Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary Preschool

Parent

Handbook

2015-2016

I32 – Miss JonesI33 – Miss DoolinI34 – Mrs. Blake

Table of Contents

Welcome2

Hawaii Preschool Content Standards3

School Supply List4

School Day5

Drop-Off, Pick-Up, and Early Release Procedures6

Breakfast and Lunch Procedures7

Snack Procedures8

Attendance9

Illness Guidelines10

Toileting and Dressing11

Child Abuse/Neglect Issues12

Birthdays & Special Celebrations13

Field Trips13

Toys and Personal Items14

CLOMP Rotation14

Parent Participation & Communication15

Parent Communication15

Preschool Guideline Overview16

Family Survey 20

Signature of Understanding20

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Program! We have another exciting year planned for your child and we would like to start it off by providing you with this Pearl Harbor Kai (PHK) Preschool Parent Handbook. The purpose of this handbook is to inform you of some general information about our program.

Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary currently has three ECSE classrooms: I32, I33, and I34. Our curriculum is based on the Hawaii Preschool Content Standards and is aligned with the Kindergarten curriculum. In addition, our curriculum incorporates the General Learner Outcomes, Tribes, and the Habits of Mind Essential Characteristics for Success Program and is designed to address the individual needs stated on each child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

ECSE teachers are Highly Qualified Department of Education (DOE) teachers that have completed a State Approved Teacher Education Program and belong to the Hawaii State Teacher Association (HSTA) union. They are qualified to teach Special Education from Preschool to grade 12. The Para-Educators (formerly known as Educational Assistants or EAs) are required by the DOE to have at least two years of college education and extensive experience in working with children.

Your child is ready to begin his/her preschool journey once he/she turns three-years old and all enrollment requirements have been met according to Pearl Harbor Kai’s enrollment procedures. Your understanding, participation, cooperation and support are all vital to your child’s learning experience. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child, please feel free to discuss them with your child’s teacher.

Sincerely,

Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary Preschool Teachers

HAWAII PRESCHOOL CONTENT STANDARDS

DOMAIN I: PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY

Standard 1: Develop health awareness and skills

Standard 2: Learn and follow basic safety rules

Standard 3: Acquire basic self-help skills and routines

Standard 4: Develop strength and coordination of small muscles

Standard 5: Develop strength and coordination of large muscles

DOMAIN II: PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Standard 1: Understand and express feelings appropriately

Standard 2: Develop a positive and realistic self-concept

Standard 3: Develop social skills and positive peer and adult relationships

Standard 4: Develop a positive and open approach to learning

Standard 5: Acquire behaviors and skills expected in school

DOMAIN III: COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND LITERACY

Communication: Speaking and Listening

Standard 1: Use language in a variety of ways

Standard 2: Listen with comprehension to a variety of spoken forms of language

Language Acquisition

Standard 3: Acquire increasingly rich vocabulary and sentence structure

Emergent Reading and Writing

Standard 4: Recognize and use symbols

Standard 5: Enjoy and understand books

Standard 6: Show interest in writing

Standard 7: Acquire concepts of print

Standard 8: Acquire emergent literacy skills while exploring print in books and the environment

DOMAIN IV: COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Symbolic Play

Standard 1: Represent fantasy and real-life experiences through pretend play

Standard 2: Engage in sustained symbolic play with other children

Mathematics

Standard 1: Learn about numbers, numerical representation, and simple numerical operations

Standard 2: Recognize and create patterns and become aware of relationships

Standard 3: Develop concepts of shape and space

Standard 4: Develop and use measurement concepts

Standard 5: Represent and interpret data

Science

Standard 1: Increase sensory awareness

Standard 2: Engage in scientific inquiry

Standard 3: Explore physical properties of the world

Standard 4: Explore characteristics of living things

Standard 5: Learn about the earth and sky

Standard 6: Have a variety of educational experiences that involve technology

Social Studies

Standard 1: Learn about themselves and other people (psychology)

Standard 2: Appreciate their own and other and cultures (cultural anthropology)

Standard 3: Become aware of how things, people, and places change over time (history)

Standard 4: Explore how people depend upon one another for things and help they need (economics)

Standard 5: Understand what people need to do to work and live together in groups (sociology and politics)

Standard 6: Develop geographical awareness (geography)

Standard 7: Develop awareness of the natural environment and how it can be protected (ecology)

DOMAIN V: CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Art

Standard 1: Create and express themselves through a variety of art experiences

Standard 2: Begin to learn about art elements and techniques

Music

Standard 1: Create and express themselves through a variety of music experiences

Standard 2: Begin to learn about music elements and techniques

Creative Movement and Drama

Standard 1: Create and express themselves through a variety of creative movement and drama experiences

Standard 2: Begin to learn about movement elements and techniques

Aesthetic Appreciation

Standard 1: Develop appreciation for natural and cultural beauty and the visual and performing arts

