Parent/Caregiver Handbook

LAKE WASHINGTON

TODDLER GROUP

PARENT/CAREGIVER HANDBOOK

2017-2018

12057 124th Avenue NE
Kirkland, WA 98034

VOICEMAIL (425) 827-6940

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WELCOME!

WELCOME TO LAKE WASHINGTON TODDLER GROUP

LAKE WASHINGTON TODDLER GROUP PROGRAM GOALS

GENERAL INFORMATION

ATTENDANCE POLICY

POLICY FOR ATTENDING WITH NEWBORNS

EMERGENCY PHONE

LOCKDOWN ALERT PROCEDURES

ILLNESS POLICY

SNOW POLICY

SAFETY OUTSIDE-OF-CLASS-HOURS

FEES

ROOM CLEANING RESPONSIBILITY

SNACKS AND LUNCHES

FEE WAIVERS

THE LAKE WASHINGTON TODDLER GROUP EXECUTIVE BOARD

TEACHERS

LIBRARY

ROLE OF THE PARENT

HOME BUSINESS AT LWTG

CELL PHONE USAGE

WHO TO CONTACT WITH THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS

CLASS CONTENT

PARENTING EDUCATION DISCUSSIONS

TODDLER OBSERVATION TIPS

TODDLER ART

GROUP TIME – MUSIC, MOVEMENT AND STORIES

WHEN I PLAY I AM LEARNING

FUN WITH TODDLERS

SING-A-SONG

LWTG Parent Handbook 2016-2017 v1.docx

WELCOME!

WELCOME TO LAKE WASHINGTON TODDLER GROUP

We are a Parenting Education Program affiliated with the Lake Washington Institute of Technology, (LWTech). As a member of a college program we are able to hire certified Teachers, keep our fees affordable, and offer you community college credit.

It is our mission to provide an environment where children and parents/caregivers learn together. To meet this goal, our Board of Directors strives to provide activities for parents/caregivers and families to learn and play outside of class. The Parent Coordinator (PC) acts as a liaison bringing concerns or comments from their class to the Board of Directors, as well as sharing information from the Board of Directors with their class. The PC attends an Orientation Meeting and one predetermined Board Meeting per quarter. PCs will communicate regularly with their classes regarding: LWTG events, schedule changes, and class fundraising projects.

Other responsibilities may include but are not limited to: assisting Teacher with cleaning and setting up for classes, class raffle basket coordination, and helping with one special project such as: Teacher Helper, Spring Carnival/Raffle, Open House, Playdough and Family Events, among others.

Lake Washington Toddler Group (LWTG), admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities of the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship or other school-administered programs.

The following are the specific goals of the LWTG as set forth by the Teachers and the Executive Board.

LAKE WASHINGTON TODDLER GROUP PROGRAM GOALS

• To provide an environment where parents/caregivers and small children are able to learn together.
• To share knowledge and understanding of children and families.
• To experience creative activities such as art, science and music to share with your child.
• To provide evening sessions for the discussion of parenting issues.
• To provide a setting where children are exposed to a variety of play and learning experiences.

We hope you and your child have an exciting and educational year!

GENERAL INFORMATION

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Parenting Education classes offered by LWTech are funded on the basis of attendance. Attendance is required at weekly class sessions and scheduled evening sessions. LWTG classes are held weekdays, with Parenting Education speakers and educational sessions being offered a minimum of two evenings per quarter. You are required to attend two speakers or educational sessions a quarter and one other family event, for a total of nine events per year, minimum.

Spouses, Grandparents, and other adults are welcome to the classroom as guests, however, due to insurance guidelines children who are not enrolled in a LWTG class cannot attend.

POLICY FOR ATTENDING WITH NEWBORNS

Newborns may attend free of charge in an older sibling’s class. In the quarter after the newborn turns 3 months old, the newborn must fill a sibling spot, and there will be an increase in tuition. For safety/insurance reasons, Members are encouraged to wear newborns in a front carrier. Members with newborns are still expected to participate fully in class activities with their toddler including circle time, clean up, etc. It is at the discretion of the Teacher to ask a Member to no longer bring a newborn if that Member is not meeting these requirements.

EMERGENCY PHONE

There is an emergency telephone in classroom. LWTG would prefer if Teachers or PCs are the primary persons to answer the phone. The classroom phone number is 425-827-6940. This number will go directly to voicemail, and is used for registration purposes, but may be used in an emergency, and can dial out.

