2015-2016
Lorain City Schools’ Preschool Program
Parent Handbook
Early Learning Leadership Team 2015-16:
Dr. Kim Monachino, Executive Director of Student Services
Linda Coad, Preschool Supervisor
Stefanie Drew, LCCAA Head Start
Leila Flores, Frank Jacinto Principal
Marie Deshuk, Helen Steiner Rice Principal
Megan Young, Toni Morrison Principal
Michelle Spotts-Hayes, Garfield Principal
Chantelle Lewis, Larkmoor Principal
Early Childhood Program Description and Mission
Lorain City Schools’ Early Childhood Programs have served the Lorain
community since 1991. The mission of the program is to provide exemplary
educational opportunities for children ages 3 and 4 years of age. These opportunities are based on a developmentally appropriate curriculum and supplemental services for both special needs and typically developing children.
Integration plays a major role in our program. First and foremost, children on all developmental levels have the opportunity to interact with and learn from each other. Respect for individual differences is modeled in this environment.
The program also integrates each child’s specific goals into the classroom. Individual needs are addressed while the child remains a part of the larger class group.
Program Licensing
The Lorain City Schools’ Early childhood Program is licensed by and follow the policies of the Ohio Department of Education Office of Early Learning and School Readiness (OELSR). OELSR conducts a minimum of two inspections a year to each of our buildings to be certain that programs meet or exceed the state requirements. The program license and current compliance report are posted by the main office. Parents may request a copy of the current compliance report from the building principal.
Registration Process
To begin the registration process, the following documents must be on file:
- Proof of Birth
- Social Security number
- Up-to-Date Shot Record
- Proof of Residence (utility bill within 30 days, rent agreement, etc.)
- Custody papers (if applicable)
- Emergency Medical Form
In addition, the registration process, admission will not be considered complete until both aphysical and a dental form are on file as well as other documents required by individual programs and/or buildings. Please note that physical and dental forms must be updated annually.
Tuition
Parents who are required to pay tuition will receive information regarding procedures and timelines for payments with their statements.
Attendance Policy
It is important for your child to attend school daily to receive the full benefit of educational programming scheduled by the educational staff. Consistency in daily routines provides the structure children need to develop successful learning habits as they prepare for kindergarten. With that in mind, Lorain City Schools requests the following:
- Unless illness prevents attendance, be sure that your child is in school
every day.
- When your child is absent, you must call the school and report the
reason for absence. This policy is in place to protect your child.
- Since the arrival of tardy students disrupts the teaching/learning process
for all students, children are expected to be on time.
- Be at the building just prior to the scheduled dismissal time each day. Please note: there is no provision for your child’s supervision after the
end of the school day.
Health Services
The schools provide the services of a Health aide who is on duty in the clinic during specific hours of the day. She is on call for medical emergencies and other health needs of the students.
The clinic is NOT a place for a child who is very ill. Parents are asked to keep children home any day that they show signs of illness such as:
Diarrhea Severe coughing
Sore throat Vomiting
Difficult or rapid breathing Stiffness in the neck
Conjunctivitis Yellowish skin or eyes
Temperature of 100F or more Unusual spots or rashes
Unusually dark urine Gray or white stools
Untreated, infected skin patches
Evidence of lice, scabies, or other parasitic infection
If a child is suspected of having a communicable disease or is ill, the parents will be notified and the child will be sent home. It is extremely important for each child to have an emergency medical form on file with current updated emergency telephone numbers. Children may return to school when all signs and
symptoms of communicable disease subside.
If your child is excluded for any medical reason such as head lice, ringworm, chicken pox etc., they must receive a readmission slip from the health aide before
entering the classroom. The readmission slip will be given after the health aide checks your child and finds them free of signs of contagion. You must accompany your child to school in order to have them examined and cleared for readmission. If you are unable to do this, you must make arrangements with a family member, friend or neighbor to bring your child to the school (or to the closest school building) to be checked. These rules must be followed for the protection of all the children in our schools. If you have any questions, please call the health aide at your child’s school.
Please note: The Ohio Department of Education requires that a medical statement be on file for all students enrolled in Early Childhood Programs. This, along with the child’s health information must be submitted no later than 30 days after the child enters the program. Medical statements must be renewed and resubmitted on a yearly basis.
