• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
Gerrish Higgins School District
Early Childhood Education Program
Busy Bees Preschool
Parent Handbook 2009-2010
Table of Contents
 Philosophy of Our Program
•
Cover……………………………………...
1
•
Dear Parent: Welcome!.............................
 
3
•
Adult/Child Ratios.....................................
3
•
Fees.............................................................
3
•
Eligibility....................................................
3
•
Home Visitations/Conferences.………..….
3
•
Attendance……...…………………………
4
•
Dress Policy.....………………………….
4
•
Transportation/Pick up & Drop Off….….
4
•
Parent Involvement Guidelines…………..
5
•
Privacy Policy……………………………
6
•
Home/School Communication………..….
6
•
Withdrawal Policy……………………….
7
 
•
Emergency Closings……………………..
7
 Health Care Policies and Resources
•
 Nutrition…………………………………..
7
•
Headlice......................................................
7
•
Medication..................................................
7
•
Illness and Injury………………………….
8
•
Hand washing……………………………..
8
•
Cleaning of Equipment.............................
8
•
Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids………
9
•
Health Care & Healthy Living Resources...
9
•
Community Public Health AgencyMemorandum…………………………….
10
•
Summary of Immunization Requirements..
11
 Preschool Behavior Plan & Program Calendar and Schedule
•
School & Classroom Rules………………
12
•
Behavior Plan.…………………………...
12
 
•
Cozy Cave.................................................
13
•
Class Session .............................………...
14
•
Daily Schedule…………………………...
14
•
Calendar……..…………………………...
16
Child Development 
•
Rationale Developed for Usinga Process Approach…………………….....
17
•
You Can’t Help Me Until You KnowWhat I Can Do…………………………
18
•
Vision, Mission, Motto…………….……
20
1
 
2009-2010
 
Program PhilosophyDear Parent: Welcome!
We welcome you and your child to the Gerrish-Higgins Great Start Readiness Program. We are lookingforward to giving your child the best learning experience we can offer.Our program will allow your child to explore the preschool environment and actively engage indiscovery based learning. The process of learning is emphasized over the product he/she creates. Weoffer an array of developmentally appropriate activities that will help each individual child developsocial, emotional, cognitive, motor, language and literacy skills. The children learn through play atcenter time with support from the teachers. The children will receive direct instruction during smallgroup time to further develop cognitive, language, and literacy skills. We will use a combination of teacher/student lead activities during whole group experiences that emphasize all domains of development. To best prepare your son or daughter for the challenging world of school we will guidehis or her development throughout the day toward positive social interactions with his/her peers and helpeach child become aware of his/her self worth.We hope that each child will achieve individual and group readiness skills. The program will offer opportunities to grow by creating an emotionally & physically safe environment which encourages thestudent to explore, create, develop, and learn. Our program is designed to reinforce the skills that your children should be learning at home. Those skills include learning colors, shapes, counting, letter recognition and how to spell and write his/her name.We feel the parent is the key to the child’s world. Therefore, parents are welcome to visit the classroomat any time. With your input, assistance, and support we can truly make this school year a successful beginning to a long career in education.
Adult-to-Child Ratio
There will be a staff member present at all times during the class session. The adult-to-child ratio for theclassroom will typically be 1:8. The teacher will have an assistant as well as parents visiting theclassroom throughout the school year making the ratio smaller at times.
Fees
There are no fees for this program.
Eligibility
Children are eligible for the Gerrish-Higgins Early Childhood Education Program if they are four yearsold by December 1 of this year and can document their need for this type of program. Eligible childrenmust meet and provide documentation for at least two risk factors. Those children who match themajority number of criteria are given priority.
Home Visitation
The teacher is required to visit with the parents and their child in their home once a semester for a totalof two visits (
 see Early Childhood Calendar, page 23, for dates
.) The teacher will arrange a time that isconvenient for the family. During these visits, the teacher will meet with the parent to complete paperwork, review the handbook, provide transportation information and answer any questions. Theassistant teacher will make and play concept games with your child and suggest ideas for practicing basic skills, like colors, shapes, and numbers, at home.2
 
Parent/Teacher/Preschooler Conferences
At Busy Bees Preschool, we prefer student led conferences. This is a special time where you come toschool with your preschooler to participate in some classroom activities and talk to the teacher. Your child will complete a few activities for you to observe what he/she has learned at preschool. You willthen meet with the teacher to discuss your child’s developmental growth.
Attendance Policy
Before your child can attend school, all necessary paperwork must be completed. The followinginformation must be provided:
•
Birth Certificate
•
Proof of Residency in the Gerrish-Higgins School District
•
Social Security Number 
•
Immunization Record
•
Physical
•
At-risk Document with two supporting documentsWe expect your child to be in school every day that school is in session, unless he/she is ill or a familyemergency makes this impossible. If your child is absent, please call the school to explain the situation.If absences are excessive (more than 12), we will have to conference with the parents to see if the problem can be resolved. Your child may be asked to withdraw from the program if absences areunexcused or excessive. Our program maintains a waiting list of students and it is only fair to give theman opportunity to participate.
Dress Policy
Please send your son or daughter in play clothes that are comfortable and washable. Children will participate in a variety of activities that require the use of paints and markers. Please note that the DressCode Policy, as written in the St. Helen Elementary School Student-Parent Handbook (
Section 4.5, page16 
) will be regularly enforced. Please do not allow your child to wear flip-flops to school; it is a safetyhazard because many children fall during outdoor play, Physical Education class, and when walking upand down the stairs to the loft.
Please send an extra outfit in your child’s back pack every day in case of spills or accidents.
Weather permitting, the children will play out-of-doors every day. In the winter, we play outdoors everyday unless the temperature drops below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Each child will need to bring warmouter clothing, including a hat, mittens, boots, and a coat and snow pants or a snowsuit.
Please putyour child’s name or initials on his/her backpack and winter clothing!!!
We emphasize self-helpskills, but some four year olds have trouble keeping track of all their belongings. The teachers also havetrouble keeping track of 16 pairs of snow pants and miscellaneous mittens.
Transportation Information
Parents or their designated representatives are responsible for transporting their child to and fromschool. If they are unable to provide transportation or would prefer an alternate option, parents maycontact the Roscommon Transit at 989-366-5309.It is the policy of the program that we (Gerrish-Higgins Early Childhood Education Program) cannot beresponsible for children riding any form of public transportation (such as the Roscommon Mini Bus) andonly assume responsibility once they arrive on school grounds. A staff member from Busy BeePreschool will walk the children to and from the mini bus, but Busy Bee Preschool is not responsible for the children once they leave the school grounds.3
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...