LOCKDOWN ALERT PROCEDURES

A Lockdown is implemented when the threat of violence, and/or gunfire is identified either inside, or outside of the classroom. It demands quick action from adults and requires common sense thinking under duress to best ensure survival of LWTG participants and Teacher. A lockdown response is considered appropriate for, but not limited to, the following types of emergencies:

• Gunfire
• Threat of extreme violence immediately outside the classroom
• Danger in the surrounding neighborhood/business community (gunman on the run, etc)

Lockdown Response Steps

Any adult may alert class to a lockdown by yelling “RED! RED!” Upon hearing this lockdown announcement, the following steps must be implemented:

1. Teacher or designee will immediately call 911 and stay on the phone until help arrives. Anyone able should also call 911 to notify of threat. Await further instructions from emergency response personnel
2. Adults should quickly move and keep children away from windows and doors; position children in a safe place in back of classroom building, or against walls or on the floor; turn a classroom table on its side to use as a buffer, etc.
3. Adults will maintain (as best they can) a calm atmosphere in the room, keeping alert to emotional needs of the children. (Tip: gather in a story circle in back of classroom)
4. Unless an intruder has entered the classroom, everyone will remain in the classroom until an “all clear” signal has been given, or Police have advised evacuation. If an intruder is in classroom, adults should use best judgment and if able, evacuate from the back of the classroom and meet at predetermined gathering location
5. Teacher or designee will give an “all clear” when police have notified that the threat has been eliminated. Normal activities should be resumed as soon as possible as instructed by the Teacher

Alternate Situation- Danger in Surrounding Community:

There is an emergency telephone in the classroom that is only to be used to receive calls from the Kirkland Police in the event of an emergency situation. Any adult should answer the phone and relay information to the rest of the class. Upon being notified of a potential threat, the adult will yell “LOCKDOWN! LOCKDOWN!” Upon hearing this announcement, the previous lockdown steps should be implemented, with attention to making the classroom look as empty as possible (turn off lights, gather in back of classroom, etc).

ILLNESS POLICY

Although attendance is an important consideration in participating in LWTG, another important consideration is the health of the children and parents/caregivers in the group. If you or your child is ill, please stay home and take care of yourself. Be sure and contact your teacher to let them know you will miss class. Please be alert to the following symptoms signifying illness in your child and be aware that if your child displays any of these symptoms you may be asked to leave class:

• A runny nose with colored mucus
• Lice/Scabies
• Diarrhea and/or Vomiting
• Fever of 101 degrees or higher
• Sore throat or swollen glands in the neck
• Pink Eye or thick mucus or pus draining from eye
• Lethargy or other behavior signifying illness

Children or parents/caregivers with a communicable/contagious disease should not come to class unless a doctor has cleared them or until the disease has been cleared. If your child has a physician’s verbal consent to be around other children and/or is on medication, please inform your Teacher. Children under a physician’s supervision may be asked to provide a medical release in order to attend LWTG.

SNOW POLICY

LWTG follows the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) weather related school closures policy. If LWSD closes school for the day all classes will be canceled. If LWSD announces delayed starts, all 9:00 AM LWTG classes will be canceled. School closure determination for the 11:00 AM class will be made by 10:00 AM and for the 1:15 PM class by Noon.

If LWSD cancels after school events, LWTG evening classes will be canceled. If inclement weather is anticipated in the early evening, class may be cancelled at the discretion of the classroom teacher.

All information about weather related school closures at LWTG will be communicated to class members via email.

If more than one class per year is canceled due to weather related school closures, a class will be offered as a make-up. Make-up classes will be based upon classroom and teacher availability.

SAFETY OUTSIDE-OF-CLASS-HOURS

At times, Members or Teachers will need to come to the classroom outside of class hours to conduct LWTG business. They are permitted to bring their children to the classroom with them. However, they are fully responsible for the care and well-being of their child during this time, and may not hold LWTG responsible for any injuries or incidents occurring outside of class hours.

FEES

Upon registering for a class, an enrollment fee is collected to reserve a spot in our program. This fee is non-refundable. The enrollment fee may be transferred to another toddler group or co-op preschool within the LWTech umbrella of schools, if a parent/caregiver wishes to transfer.

Tuition fees are LWTG’s working money. They are used to purchase classroom supplies, books, and toys. They are also used to sponsor speakers and events, and for other operating expenses including rent, utilities and Teacher payroll. We request that tuition for all three quarters be paid at orientation. However, those who need to pay quarterly may do so by depositing their tuition in the payment box located at the front of the classroom on or before the date that it is due. Tuition that is received late is subject to a late fee ($10). If you know that you will be out of town or miss class, it is your responsibility to mail your tuition to the Treasurer Chair and Treasurer Co-Chair:

Lake Washington Toddler Group

12057 124th Ave. NE

Kirkland, WA 98034

Attn: Treasurer Chair

Parents/caregivers withdrawing before the start of the quarter or after attending their first class will receive a full tuition refund. Parents/caregivers withdrawing between the first week of class and fourth week of class will receive one half of the quarter’s tuition. Parents/caregivers withdrawing after the first four weeks of classes will not receive a tuition refund. The final decision to award a refund is made by the Fee Waiver Committee after consultation with the Teacher.

ROOM CLEANING RESPONSIBILITY

It is the responsibility of all parents/caregivers to see that equipment is properly put away, tables and counters are clean, and the floor is vacuumed after their class is over. All parents/caregivers must also participate in at least one room cleaning session per year. These will be regularly scheduled throughout the school year.

