacher in the area of Early Childhood Education, a Speech and Language teacher, a qualified Teacher’s Aide and a nurse who comes once a month. All of the staff will be working together to provide your child with the skills he/she needs for further schooling.
The Indian Creek Prekindergarten Program will meet:
Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
12:15 PM – 3:15 PM
Our routine for each day will consist of:
Calendar/Weather Time Listening Time
Free Play Story Time
Outdoor Play/Gym Time Small Group Activities
Snack Music/Art/Cooking
Large Group Activities
The Indian Creek Prekindergarten Program follows the schedule of holidays and vacations for Indian Creek Community Unit School District #425.
It is required that parents/guardians contact the school if your child will not be attending. If your child also rides a bus, please call the bus barn and leave a message. If a child will be gone for vacation, please let us know one week in advance. If possible, call between 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM.
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS: Waterman Elementary
264-3351
Indian Creek Bus Barn
824-2128
B. SCHOOL CLOSINGS
If the public schools close for snow or bad weather, the Indian Creek Prekindergarten Program will also be closed. Please do not call the teachers, secretary, principal or school office to see if school is cancelled. Please listen to local radio stations for school closings.
WSPY 107 FM
WLBK 1360 AM
WDEK 92.5 FM
1. District policy states that parents/guardians furnish the school with a certified copy of the student’s birth certificate prior to the first day.
2. A recent health physical and immunization record must be on file before your child begins class.
(including Chicken Pox Vaccine)
3. Your child, upon entrance, must have completed the Hepatitis B inoculation series.
4. If your child appears to be ill, please do not send him or her to school.
5. A child must be free of an elevated temperature 24 hours before returning to school.
6. If your child is infested with head lice, he or she will be excluded from school until the problem is solved.
7. Parents will be notified of any reported conditions of head lice.
8. A list of emergency phone numbers must be on file with the school in case your child needs to be sent home.
D. SNACK
Parents/Guardians will need to provide snack for approximately 4 different weeks of the year for the class. Please send your child’s snacks for the week on Monday. The class will consist of 10-15 students. We encourage healthy and nutritional snacks for the children. Here are some suggestions:
Popcorn Cereal Mix Fruit
Vegetables Muffins Banana Bread
Sandwiches Granola Bars Cheese and Crackers
Pretzels Jell-O Pudding
We do have access to both a refrigerator and microwave. The children are required to take two bites at snack, please explain this so your child is aware of this rule. Also, if your child is allergic to any food, please make sure this is noted on your parent questionnaire.
Milk and juice will also be a part of snack every day. We will have milk on Monday and Wednesday and juice on Tuesday and Thursday. Parents are asked to send in two 64 ounce bottles of 100% juice such as Juicy Juice at the beginning of the year. We will send a note about when we need more, probably during second semester. Milk will be paid for by parents during registration. The following chart shows milk costs for the year including amount due each month.
MONTH # OF MILK DAYS COST
August 2 $ .40
September 8 1.60
October 8 1.60
November 8 1.60
December 6 1.20
January 8 1.60
February 7 1.40
March 8 1.60
April 5 1.00
May 8 1.60
June 1 .20
69 $13.80
E. TRANSPORTATION
Bus service will be provided for your child from Shabbona, Lee, and South of Route 30 in Waterman. The same pick-up and drop-off site is required. The bus runs on a schedule so we must have the sites the same. If your child goes to a sitter, we need to know so we aren’t planning for him/her to be picked up at their home address. If a certain circumstance requires a change in site pick-up or drop-off, you must notify us in writing or by phone one week in advance so we can make arrangements. If there is no notification, then the child goes to his/her regular site. No exceptions so please plan accordingly. The bus driver will be contacting you about the time of pick-up for your child at the beginning of the year.
F. PERSONAL ITEMS
The Indian Creek Prekindergarten Program has a wide variety of toys that will keep your child’s interest. Therefore, your child’s toys need to be left at home. There will be opportunities for the children to share items from home, but those times will be announced in advance. If there is something special your child would like to share, please let us know so we can make plans.
G. RULES
We do encourage specific rules within the classroom that provide a positive and safe environment for all. They include:
-We save running for outside or gym play. Walking is used inside.
-We encourage the use of words to express our feelings instead of hitting or kicking.
-Each child is treated with respect. All children are unique and special.
-Quiet voices are used inside the building. Loud voices are used in the gym or outside.
-There are many toys available for every child. Taking turns and sharing is both encouraged and required.
-The toys and books we have need to be handled gently and treated well for future classes.
-Children must address the teachers as Miss or Mrs. not by just calling out “teacher.”
-Children are free to use their time however they choose during free choice, but if problems occur, we will have to ask the child to move away or split the children up.
-A full set of clothes (pants, shirt, socks, underwear) is to be kept at school for emergencies. Please send winter clothes and summer clothes when weather changes.
H. FIELD TRIPS
Field trips will be planned throughout the year. Parents will be notified at least one week in advance. Parents are also welcome to come along as chaperones when space allows, but additional children are not allowed. Permission slips must be signed and dated before a child can be allowed to attend. Please be aware there may be a small fee for places we visit. We try to keep the cost to a minimum.
I. OUTDOOR/INDOOR PLAY
The children will be involved in indoor and outdoor activities, weather permitting. Outdoor activities may include riding bikes, swinging, slides, sand play, etc. Indoor activities will be in the gym using balls, bean bags, hoops, etc. Always dress your child appropriately for the weather. For example: hats, mittens, boots and snow pants for winter. If you feel that your child is not well enough to go outside, please keep him/her at home until he or she feels better.
J. CONFERENCES/HOME VISITS
A conference will be held at school in the fall in November. Sign up will be at registration in August.
We will also be having spring conferences in May. We will schedule these in early spring. A home visit is when the teachers visit you and your child in your home. We are there to talk about your child’s progress, not to judge you or your home. This is a great experience for the child to make the connection from home to school and to be aware that the home and school work together as a team. We try our hardest to accommodate your schedule. We have many home visits, so please stick to the time and day that you write on your questionnaire.
All of these are a requirement for the program. Please make every effort to help your child by talking with us.