Policies & General Info:

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A
Absences When your child returns to school following an absence, you must send a note explaining the reason for the absence. This is important! Allergies Please advise us of any allergies or dietary restrictions your child has. Alphabet We focus on alphabet recognition and letter-sound identification throughout the year. Arrival upon arrival through the main entrance, children will proceed to the auditorium, where they will be supervised (after 8:00) until I pick them up at 8:20. Art Children will regularly have the opportunity to explore many types of art media, including crayons, paint, markers, pencils, collage materials, many different types of paper, etc. We incorporate open-ended art, as well as more structured craft projects. Assessments
Children are assessed on their progress in all academic areas including their knowledge of letters, numbers, shapes and colors, plus fine motor skills like pencil grip and cutting with scissors.

B

Behavior Plan It is important for children to know what is expected of them in the classroom. At the beginning of the school year, we will discuss and decide upon appropriate rules. These will be clearly posted. Some children may need to be warned about their behavior. A child who continues to misbehave will be removed from the activity, and have a time-out. Parents will be informed. Please speak with your child regularly about the importance of good behavior in school. Birthdays We love birthday celebrations! If you would like to bring in goodies for the class, that's fine. It is best to bring in individualy wrapped items. Also, something that is easy to serve and clean up is appreciated. Bookbags No wheeled bookbags, please, as we go up and down stairs. Please remember to look through your child's bookbag every day to see if I have sent anything home in the folder. Book Orders Every month I will send home a Scholastic book order form. This is entirely optional, however I strongly recommend it. You don't have to spend a lot (and you shouldn't!) There are always books available for $1 or so, and the children love it. You may either send the order to school with your child, or order online using our class code, which is H2QP4. BoxTops For Education Save up and send in those box tops! They help our school, and the class that sends in the most receives a pizza or ice cream party. Breakfast Breakfast is served daily, free of charge. It is usually cold cereal, and either eggs, yogurt, bagels, pancakes, or turkey bacon/sausage, plus juice and low fat milk.

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Calendar As part of our morning routine, we review the days of the week and months of the year. The calendar is also rich in math applications. I will also send home a monthly calendar so you can see what we are learning each month. Centers Our regular centers include Library, Writing, Dramatic Play, Blocks, Art, Science, Music, Computer. Occasionally there will be additional centers, such as "cooking", where children will follow picture recipes to produce an edible treat. Center activities are both teacher-directed, and at times, free choice. Research supports the theory that children at this age learn primarily through play and discovery. Change of clothing Accidents happen. Please send in a ziploc bag labeled with your child's name. Community We strive to create a community of learners in a warm, supportive environment. Curriculum Although it may seem like there is a lot of playing in pre-k, all activities and lessons are planned with attention to the NY State Standards as well as the Common Core Standards. We also set goals in accordance with the Creative Curriculum and Everyday Math.

D

Dismissal Pre-K dismissal is 2:40 at the Manor Ct. exit. This can be very chaotic, with many classes being dismissed at once. When a parent or caregiver is late, it can be very upsetting to the child. Please try to arrive a few minutes early. Also, if you need to have someone else pick up your child, make sure you notify me in advance. Donations We are always on the lookout for miscellaneous like ribbon, fabric scraps and other decorative items that you might otherwise throw out.

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E-mail ehunt122@gmail.com Everday Math Remember to support our learning in class by utilizing the suggestions in the books you received at Orientation.

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Friends & Fun It's nice to see relationships forming, as the children learn important social concepts like sharing and cooperation.

G

Germs We emphasize good hygeine in class. We wash our hands frequently and also use hand sanitizer when appropriate. Despite our best efforts, though, pre-k is a breeding ground for germs. Goals Our goals were outlined in the packet you received at orientation. Pre-K is a school-readiness program. We aim to have all children show dramatic progress from September to June, and be able to face the rigorous kindergarten curriculum.

H
Healthy Snack Since we eat lunch at 10:38, it is important to send in a healthy snack for the afternoon. Some choices are fruit, baby carrots, a small sandwich, yogurt. Cookies or chips are acceptable only as an occasional treat.Homework Occasionally there will be family projects. In addition, you are encouraged to reinforce what we are learning in class at home.

