Growing Together Preschools Parent Handbook

1 Calaveras Unified School District Mark Campbell, Superintendent Growing Together Preschools Parent Handbook 2012-2013 Calaveras Unified School District preschool & Child Care Services PO Box 788 San Andreas, CA 95249 (209) 754-2311 voice; (209) 754-2261 fax Kim Osmanski-Potter, Principal Monica Lolley, Secretary *Available on the CUSD website, * Growing Together State preschool Jenny Lind Elementary 754-2218 Growing Together State preschool Valley Springs Elementary 754-2141, x 3254 Growing Together State preschool San Andreas Elementary 754-2366 West Point Head Start/State preschool West Point Elementary 754-2255, x 3617 Ready to Learn preschool Rail Road Flat Elementary 754-2275, x 3706 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome .. 3 Program Philosophy.

2 3 Desired Results Development Profiles .. 3 Goals and Guiding Principles .. 3 School Contact Information .. 5 Services & Fees .. 5 Holidays .. 6 preschool Program Schedule .. 6 Learning Experiences and Play .. 6 Eligibility Criteria .. 7 State preschool Enrollment .. 7 Fee Based Enrollment .. 9 Procedures for Enrollment .. 10 Immunizations & Medical Assessment .. 10 Parent & Community Participation .. 11 Parent Advisory Board .. 11 Parent Communication .. 11 Sign in/Sign Out Procedures .. 11 Pick Up Policy .. 12 Safety in the Parking 12 12 Medical Exclusion Policy .. 13 Medications .. 13 Minor Injuries & Medical Emergencies .. 14 Discipline .. 14 Termination Policy .. 15 Withdrawal from the Program .. 15 Toys from Home/Personal Possessions .. 15 Clothing.

3 15 School Parties and Birthdays .. 16 Meals & Snacks .. 16 Naptime .. 16 Transportation Arrangements .. 16 Confidentiality .. 16 Enrolling Children with Special Needs .. 17 Formal Complaints .. 17 Crisis Response 17 Program Evaluation .. 17 Children and Parent Rights .. 17 Signature Page .. 19 CUSD School Calendar 20012-20013 available on the CUSD website, 3 Dear parents & Guardians: Welcome to the Calaveras Unified School District (CUSD) preschool ! We are excited to work with you and your child to develop the foundation for your child s future academic success. We strive to offer a quality program that recognizes and values each child s unique traits and potential. The curriculum is child centered and reflects best practices as set forward in First Class, A Guide for Early Primary Education and is based on the California preschool Foundations developed by the California Department of Education.

4 We look forward to a year of amazing growth for your child. We adhere to all state, county, and district rules regarding child care licensing, fire, safety, and nutrition. Our goal is to provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for all children in which to learn and develop. This Handbook was designed to acquaint you with our program policies and procedures. Please read and refer to this Handbook as needed. Feel free to discuss any concerns or questions with our staff. The preschool office is located in the CUSD district office building, 3304 Hwy. 12, San Andreas, CA 95249. The mailing address is: Calaveras Unified School District preschool Services PO Box 788 San Andreas, CA 95249 (209) 754-2311 voice (209) 754-2261 fax Sincerely, Kim Osmanski-Potter Welcome 4 We believe children learn and develop when exposed to a rich and stimulating environment.

5 This requires highly qualified teachers, a child centered curriculum, and developmentally appropriate educational materials and equipment. A quality preschool education provides activities that encourage children to learn through a balance of pre-literacy and numeracy activities, structured free choice, and hands-on experiences. The goal of Growing Together preschool is to ensure that all children are making progress in the domains of physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. We use the Desired Results Developmental Profile, a tool developed by the California Department of Education, Child Development Division, to assess the development of children. Children are assessed within 60 days of enrollment and every six months thereafter.

