Telluride Early Childhood Center

Telluride Early Childhood Center

Family Handbook

Last Updated: August 2015

Welcome

on the following pages you will find detailed information regarding the policies and procedures of the TECC. Please feel free to contact the Director should you have any questions about any of our policies and/or procedures.

The Telluride School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age or disability with respect to access, employment programs, or services. Inquiries or complaints concerning these matters should be brought to the attention of: Director of Human Resources, 970-369-1231. Address: Human Resources 721 W. Colorado Avenue Telluride, CO 81435.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION TO THE TELLURIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

TELLURIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT PURPOSE STATEMENT

TELLURIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER’S MISSION STATEMENT

CURRICULUM GOALS

PROGRAM QUALITY

HOURS OF OPERATION

CENTER CALENDAR

ENROLLMENT

PLACEMENT

OPERATIONAL POLICIES

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

DEPARTURE

ATTENDANCE

BIRTHDAYS/HOLIDAYS

BRINGING ITEMS FROM HOME

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

LEGAL CUSTODY ISSUES

CLOTHING AND INDIVIDUAL SUPPLIES

DISCIPLINE & GUIDANCE TECHNIQUES

DISCIPLINE

GUIDANCE

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

FIELD TRIPS

ILLNESS AND ACCIDENTS

ACCIDENTS

MEALS AND SNACKS

MEDICATIONS

NAPTIME

PARENTAL NOTIFICATIONS

RELEASE OF CHILDREN

TOILET LEARNING

TUITION AND FEES

WATER ACTIVITIES

FAMILY COMMUNICATION, INVOLVEMENT, AND SUPPORT

PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION

PARENT CONFERENCES

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

FAMILY COMMUNITY RESOURCES

FAMILY SURVEYS

COMPlAINT PROCEDURE

INTRODUCTION TOTHE TELLURIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

We welcome you and your family to the Telluride Early Childhood Center and look forward to a mutually satisfying teacher-parent relationship. We feel that we can work best together to create a welcoming environment for all children if we understand and share the same guidelines and expectations. These policies were written to provide a clear description of what parents can expect of the Telluride Early Childhood Center and what the Telluride Early Childhood Center expects of parents.

TELLURIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT PURPOSE STATEMENT

Mission Statement:Through quality education, our students will achieve personal success.As a result of our efforts students will:

Master rigorous academic standards required to meet the challenges oftheir future
Direct and own their learning through the use of effective tools and processes
Interact globally and contribute locally to improve the human condition and environment
Be ethical and healthy individuals

TELLURIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER’S MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Telluride Early Childhood Center (TECC) is to cultivate in young children the disposition to be a life-long learner.

The purpose of the TECC is to provide a high quality, developmentally appropriate, bilingual early childhood program that supports the growth, development, and education of children and their families while creating a model of quality early childhood education.

Our program serves children ages two and a half to five years through various programs, including:

Early Childhood Special Education – Children who are experiencing developmental delays (i.e., physical, intellectual, communication, social or emotional) receive therapeutic services over and above the typical preschooler, as outlined in an IFSP/IEP.
Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) – Because of certain risk factors identified by the CO Legislature that may affect their school-readiness, some children qualify for services to help prepare them for kindergarten.
Typically Developing Children – Some families elect to enroll in the program to enable their child to share in this important educational experience.

CURRICULUM GOALS

TECC has adopted the Creative Curriculum, a comprehensive curriculum aligned with the Colorado Early Learning Standards. Using exploration and discovery as a way of learning, the Creative Curriculum is designed to develop confidence, creativity, and lifelong critical thinking skills. Some of the objectives for development and learning that are targeted include:

Developing safe and healthy habits in young children with an emphasis on proper hygiene, sound nutrition, exercise and physical care.
Fostering positive self-esteem.
Providing opportunities for creative expression.
Supporting the development of social skills such as sharing, cooperation, generosity and empathy.
Stimulating cognitive problem-solving skills with an emphasis on the concepts of cause and effect, classification, serialization, space, time, numbers, shape, and colors.
Strengthening communication skills necessary for listening, reading, writing, and speaking by providing an environment rich in the practical uses of words.
Developing foundational skills in second-language proficiency and an appreciation for and understanding of diverse cultures
Enhancing fine motor and gross motor skills.
Practicing decision-making by selecting activities from a variety of learning centers (i.e. language, sensory, science, blocks, manipulatives).

The curriculum emphasizes developmentally appropriate play experiences.