SNACKS AND LUNCHES

Each new school year, classes elect to either each bring their own snack or to have each parent/caregiver provide a snack for the entire class on a rotating basis. For the classes that elect to rotate snack responsibilities, parents/caregivers are required to provide a nutritious snack for their class two or three times a year (napkins and cups are provided). Sweet snacks should be limited to birthday and special occasions. To avoid possible allergic reactions, please do not provide snacks that have nuts or peanut oil in them. (Please take note of the list of other food items considered unsafe for the LWTG classroom posted on the front door of the classroom prior to your snack day.) If your child has allergies, notify your instructor and other parents/caregivers. If severe, you may need to provide a special snack for your child. Parents/caregivers are responsible for cleaning their own eating area after snack or lunch.

For classes that elect to rotate snack responsibilities: In the rare event that a parent/caregiver either forgets the class snack or is absent on their designated snack day, there is a small snack reserve in the back storage area that can be used for their class. It will be the sole responsibility of that parent/caregiver or that parent’s/caregiver’s class to replace any and all items used from the snack reserve by their next LWTG class day. As the snack reserve is available for ALL classes to use, any and all items used must be replaced in a timely manner.

FEE WAIVERS

Fee waivers are available on a limited basis. Please contact the Registrar Chair and Register Co-Chair or Treasurer Chair and Treasurer Co-Chair for additional information.

THE LAKE WASHINGTON TODDLER GROUP EXECUTIVE BOARD

LWTG has an Executive Board of parent/caregiver volunteers consisting of: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer Chair, Treasurer Co-Chair, Registrar, Librarian, Purchaser, Fundraiser, Publicity Chair, Publicity Co-Chair, and Webmaster.

The Board of Directors is responsible for managing daily operations, as well as establishing policies and procedures. The Board of Directors determines tuition and other program fees. It also makes decisions on what equipment and supplies will be purchased with the class tuition and fundraising proceeds, topics for the evening Parenting Education sessions, speakers, and organizing fundraisers. Board members may also represent the group at community functions.

TEACHERS

The Teachers are employed and supervised by LWTech. They are responsible for managing the daily curriculum in their classes. The Teachers act in an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors and do not vote at the meetings.

The Teachers for this school year are:

Kymberly Meade Monday afternoon and evening classes, Friday morning class

Amy MikkelsonWednesday classes

Kris AndersonTuesday and Thursday classes

Jessica BoothMonday morning classes, and Friday afternoon class

Teachers for the Saturday class will rotate.

LIBRARY

A parent lending library, which includes Parenting Education and children’s books are available to parents/caregivers. The checkout procedure is as follows:

1. Fill out index card (located in every Adult book (NOT Children's books) with your name, phone number, class day/time and date of check out. Please try to write as clearly as possible! Here is a sample:

1. Insert index card into Check Out box under your class day/time. This is located on bookshelf.
2. As of 2016/17 Children's books no longer require checking out with an index card. Please keep track of the books you've borrowed (I recommend that you take a picture, since it's easy to lose track of titles).
3. Books are due in 4 weeks from date of check out. Maximum 2 adult and 5 children’s books checked out at a time.

ROLE OF THE PARENT

Parents/caregivers are the enrolled students in the LWTG class. All parents/caregivers contribute as members of a cooperative group, as students of Parenting Education, and as parent/caregiver-teachers.

As members of a cooperative group, parents/caregivers have an important voice in the administration of the group and are encouraged to serve on the Board or communicate wishes and needs to those parents/caregivers serving on the Board.

As a student of Parenting Education, parents/caregivers learn through supportive contact with other parents/caregivers, working with children in the classroom, participating in class discussions and attending evening sessions. Serving on the Board may also develop leadership and management skills.

As a parent/caregiver-teacher, parents/caregivers have an opportunity to observe, and then try practical techniques for working with young children.

Responsibilities include:

• Participating in class discussions and attending evening sessions
• Using parent/caregiver to child communication and management skills when working with children in class.
• Accompanying your child to class one day per week.
• Taking care of any personal needs your child may have during the class session.
• Observing the children as they participate in class, learning to become sensitive to when behavior may be ignored and when there is a need for redirection or removal. No forms of corporal punishment may be used at LWTG by parents/caregivers attending the cooperative program with their own children or other children.
• Intervening if an accident seems imminent or a child’s rights are about to be infringed upon. If a child’s parent/caregiver is nearby, please make the parent/caregiver aware of the situation.
• Providing a snack for the children when scheduled.
• Helping clean and vacuum the classroom at the end of each class session.
• Participating in room cleaning and fundraising projects.

HOME BUSINESS AT LWTG

We ask that co-op members do not conduct any type of home business during LWTG class times. This distracts from the main purpose we have as a Parenting Education program – having uninterrupted time with your toddler and attending Parenting Education circle time. You may hang brochures or business cards on the bulletin board in the back room and, if given permission by the parents/caregivers, conduct business after class. Also, please do not use any parent’s/caregiver’s email for home business unless that parent/caregiver has given you permission.