6 parents input is a necessary component of this assessment. The assessment is also used to plan and conduct age and developmentally appropriate activities for the children. Our goal is to address the needs of the whole child by enhancing their social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative development. We will provide learning experiences that promote: Social Development o Learning to get along in groups o Learning responsible behavior o Acquiring respect for individual differences Emotional Development o Promoting positive self image o Promoting trust, independence, and harmony o Developing self control Cognitive Development o Emerging literacy skills o Building number sense o Experiencing science, art, and music Physical Development o Improving large and small muscle development o Improving hand/eye coordination o Encouraging hands-on experiences Creative Development o Promoting active learning o Making choices Program Philosophy Goals and Guiding Principles Desired Results Development Profile 5 Growing Together State preschool Growing Together State preschool Jenny Lind Elementary School San Andreas Elementary School 5100 Driver Road 255 Lewis Avenue Valley Springs, CA 95252 San Andreas, CA 95249 754-2218 754-2366 Ready to Learn Cooperative preschool Growing Together State preschool Rail Road Flat Elementary School Valley Springs Elementary 298 Rail Road Flat Road 240 Pine Street Rail Road Flat, CA 95248 Valley Springs.

7 CA 95252 754-2255 754-2141, ext 3254 West Point Head Start/State preschool Co/Op West Point Elementary School 54 Bald Mountain Road West Point, CA 95255 754-2255 Growing Together Preschools offer a preschool program with wrap-around program weekdays Monday through Friday on the CUSD academic calendar. Contact sites for hours of operation as they vary slightly from site to site. Children will be accepted for our program between the ages of three and Kindergarten entry. Preschools offer a variety of options from which parents may choose to accommodate their family needs. Subsidies may be available through the Resource Connection at 754-3048 for more information. Because we are a licensed facility and are part of the Calaveras Unified School District, please know that your child will be participating in activities with K-6 grade age students.

8 Your child will always be under the supervision of their credentialed preschool teacher. If you have any concerns, please speak with the site supervisor. Parent Fee Description Fees Part-time daily fees (includes preschool up to hours per day children must be picked up by 11:45 daily ) $ per day Full-time daily (includes preschool up to hours per day) $ per day State preschool Slots available at Jenny Lind, San Andreas, Valley Springs and West Point Part time daily fees are based on income verification (includes preschool up to hours per day children must be picked up by 11:45 daily) Full-time daily (includes preschool up to hours per day) School Contact Information Growing Together Services and Fees 6 Hours Jenny Lind 7:00 to 5:30 San Andreas 7:30 to 5:30 Valley Springs 7:30 to 5.

9 30 2012-2013 Breaks, Holidays and Staff Development Days No preschool Services *All dates subject to change, notification will be given in advance. Growing Together preschool is CLOSED on the following holidays: July 1-27, 2012 Summer Break September 3, 2012 Labor Day November 11, 2012 Veteran s Day November 22 & 23, 2012 Thanksgiving Holidays December 24, 2012-January 11, 2013 Winter Break January 21, 2013 Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday February 11, 2013 Lincoln s Birthday February 18, 2013 Washington s Birthday May 16 & 17, 2013 Calaveras Frog Jump May 27, 2013 Memorial Day July 1-26, 2013 (closed July 4th) Summer Break Growing Together preschool will be CLOSED for staff development on the following days: August 3, 2012 November 1, 2012 November 2, 2012 Growing Together preschool will be OPEN for break for the dates as follows: October 1-12, 2012 Fall Break March 25-Apil 5, 2013 Spring Break June 10-June 28, 2013 Summer Break The daily preschool schedule varies by site.

10 Please see the site supervisor for a copy. Weekly lesson plans are posted on the Parent communication board. The lesson plans are designed to encourage children to discover, create, explore, experiment, observe, discuss and share. Such activities include: Dramatic play Art and cooking Manipulatives: blocks, construction, sand and water Music and movement Explorations in science and math Emerging reading and writing activities preschool Daily Schedule Holidays and Days Closed 7 Play is the work of children and is the basic way in which young children gain knowledge. Just as teachers use instructional techniques for reading so preschool teachers plan opportunities for spontaneous play, guided play, directed play, or investigative play to teach new skills and concepts.