Emergencies
If an emergency develops at school and your child is in need of immediate first aid, school personnel will take the appropriate preliminary steps. In addition, every attempt will be made to notify the parents or guardians. For this reason, it is VERY IMPORTANT for us to have current, working emergency telephone numbers at all times. PLEASE NOTIFY THE HEALTH AIDE AT YOUR CHILD”S BUILDING IF YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER OR OTHER LISTED TELEPHONE NUMBERS OR ADDRESSES CHANGE. If hospitalization is require, the child
will be taken to the hospital via rescue squad at the parent’s expense. The principal, health aide or designated school personnel will accompany all children transported to the hospital.
Emergency School Closing
If schools are closed for emergency situations, the closing will be announced on local radio WEOL 233.5261 or WOBL 988.4886 as well as local television stations.
Emergency Drills and Practices
As part of Lorain City Schools’ commitment to preparedness, students in Early Childhood Programs will participate in all drills and practices including fire drill, tornado drills, lock-downs and evacuations. If you have any questions regarding these procedures, please contact your child’s school.
Clothing
When choosing clothes for your child to wear to school, consider the following:
- Would you mind if your child’s clothes came home stained with mud, paint,
markers, or food? If so, you may want to put a different outfit on your child.
- Rubber–soled shoes, such as gym shoes, can prevent unnecessary injuries.
Students are not to wear sandals or “flip flops”. Socks must be worn.
- Many toileting accidents can be avoided if children wear clothing that can be
unbuckled, unbuttoned, or pulled off without a struggle.
- Dress your child appropriately for the weather. Classes may play outside,
weather permitting.
In addition, please provide a COMPLETE change of clothes, including socks and underwear in case of emergency. Label each piece with your child’s first and last name for easy identification and to reduce the risk of an item becoming lost. This change of clothing can be kept in your child’s backpack and sent home daily upon parent request.
Curriculum
The Lorain City School District will implement a new edition of McGraw Hill The DLM (Developmental Learning Materials) Early Childhood Express, a national program for Pre-K students, which teaches 3- and 4-year-olds essential concepts in reading, math and other core subjects through a comprehensive learning system that prepares them for a lifetime of learning.
The DLM program, developed using the latest research in early childhood education, covers a wide range of subjects: literacy, math, science, social studies, fine arts, health/safety, social and emotional development, music, physical movement and technology. The PreKG program utilizesa fully integrated instructional approach, student assessment and digitally rich programming with meaningful and purposeful activities. With this in mind, each of the program's eight units provides an essential question relating to the unit's theme. (One essential question is, "How do living things grow and change?" Each week, this topic will expand children's thinking and understanding of growing and changing.)
The program's comprehensive learning system, integrated instruction and digital technology will play a beneficial role in the early childhood education to prepare our 21st century learners to be career ready or college ready.
Student assessment is also a vital component of DLM.The program's guidelines and forms allow teachers to effectively implement assessment in the Pre-K classroom and make informed teaching decisions regarding the developmental and educational needs of students.
DLM is aligned with each state's early childhood education standards and the standards of Head Start, a national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families.
Assessments/Screenings
A pre-assessment screening will be administered to all early childhood
students early in the school year in order to document each child’s growth in the program.
To meet the requirements of the Ohio Department of Education Office of Early Learning and School Readiness, all students will participate in the Early Learning Assessment a minimum of twice each year. Early Learning Assessment is a quick, efficient, and repeatable tool that is useful to measure children’s risk and progress in critical language and early literacy indicators.
Additional testing and/or screenings may be required for some Early Childhood Programs. Data from assessments is used to plan instruction and programming. Results are shared with parents throughout the year.
Parent Conferences/Home Visits
Your child’s progress will be shared with you throughout the year. If at any time during the year a teacher has a particular concern, you will be notified. There will be two parent-teacher conferences scheduled, one in the fall and one in the spring. If at any time, you should desire an additional conference, one can be arranged. Conferences are an excellent opportunity to hear about your child’s progress and to raise any questions you may have.
Two home visits will occur during the school year, one in the fall and one in the spring. The purpose of the home visit is to strengthen the partnership between home and schools. In addition, it allows your child to interact with his or her teacher in the familiar setting of your home.
Home-School Communication
The Early Childhood Program Staff appreciate regular and ongoing communication with families. Notes from parents can be sent in your child’s backpack which will be checked daily. Parents should also check their child’s backpack daily for information from the teacher.
