Preschool Philosophy
Social, emotional and cognitive growth is promoted through play. Parents are the child’s first and most important teachers, and staff will involve them in all aspects of their child’s education. The focus on the classroom is to facilitate each child’s development in a stimulating, but ordered environment where they make choices and act on them. Our preschool targets both the typical and non-typical learners. This inclusive model provides for the development of friendship and social interaction and an opportunity to understand and accept human differences. Our preschool is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Objectives
Curriculum
Classroom Areas
Science Center: The materials in this center include plants, scales, magnifying glasses, rulers, magnets, and numerous materials that change throughout the school year.
Quiet Corner: Equipped with a comfortable reading area and a large selection of books, children who like looking through books and/or need a place to be peaceful will often seek out this corner. A flannel board and flannel sets are also provided. Early childhood education books and parenting books are available for adults to peruse and borrow- just talk to the teacher to sign a book out.
House Corner: Provides opportunities for make-believe and role-play. Pretending to be people in situations they have experienced helps give children a sense of the adult world. It gives them opportunities to work together, express their feelings and ideas and use language to communicate their roles and respond to other’s needs and requests. Kitchen equipment, dress-up clothes (including multicultural clothing), multicultural dolls, musical instruments, doctor's play equipment (with a functional stethoscope) and hats are included in this area.
Art Center: Exploring and using art materials allow preschool children to express original ideas, improve their coordination, develop small muscle skills, learn to recognize colors, shape designs and textures. Some materials included in this area: a variety of paint, collage materials, all types of paper and writing instruments, fabrics, yarn, clay, small items/materials such as buttons and glitter, play dough with corresponding materials, ingredients to make play dough, an easel for painting/chalk drawing, and stencils.
Writing Center: Allows children to investigate early forms of writing, book making, and drawing. Materials include a variety of paper, envelopes, pre-made blank books, dry/erase boards, chalkboards/chalk, magnetic letters, pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, rulers, a variety of stickers, magazines, and glue.
Math Center: Exploring activities through manipulatives lay the groundwork for abstract concepts such as comparing, classifying, ordering, and sorting. Some materials/activities included in this learning center: unifix cubes, pattern blocks with activity cards, Number Bingo, memory games, lacing cards, colored cubes, stringing beads, puzzles, geoboards, and a variety of other sorting materials and manipulatives.
Texture Center: Provides opportunities to explore the principals of math and science first-hand. By sifting sand and scooping water, children improve their physical dexterity. They develop social skills by joining others in making objects, such as a sandcastle. As they test various items in a tub of water, they learn scientifically which objects float or sink. Materials in this table periodically change; for example, when involved in a unit on birds, the table is filled with birdseed. Some objects included in this area: measuring cups/spoons, small containers of varying sizes, sifters, and sink and float objects.
Block Center: Some items included in this area: large/small wooden blocks, train set, small vehicles, “road map” rug, legos (including multicultural lego people), barn with related items, puppets/puppet stage, gear sets, tool bench/tools, and a fully equipped doll house.
Computers: There are two computers in the classroom with educational software. Also, children enjoy the computer lab once a week located in the library.
Snacks: A time for snack is set aside each day. The school, through a Readiness Grant provides a daily nutritious snack for the children such as fruit, cheese, or fresh vegetables. A nutritious beverage is also provided. Please let the teacher know at the beginning of the school year if you are choosing to have your child receive the free snack and beverage all year. Students have a choice of white milk or 100% juice. There is no snack on early release days.
Staffing: The preschool is staffed with a Connecticut certified Early Childhood/Special Education teacher who holds a Master of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. The preschool is also staffed with an instructional assistant. Their primary goals are to provide your child with a nurturing, stimulating program within a safe environment. Because of the unique nature of the program, the teacher to student ratio is 1:8, which allows each child to receive individual attention.
Enrollment: The preschool program serves children from three to five years old. Children MUST be toilet trained. Children may be enrolled in either the five-day a.m. session, p.m. session or all day.
If a Planning and Placement Team (PPT) has identified your child as having special needs and determined that preschool is the appropriate program, placement is decided at a PPT meeting. The decision will be based upon your child’s special needs.
Schedule: Our preschool program offers morning, afternoon and all day sessions. The morning sessions are from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and the afternoon session is from 12:00 - 3:00. All day sessions are from 8:30 to 3:00. The Readiness Grant has allowed us to offer early drop off and late pick-up. Students enrolled in the morning or all day sessions may be dropped off as early as 8:00. Students enrolled in the afternoon or all day sessions may be picked-up as late as 3:30. The preschool follows the Scotland Public School calendar including vacations, early dismissals and in-service days.