I
Illness Please! If your child is sick, do not send him to school, especially with a fever. It will only prolong the illness, and infect others. We realize it can be difficult for a working parent, but you must make arrangements for this. You will be called to pick up a sick child. Independence When children learn to do things for themselves, they develop a sense of pride and maturity. We teach them to do things like open their own milk containers, pour it into their cereal bowls, zip their own jackets, etc.

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Jokes This is the age when children begin to develop a sense of humor. They especially love knock-knock jokes.

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Kindness We live by the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Bullying and being mean to others is not tolerated.

L
Language Development The preschool years are a critical time for speech, language and vocabulary development. Four-year-olds are beginning to follow more complex speech patterns and start to use correct grammar and sentence structure. Our literacy-rich curriculum allows many opportunities for growth in this area, especially for English Language Learners. Lending Library On Mondays, your child will be allowed to borrow a book for a week. The book is to be returned on Friday, and then he will get another book the following Monday. Lunch Lunch is served in the lunchroom during 4th period, at 10:38. The children will be supervised by Mrs. Guido.

M
Math Throughout the year, lessons will address all the Math Standards including counting, comparing number of items, understanding simple addition, subtraction and patterns, measuring, sorting, and simple geometric concepts like shape recognition. You can reinforce this at home. Medication We are not allowed to administer medication of any kind. Period. Not even cough medicine. If your child requires medication, it will be on file at the nurse's office. Again, please do not send sick children to school. Music & Movement A big part of our day, we use music for many reasons--learning concepts, rhythym, patterns, quiet time,and activities that help children develop and strengthen their gross motor skills.

N
Non-attendance days There will be 2 to 4 days per year of mandated professional development. Pre-K children will not attend on those day. You will receive notification in advance.

O
P
Parent-Teacher Conferences There will be two official conferences scheduled, one in the fall and one in the spring. Parent Involvement We are a team. I am only with your child for a short time each day. You are your child's first--and most important--teacher! Parties and Celebrations We celebrate everything! There will be occasions when you might be asked to help out, such as during our Thanksgiving Feast. During other celebrations, like our Stepping Up ceremony in June, you will just be asked to attend and enjoy. Play Much of our curriculum is play-based, as research shows young children learn best through this approach. Procedures Children will learn the procedures for everything from lining up, walking in the hall, handling scissors correctly, putting toys away correctly, what to do with missing puzzle pieces, etc. It takes awhile, but we believe in repetition and reinforcement. (You didn't toilet train them in just one session, did you?)

Q

Questions If you ever have any questions or concerns, please email me and I will respond quickly. Although I will try to be accommodating, it is not possible for me to devote much time to you at dismissal. Quick goodbyes - leave dry eyes! Or the longer the goodbye, the longer the cry! At the beginning of the school year, separation can be difficult for some children (and some parents). When parents are reluctant to leave the classroom, it only prolongs the inevitable. I promise your child will stop crying. Really.

R
Reading We read every day, and also include many activities that encourage independent reading, such as making our own books. The classroom is a print-rich environment, and everything we do focuses on literacy development. Routines Children feel secure, and behavior tends to be better, when they know what is expected. This is true in the classroom as well as at home. Rules Children learn and are expected to follow class rules. They are generally designed to keep everyone safe and considerate of each other.

S
Socialization For some children, Pre-K is the first opportunity to interact with others. This is a critical period of social development. Social skills are taught by example, practice and reinforcement. Standards Lessons are aligned to NY State Standards, as well as the Common Core Standards, which are nationwide. Children are generally held to high expectations, although age and developmental considerations are taken into account at this level. Some Pre-K kids will turn 5 in January, while others will turn 4 in December. That's a whole year of developmental range!

T
Technology We are very fortunate to have a SmartBoard in our room. This is an interactive white board, and it is an amazing tool for teaching and learning. We also have a computer, which the children can use during center time.

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