For the specific objectives addressed at each age level, consult with your child’s teacher. Developmentally appropriate activities are planned and implemented in each group. The daily schedules provide for a balance between child-directed and teacher-directed activities, quiet and active time, as well as inside and outside play. Children have daily opportunities to read books, use a variety of art media, explore math and science materials, experience music, and work alone or together with friends.

TECC also is a dual language model bilingual program where native speaking children learn English and Spanish alongside one another; this model provides a unique opportunity for children to learn another language in a natural way. Each of the classrooms are staffed with (1) Spanish-speaking teacher and (1) English-speaking teacher, such that each day there is a different target language.We shall make every effort to communicate effectively with all families in a language that they understand. Program information is available in both English and Spanish in print form; Spanish-speaking families can communicate with designated TECC staff or the TSD Cultural Liaison, Ursula Cristol (970-369-7102); a Spanish-speaking interpreter is available during Parent Conferences, the Enrollment Process, etc. We shall use community resources for translation and interpretation when we do not have sufficient resources within our own program. If your family requires information in your home language other than Spanish, arrangements can be made upon request through use of an interpreter.

PROGRAM QUALITY

High quality early childhood education programs benefit children. Children who experience a quality program have greater academic success, enhanced self-esteem, and increased self-control. There are three factors present in high quality programs:

Developmentally appropriate group sizes
Staff educated in Early Childhood Education or Child Development
Parent involvement

In accordance with CPP guidelines, the TECC maintains a maximum group size of 16 students per classroom and a teacher to student ratio of 1:8; in the event that a classroom teacher is absent, a qualified substitute will be scheduled,through the AESOP Substitute Management System, to maintain group size/ratios. The TECC is committed to employing well-trained personnel with 75% of staff holding Early Childhood Credentials Level II or higher. In addition, all staff members receive a minimum of 15 hours of professional development per year, as well as training in CPR and first aid. Our teaching team also includes a State Certified Early Childhood Special Education Teacher to support all learners. We are very proud of the educational levels of our staff.

The Telluride Early Childhood Center is licensed through the Colorado Office of Early Childhood and has received a Level III Quality Rating. As part of the Quality Rating process, our program has developed a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) that reflects goals, timelines and expected outcomes to increase the quality of our program, based in part on input from families collected twice annually in a Parent Survey. This QIP is updated annually and shared via monthly newsletter with families; it is also available for viewing in the Director’s office upon request.

For information regarding licensing rules and regulations please contact:

Child Care Licensing : 303-866-5088

Child Abuse Hotline : 1-844-264-5437

Licensing Website:

Parents may review the latest licensing report at any time; it is located on the bulletin board in the Director’s office. Parents may review a copy of the Child Care Regulations at any time by asking the administrative staff or by visiting the Licensing website.

For more information about program quality and recommended staff qualifications call:

National Academy of Early Childhood Programs:1-800-424-2460

CO Association for the Education of Young Children:1-888-892-2772

Colorado Shines:1-844-447-4441

HOURS OF OPERATION

The Telluride Early Childhood Center is open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.The center provides services for children from 36 months to 5 years of age. Parents are welcome to visit the program at any time.

CENTER CALENDAR

The Telluride Early Childhood Center follows the Telluride Elementary School Calendar. In addition, the TECC offers an 8-week summer program. Please refer to the TECC Calendarfor a complete listing of holidays and closures; a copy is posted in each of the two classrooms for your reference. Parents will be notified well in advance of closures.

ENROLLMENT

All children must be enrolled before attending the center. Parents are encouraged to participate in a center tourand must attend an orientation session to discuss the transition of your child from home/other program to TECC. During the orientation session, we will develop a transition plan based on the individual needs of your child and identify strategies (e.g., bringing in a comfort item, making a family picture book, etc.) to make the transition as smooth as possible for your child. A complete enrollment packet must be submitted to the center prior to your child’s first day of attendance:

It is very important that the parent/guardian keep the information current at all times. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to inform the Center staff of any change of address, telephone number, work/training status, family size and income, etc.

PLACEMENT

Our goal is for your child to be placed where his/her individual needs will be met and interests will be challenged. The placements of children in a classroom are determined by a number of factors including, but not limited to, age, developmental level, home language, gender, etc. In addition, we are committed to the formation of a strong emotional bond with teachers and thus staff are assigned to a particular group of children for the duration of the school year to ensure consistency and continuity of practices.The TECC staff will continuously monitor children’s development to determine optimal placement. For those children who will enter kindergarten the next year, atransition plan, based on your child’s individual needs, will be developed to facilitate next placement; these plans are shared with families during the Parent Conference.Some of the transition activities which will occur include, visiting the kindergarten classroom, participating in recess with kindergarteners, and meeting kindergarten teachers. If we are unable to meet the needs of a child, alternatives will be discussed with parents/guardians and the child’s teachers.