Pearl Harbor Kai Preschool

Supply List 2013-2014

ITEM / AMOUNT / “X” if done
Antibacterial Wipes / 3
Apron or Large T-shirts / 1
Backpack (large enough to fit binder) / 1
Binder, 1” 3 ringed, w/front plastic view sleeve / 1
Blanket or Towel (need to fit into cubby area) / 1
Change of Clothes (place in labeled Ziploc package) / 2-3 sets
Composition Book Unruled (do not label) / 1
Composition Book Ruled (do not label) / 1
Crayola Crayons, 24 count / 1 box
Crayola Crayons, Jumbo 10 colors (include pink & gray) / 1 box
Crayola Marker, Jumbo 10 primary colors
(include pink & gray) / 1 box
Cup, Plastic (for drinking during snack) Only for i-32, i-33 / 1
Diapers or Pull-ups (if applicable) / As needed
Diaper Wipes (if applicable) / As needed
Gloves, latex free, size M / 2 boxes
Glue, Elmer’s 4 oz. / 4
Hand Sanitizer 8 oz. or one (1) large 32 oz. bottle / 4
Mat, School sleeping 1” or 2” thick / 1
Paper Towel (PLEASE NO VIVA BRAND)
(to be replenished as needed throughout the year) / 4 rolls
Rubber Slippers
(kept in class for fire drills, bathroom, emergencies, etc.) / 1 pair
Soap, Liquid foaming / 3
Sponges, regular (non-scrubbing) / 2
Tissue, Facial
(to be replenished as needed throughout the year) / 4
White T-shirts (For special field trips) / 3
Ziploc, Gallon-size (40 count or more) / 1 box
Ziploc, Sandwich size (100 count or more) / 1 box

Please label all items with child’s name (except where noted).

Please bring all supplies within the first week of school.
Please have your child come to school with a backpack large enough to fit a 3-ring binder.

  • Additional supplies may be requested throughout the year, as needed. Mahalo

SCHOOL DAY

Your preschooler is a Pearl Harbor Kai student and therefore follows the same bell schedule as all Pearl Harbor Kai students.

Start of Day:7:55 a.m. (tardy bell rings at 8:00 a.m.)

End of Day:2:10 p.m. (M, T, Th, F)

1:15 p.m. (Wednesdays)

There are special times throughout the year in which the dismissal time may vary (i.e., Parent-Teacher conference week). Information will be disseminated regarding schedule changes through school-wide memos that will be sent home.

School is closed on all State Holidays, and Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer breaks (please refer to the current Pearl Harbor Kai school calendar).

The children also have a lunch period and a nap/rest period in the afternoon.

DROP-OFF and PICK-UP PROCEDURES

Drop-Off: The children who ride the bus will be picked up by the teacher or the Para-Educator at the curbside of the main parking lot. If you are dropping your child off at school daily, please escort your child to the classroom. Doors open at 7:55 a.m. We are not allowed to open the doors earlier due to liability reasons. Please do not leave your child alone in front of the classroom. Arriving to school after 8:00 a.m. is tardy. You must get a tardy slip at the office if your child arrives after 8:15 a.m.

Please be sure that your child has been fed and toileted before arriving to class. This is part of our daily preschool arrival routine.

Pick-Up: Please be sure to pick up your child at his/her classroom. Please be on time. The teachers and para-educators often have meetings, and/or scheduled duties after school. If you know you are going to be late due to unforeseen circumstances, please be courteous and call your teacher so she can inform you of an alternate pick-up site should she have to leave the classroom to attend a meeting. If your child is consistently being picked up late, the administration will have to document these occurrences and may have to file a case of neglect with Child Welfare Services.

Please inform older siblings and anyone else who picks up your child of our school’s drop-off and pick-up procedures. Parents need to write a note to the teacher if they are authorizing anyone other than the names listed on the emergency card to pick up your child. A valid ID will need to be presented to the teacher before the child can be released.

Early Release: Only parents are allowed to request an early release for the child. Early releases are done through the school office. Please call the office at 421-4245 to make the request. If someone else is picking your child up, the request still needs to be made by the parent. A valid ID will need to be presented to the office staff. Please pick up your child at his/her classroom after notifying the office staff.

If your child is being released before 11:00 a.m., your child will be considered “absent” for the day.

BREAKFAST and LUNCH PROCEDURES

Breakfast: Breakfast is served in the cafeteria daily between 7:15 – 7:45 a.m. You may elect to eatand spend time with your child.

If you are dropping your child off at school daily and want him/her to have a school breakfast, please be on time. The cafeteria does not make any exceptions for those who try to pick up breakfast after 7:45 a.m. You must have someone responsible supervise your child in the cafeteria or choose to spend some morning time with your child. Do not leave your child unattended.