Parents are encouraged to visit their child’s classroom to observe their child and to become better informed about classroom procedures and expectations, however, for the safety of all students and staff, board policy requires that all visitors report directly to the office immediately upon entering the building. Once in the office, you will be asked to sign in and you will be given a Visitor’s Pass to wear. Please wear the pass at all times in a way that makes it easily visible. Before you leave the building, you must turn in the pass and sign out. These procedures will be strictly enforced to protect our students.
Parent Involvement Opportunities
Research shows that parent involvement is one of the major indicators of a child’s academic success. The Early Childhood Program encourages parents to participate in their child’s learning. Listed below are some examples of ways that families can engage in the educational process:
. Sharing information about their children during enrollment, Parent/Teacher
Conferences, personal contact with staff (written and verbal) and by
participating in ongoing monitoring and evaluation.
. Attending scheduled parent trainings throughout the year. Topics are
varied, and parents are invited to suggest a topic.
. Visiting their child’s classroom.
. Participating in volunteer opportunities in the program.
. Reading classroom and building newsletters, program information and
district information that comes home with children.
Parent Roster Information
The Ohio Department of Education licensing regulations require Early Childhood Programs to provide classroom and program rosters to families upon request. Information on the roster includes children’s names, addresses and phone numbers. Families have the right to ask that their child’s information not be included in the roster. Rosters will only be provided to parents or guardians of the children enrolled in the Early Childhood Program.
Field Trips
Your child may have an opportunity to attend various field trips during the school year. School law mandates that any student participating in an educational activity away from school must have the written consent and signature of his/her parent prior to their involvement. Please return permission slips promptly, without it your child will not be able to go with the class. Permission over the phone will never be accepted.
Teacher-Child Interaction Policy
As helpers in the learning process, preschool program staff provides a warm, caring and accepting environment for all children. When the setting is accepting, yet challenging, children learn appropriate behaviors and develop positive feelings about themselves and their accomplishments. Staff members encourage children to explore materials and activities while redirecting them through verbal and physical reassurances which encourage better attention, more exploration and communication.
Discipline strategies will be developmentally appropriate and will include such measures as redirections, praise from positive behavior, talking with the child, and temporary separation from a problem situation. Adult-child interactions shall be purposeful, positive and respectful at all times. Children shall be positioned for success by having expectations clearly demonstrated and thoroughly explained. When further clarification or assistance is needed, it shall be offered cheerfully and be individualized to allow each child success. Positive reinforcement shall be used to shape behaviors. Correction and redirection shall always be done in a manner that protects the child’s dignity. Discipline techniques shall never humiliate, shame, or frighten a child. No staff member shall ever use profane language, threats, derogatory remarks, or other forms of verbal abuse.
If a child should need to be separated from a problem situation, the separation will be supervised, brief in duration and appropriate for the child’s age and developmental ability. The child will be separated to a safe, lighted and well ventilated space within sight and hearing of a preschool staff member. No child shall ever be place in a locked room or confined in an enclosed area.
If physical intervention is necessary it shall begin with the mildest form (a hand gently placed on the child’s shoulder, for example) and increase incrementally and only as necessary to the strongest intervention needed to maintain a safe environment. The strongest intervention utilized would be to briefly restrain the child in a protective hug in order to allow them to regain control. Preschool staff shall never strike or shake a child. There shall be no use of corporal punishment. Instead, preschool staff shall model kindness, gentleness, and patience in all their interactions with students as these are qualities which encourage children to demonstrate in their interactions with one another.
Discipline shall not be imposed upon a child for failure to eat, rest or for toileting accidents. In addition, discipline strategies shall never include the withholding of meals, rest, or toilet use.
Children in the preschool program shall not be abused or neglected while under the care of the center. In addition, the preschool staff is expected to be vigilant in protecting children and are mandated reporters when faced with evidence of possible abuse or neglect.
Parents are the child’s first teacher and are valued as partners with the preschool staff in all matters, including discipline. Home-school communication will be frequent and ongoing. In addition, teachers will communicate with the home specifically about a child’s behavior whenever the frequency or severity of the behavior is greater than expected for that particular child based upon his/her individual goals and developmental ability. By working together, the staff and parent can help each preschooler develop patterns of positive behavior.
Inclusion
Both special needs and typically-developing children benefit from playing and learning together. A child in an inclusive setting will spend his/her preschool day in a class with typical and children with special needs from the community. All children have the opportunity to play and make friends from among classmates that include a wide variety of abilities and needs.
Kindergarten
Your child is eligible for kindergarten services if they turn 5 years of age before September 30th. Both typical and special needs kindergarten classes are available within Lorain City Schools.