Inclement Weather or other Emergency Closings: If Scotland Elementary School is closed, opened late or dismissed early because of inclement weather or other emergencies, the radio/television stations listed below will be notified and announcements made by these stations. The superintendent initiates school closings and late openings.
WDRC 1360 AM, 102.9 FM WILI 1400 AM WICH 1310 AM
WINY 1350 AM WTIC 1080 AM WTIC 96.5 FM WCTY 97.7 FM
WFSB channel 3 WTNH channel 8 WVIT channel 30
Radio announcements stating that Scotland Elementary School (District #11) will open 90 minutes late, means that morning preschool sessions will NOT be held on that day, however the afternoon session WILL convene. Students staying all day may be dropped off with the afternoon session. Please do not arrive before 11:55.
In the event of an early dismissal, morning and all day preschool students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. and afternoon will NOT be held.
Scheduled Early Release Days: Please check your Scotland Elementary School calendar for scheduled early release days. Morning sessions will be from 8:30 to 10:30 and afternoon sessions will be from 11:00 to 1:00. Students may be dropped off as early as 8:00, but there is no extension offered in the afternoon. Children who normally stay all day will also be dismissed at 1:00.
Parking & Entrance: Parents bringing their child to school may park in the designated “preschool parking" as appropriate.
Arrival: Arrival time in the classroom is between 8:00 - 8:30 and 11:55 - 12:00. (Please do not arrive before 11:50 a.m.). Each child must be accompanied into the preschool room by a parent/guardian or authorized adult. Be certain a staff member knows of your child’s arrival. School will begin promptly at 8:30 and 12:00. If there is an unusual circumstance in which you must arrive after 8:30/12:00 be certain you let the nurse know so your child will not be marked absent. To ensure that your child’s belongings stay together, be sure to label all clothing, backpacks, etc.
Also, be sure your child’s backpack is large enough to accommodate items such as a 9 ½” x 12” take-home/communication folder, winter clothing such as hat and mittens, take-home papers, small projects, and a snack.
Departure: The preschool session ends promptly at 11:30 and 3:00. The children will then be escorted to the side doors near the preschool room where the parents will pick them up. Parents should line up beginning at this door and remain in their vehicles until it is their turn to pick up their child. Older siblings will meet parents there. If you want to give your child an opportunity to play on the playground after school or talk with other parents, please follow the procedure above for picking up your child and then park your vehicle in the parking lot. Students staying until 3:30 will be in their classroom. Parents should park their vehicle at the front entrance and enter the building through the main office to sign-out their child.
Transportation: Parents need to provide transportation for their child, unless through a PPT, the Preschool Program is selected to provide bus transportation for said child.
‘Emergency Information’ Card: Parents/Guardians will usually drop off/pick up their child. In the case of an emergency or unpredictable circumstance, one of the three individuals designated on this form will be allowed to pick up your child. The office staff or preschool staff MUST receive a phone call or note which includes the name and description of the person to whom you are allowing us to release your child. If the staff is unfamiliar with the designated person, they will require positive proof of identification. Individuals authorized to drop off/pick up your child MUST be at least 18 years old and will be responsible for your child once they leave the all-purpose room.
Pre-admission Paperwork: Prior to admission, the following forms must be completed: the Health Assessment Record, a Scotland Preschool Registration Form, a computer use form, an internet use form, and a “Tuition Agreement” Form.
Updating Information: Forms must be updated each August. Please inform the staff if there are any changes during the course of the school year. Please notify staff if a family event has occurred that may affect your child’s behavior.
Dress: Your child will be involved in many hands-on activities. Please dress your child in comfortable play clothes and rubber soled shoes or sneakers. Proper attire will help ensure the safety and comfort of the children. Outdoor play is very important to children. Please be sure to dress your child appropriately for the weather and season. On gym days children must wear sneakers. If your child’s clothing becomes wet (spilt milk for example) he/she will be brought to the nurse for clean clothing. The nurse has a few extra sets of pants and shirts. Please wash, dry and return the borrowed clothing to the nurse and as soon as possible. If you prefer, you may bring your own set of clothing for this purpose.