If your child receives transportation services, please make sure he/she eats breakfast at home. We normally have a morning snack around 9:30.

Lunch: Your child will be using his/her school ID to pick up a school lunch. If your child will be eating a home lunch, please be sure to label all lunch bags and food storage containers with your child’s name. We do NOT refrigerate home lunches, so please use ice packs and don’t forget utensils and napkins.

Meal Tracker Account: If your child is not approved to receive free lunch, please make sure that you keep your child’s lunch account balance current. Envelopes are located in the office by the door. Only cash payments will be accepted. Teachers will not accept any money/envelopes. You or an older sibling must deposit it into the office lunch Drop Box. Deposits made after 9:00 a.m. will be credited the next school day.

New Students: You must make sure your child has money in his/her lunch account even if you fill out the Free/Reduced Meal Application. The approval for that is made by the Department of Education and usually takes about two weeks. Until approved, your child will have to pay full prices for meals.

Returning Students: Your child may still have some money in his/her account that was carried over from last school year. You will receive notice when the balance gets low or reflects a negative balance.

SNACK POLICY

The children have a daily snack. Please supply a box/package of snacks which is to be shared with the whole class. Some snack items we have had in the past include: Goldfish, Graham Crackers, Pretzels, Teddy Grahams, Wheat Thins, Cheeze Nips, Fruit Snack Packets, Animal Crackers, Carnival Cookies, Veggie Straws, Cheerios, Kix, Raisins, Soda Crackers and Salon Crackers. We will go through everyone’s supply before requesting more. If a child brings in a snack for just himself/herself, the snack will be left in their backpack and may eat it after school.

Your child may bring his/her own drink in a water bottle container with a covered lid. If your child does not have a drink, then water will be served in their plastic cup.

Although Pearl Harbor Kai is not a peanut-free school, we are asking that you do not bring any snacks that contain peanuts due to the increasing amount of peanut allergy cases. If your child has any allergies or sensitivity to certain foods, please be sure to indicate it on his/her emergency card and inform the classroom teacher so that your child can receive an alternate snack.

ATTENDANCE

Although preschool and kindergarten are not mandatory, attendance is highly encouraged, especially since your child requires services listed on his/her Individualized Education Program (IEP). Too many absences may result in lack of progress towards meeting annual goals and objectives. If your child is in school for less than 20 days in a quarter, your child will not receive a grade on his progress report.

We do realize that there will be days when your child will need to miss school. Please call your child’s teacher/office before 7:30 a.m. if your child will be absent/sick and leave a message if we are unable to answer the phone. Please state the reason so that we can record it onto your child’s attendance sheet.

Upon child’s return, please provide a doctor’s note to the teacher stating why your child was absent. Absences are considered excused only when a doctor’s note is provided.

Also, please call your child’s teacher/office if there will be any change in pick-up time, picking up child at an earlier time, not going on the bus, or forgot lunch/blanket and will be dropping it off at the office.

If your child rides the bus to/from school, please inform the Roberts Bus Company @ 832-4886 to report your child’s absence from riding that day.

I-32Mrs. Talamoa421-4245 ext. 263

I-33Miss Doolin421-4245 ext. 264

I-34Mrs. Blake421-4245 ext. 265

PRESCHOOL ILLNESS GUIDELINES

We understand that having your child attend school everyday is important, however, if he/she is not feeling well, please keep him/her at home to rest and recover. This is to prevent the spread of any illnesses or infections. We do have some very sensitive students in our program who tend to react to mild colds in a serious way.

Please keep your child at home if he/she has any of the following symptoms:

  • FEVER - A fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Your child needs to be fever-free (without the use of medication) for 24 hours before coming back to school.
  • VOMITING OR DIARRHEA – Vomiting and diarrhea are typically associated with viruses. If your child is vomiting or has diarrhea, do not bring him/her to school. Keep your child at home until he/she is symptom-free for 24 hours.
  • SEVERE COUGHS and COLDS – A child with mild cough and cold symptoms should come to school, but if the cough or cold is severe (containing heavy mucus or yellowish/greenish discharge from nose, mouth, or eyes, or if the cold accompanies a fever), keep him/her at home. For coughs, you can send your child back to school as soon as the cough improves; you don’t need to wait until it is completely gone.
  • SORE OR IRRITATED THROATS – Mild sore throats may accompany colds and may not typically require treatment. If your child experiences extreme soreness or has difficulty swallowing, keep him/her home from school and call the doctor. A sore throat can be a sign of strep throat and generally (but not always) is accompanied by a fever.
  • RASHES – If your child develops a rash, please keep him/her home from school and call the doctor. Your child will not be able to return to school until he/she is cleared by the doctor.

If any of the symptoms above are noted in school, the child will be sent home immediately. You may choose to take your child to see a doctor. Please bring a doctor’s note clearing your child of the symptom(s) noted above. We appreciate your understanding and support.