OPERATIONAL POLICIES

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

ARRIVAL:

We request that children arrive daily by 8:30 a.m. This allows children to participate fully in the daily activities. If your child must arrive after 8:30 a.m. due to an emergency or doctor’s appointment, you must call to inform the Center office that your child will be late. Consistently arriving after 8:30 a.m. may result in your child’s dismissal.

These policies have been established with the best interest of the child in mind. Children are often confused and/or angry when they miss the morning activities. Also when a child sleeps late, he or she is not ready to rest during naptime and that can often be disruptive to the other children who are trying to rest.

Arrivals duringlunch & naptime are not allowed.

Per Colorado Child Care Licensing Regulations, and for your child’s safety, children must be dropped off in the Classroom and released to the assigned staff.Be sure the teacher sees you and greets your child. Parents must sign their children in and out of the Center every day.

Please schedule a few minutes to spend with your child’s teacher every morning. This is an informal procedure that we need to do daily. If a teacher notices something about the child that was not mentioned at arrival, you may receive a phone call or an incident report at the end of the day. We know days can be hectic, but it is to everyone’s benefit for you to speak with your child’s teacher at arrival time. Every morning your child’s teacher will want to know how your child’s evening went. For example, they may ask how your child is feeling, whether they ate breakfast, or inquire about a bump or bruise that they notice. These little conversations that need to occur every morning have been found to increase parent-teacher communication and decrease the spread of communicable diseases. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Please note that some children may need a period of adjustment to the program and that separation anxiety is normal. Always reassure your child that you love him or her and that someone will be back to pick them up. It is helpful to develop a routine when dropping your child off in the morning. This will make the transition easier for them and for you.

DEPARTURE

When you pick your child up from the Center, be sure to sign him or her out and to check your PARENT MAILBOX; this is our way of communicating important information to all parents. Please also check your child’s cubbies daily for artwork, soiled clothing or notes to parents. Children will be asked to pick up materials that they are using before they leave the room or playground. Please assist your child in this learning process of being responsible for cleaning up. Plan to arrive a few minutes so you can interact with teacher. Pick-up time is another useful opportunity to interact with your child’s teacher and gain insight into the events of the day. A teacher may: 1) Ask for clarification on something your child did or said, 2) share an anecdote from your child’s day, or 3) request a more formal meeting time to discuss an issue further.

ATTENDANCE

Please call the Center(970-369-8919) by 9:00 a.m. if your child is going to be absent; Families receiving funding through CPP orCCAP must report absences according to program guidelines. If your child is sick, please keep us informed so that we can alert other parents to possible communicable diseases. Please refer to the Appendix for a list of communicable diseases that require exclusion.

BIRTHDAYS/HOLIDAYS

BIRTHDAYS:

If you would like to celebrate your child’s birthday, we ask that you coordinate with your child’s teacher. The center is happy to celebrate the birthday of each child in age-appropriate and healthy ways in the classroom. We encourage parents to actively involve their child in this important celebration. For instance, let your child decorate napkins or a tablecloth. The center can celebrate your child’s birthday with a song/recognition and special treat at our PM snack time.

At least 1 week prior to your child’s birthday, your child’s teacher(s) will provide you with a list of special treats from which you may choose to celebrate your child’s birthday. The TECC will then purchase the snack in time for the celebration.

No gifts will be exchanged other than ones children may create for each other during the day at school. Birthday invitations for parties away from the Center may be distributed at school only if all children in the class are invited; they can be distributed through the Parent Mailboxes in the lobby.

If you do not want your child’s birthday celebrated, please notify the center in advance in writing. Questions or concerns about this policy should be directed to the Director.

HOLIDAYS

At the Telluride Early Childhood Center, our goal is to provide consistent meaningful learning experiences for all children. Holidays should not interrupt, replace, or occupy an extended amount of children’s regular activities or daily routines. It is important to understand that many of the commercial aspects of holidays can be frightening, overwhelming, and/or lacking in meaning for young children. For example, children are often frightened or confused by such Halloween traditions like masks or goblins. Activities focused on Pilgrims and Indians who lived hundreds of years ago are too abstract for children to experience and understand, as well as promoting inappropriate, culturally biased stereotypes.