Behavior/Discipline Philosophy: The entire staff uses positive methods of discipline, which encourage self-control, decision -making, cooperation and positive self-esteem. A child will never, under any circumstances, be physically punished, humiliated or threatened. If a child misbehaves, a staff member will always take the child aside to speak to him/her about the incident. A child may be asked to choose a different activity or a staff member may redirect him/her to another area. Time-out is used as a last resort when all other strategies have been exhausted. Time-out involves having a child sit briefly in a chair away from the group to regain self-control. A staff member will then talk to the child about the incident and offer a positive alternative behavior.
Communication and Involvement: A primary goal of the Scotland Preschool Program is to maintain close communication between home and school. A preschool picnic is scheduled for Late August from 11:00 to 12:00 noon to introduce the preschool staff - a small lunch will be provided by the P.T.O. (Exact date TBD.) An Open House is scheduled in the fall to introduce parents/guardians to the program and facility. The classroom teacher maintains contact with parents through newsletters, memos, personal notes and phone/in-person conversations. A take-home/communication folder is sent home daily with information regarding curriculum, school news, and valuable parenting tips. This folder enables families to communicate regularly with the classroom teacher.
Individual conferences are scheduled twice during the school year. Please feel free to visit the program to observe or interact with your child at any time. We actively seek parent participation. Parent volunteers are welcome in the classroom on a daily basis, as well as for special events. The entire staff truly seeks to form a partnership with you to provide the highest education for your child.
Forms: Prior to entry, you and your physician MUST complete the Health Assessment Record. The school nurse prior to attendance will review it. Two Emergency Cards MUST be filled out and updated each August (one for the office, the other for the nurse’s office).
Status: The school nurse and staff must be alerted about any child who has a medical condition which may require immediate attention or the administration of emergency medication. Conditions would include food or insect sting allergies.
Services: A school nurse is available to provide services to children enrolled in the preschool. He/She is responsible for completing annual hearing and vision screenings and contacting parents if a child becomes ill at school. The school nurse serves as a consultant to the staff regarding medical concerns.
Illness: If your child has any communicable illnesses (e.g. virus, cold with fever or excessive coughing, strep throat or chicken pox) she/he must remain home until she/he is no longer contagious. Please notify us if any childhood diseases (e.g.. chicken pox) are going through your household, so that we and other parents can watch for symptoms in others. Equally important, many of these common diseases are potentially dangerous to pregnant women (i.e. measles, fifth disease). Kindly make us aware so that we can take the necessary precautions to protect our staff and volunteers.
Any child with a suspected contagious illness will require early dismissal. Signs of contagious illness include a fever of 100 degrees or greater, more than one episode of diarrhea or loose stool, reddened tonsils, runny nose with greenish/yellowish mucus, congestion with barking cough, nausea/vomiting, unknown rash and reddened eyes. Please see the Student Handbook.
Generally, a child with a fever of 100 or greater, diarrhea and/or vomiting will not be allowed to attend preschool for 24 hours, unless a physician note permits attendance. Upon returning to the program, your child needs to be free of signs and symptoms of contagious illness.
If your child will not be attending the preschool on a given day, due to an illness, medical appointment, or any other reason, please call the office (423-0064) who will then notify the preschool staff.
If your child becomes ill at school, the school nurse will notify you at home or work. If she/he cannot reach you, she/he will contact the individuals listed on the emergency card.
The Scotland Preschool Program needs your feedback to improve and evaluate our program. The staff is committed to continually improving and modifying the program to better meet the needs of our students and their families. Also, toward the end of the school year a survey will be given to obtain feedback regarding our program.
The preschool staff believes that parent input is a valuable part of our program assessment. Parents are encouraged to address concerns or share ideas with the teacher at any time.
Parents should bring any problems or concerns to the attention of their child’s teacher. If the parents are unable to resolve the issue with the classroom teacher, they should contact Dr. Paul Blackstone, Scotland Elementary School Acting Superintendent/Principal.
The staff is committed to having each child experience a positive transition in and out of the program. If this is your child’s first formal preschool experience, and if it is your desire, the staff will communicate with you regularly to ensure a successful beginning. If your child has been enrolled in another preschool, the staff is willing to work cooperatively with previous teachers to make the transition a smooth one. When your child exits our program, the staff will assist you in preparing your child to attend kindergarten or another program. Children who will attend kindergarten in the fall of 2008 will be given several opportunities for a smoother transition into kindergarten. For example, we will visit the kindergarten classroom for a tour while Mrs. Brisson (the kindergarten teacher) informs the children of what to expect in kindergarten! On another day Mrs. Brisson will read the children a story in the kindergarten classroom. It is our hope that your child will become familiar with our kindergarten teacher and the transition into kindergarten will be smooth!