Transcript Parent Orientation - Peabody College, Vanderbilt University

Welcome to
Parent Orientation!
August 20, 2012
The Susan Gray School
Where knowledge meets nurture
WELCOME!
OUR GOALS FOR TODAY ARE
TO..
 …share
a bit about what happens at SGS.
 …highlight
important points from our
Parent Handbook.
 …answer
SGS!
any questions you have about
MEET THE SGS STAFF
OFFICE ADMINISTRATION TEAM
Kiersten Kinder, Site Director
 Michelle Wyatt, Assistant Director
 Tracy Tatum, Office Manager

MEET THE SGS STAFF
FACULTY DIRECTORS (INTERIM)

Mary Louise Hemmeter & Ann Kaiser
MEET THE SGS STAFF
CLASSROOM TEAMS

Teacher, Co-Teacher, Susan Gray Teaching
Fellow, (possibly) Metro Para-professional
MEET THE SGS STAFF
SUPPORT STAFF
Liz Story, Erin Beller,
Yvonne Maxwell,
Carolyn Bass
 Theresa Hook, RN
 Heather Winters, OT &
Caryn Givens, PT

WHO ARE THE CHILDREN OF
SGS?
•
•
•
We serve approximately 85 children in
our building. Approximately 32 have
special needs and the rest are
developing typically.
Beyond our doors, we also serve 79
other children with special needs in the
Nashville community by four SGS
Outreach Teachers.
Our families represent a variety of
cultures and were built in a variety of
ways!
Our commitment to confidentiality…
WHAT SUPPORTS OUR
SCHOOL?
Our belief about
children and
learning
Our four-fold mission
Our accreditation &
licensing agencies
Our partners
Our financial
supporters
Our families
We believe that ALL children are special and that
they grow the most when children with and
without disabilities play and learn together.
To serving our families; to training; to research;
to demonstration.
NAEYC, TN 3-Star Rating,
TN-DOE
TEIS, MNPS
Peabody College, State, Local,
& Foundation Grants, Private Donations
Countless and creative ways you can
support your child’s experience at SGS!
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE
CLASSROOM?
Curriculum for
Toddlers &
Twos: theme
based
Weekly lesson plans
created with TNELDS, child-specific
goals, child interest,
and stages of child
development in
mind.
Curriculum for
Preschool: Read,
Play, & Learn
How will my child’s
goals be met in the
classroom? Why do
we have “integrated
therapies”?
HOW DO PARENTS KNOW WHAT IS
HAPPENING?
Weekly classroom newsletters
 Monthly school-wide parent newsletters
 Drop-in, phone call, email
 Observation booths
 Greeting board by sign-in clock
 After-care communication board

WE ARE PREPARED
FOR BUMPS ALONG THE WAY!

Change can be bumpy.
Beginning of the year “bumps”
 As we go along…

Accidents happen! Boo-boo reports help you know
what happened and what was done.
 Incident reports help us learn from behaviors and
keep you informed.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY!
BUMPS CAN HAVE GOOD OUTCOMES!

“Face-lifting” our environment throughout the
coming year
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT US!
We try to avoid “time-outs” and instead give
children the chance to participate appropriately
when they are ready.
 We tell the child what he CAN do instead of what
he can’t do.
 We offer most of the attention to children doing
the right thing.
 We understand that certain behaviors need to be
handled differently and these are addressed with
individual families.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT US!
We encourage developmentally appropriate
independence.
 Whenever possible, we try to speak to the
children calmly, kindly, and in close proximity.
 We offer specific praise so children know what
we are looking for.
 We reinforce the positive behaviors.
 We offer choices to the child.

You’re going to be hearing more about
being a “SGS star” soon!
OTHERS WAYS TO MAKE A
SUCCESSFUL CONNECTION
BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL

Talk with your child about her day!

Predictable morning and evening routine at home

Appropriate amount of sleep



Toddlers (Ages 1-3): 12-14 hours per day

Preschoolers (Ages 3-5): 11-13 hours per day
Predictable drop off and pick up routine, including
being on time and, please, hang up cell phones.
Send children in true “play clothes” – our staff is
dressed to play!
OTHERS WAYS TO MAKE A
SUCCESSFUL CONNECTION
BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL





Schedule a time to talk with teachers if you need to
discuss something beyond basic daily information
Provide tissues and wipes with tuition
Keep sick children at home. What is “sick”? What
requires a doctor’s note?
If possible, schedule doctor’s appointments around the
11am-2pm window
Consider us all members of your child’s team 
PLEASE HELP US ENCOURAGE SAFETY
BY…

Walking feet in the hallways

Help children stay out of empty classrooms



Do not leave your car running or children in the
car!
Close classroom doors and gates behind you
Help your child wash their hands when they
enter the classroom
CELEBRATIONS! THINGS TO
NOTE…
Birthdays are times to celebrate, but please keep them
simple. A favorite, prepackaged snack is welcomed,
but not required.
 Candy Cautions!
 SGS is a NUT FREE ZONE!!!!!!!!
 On our calendar: yearly fundraiser, International
Potluck and Open House, Family Orientation, Family
Outing, Punkin’ Parade, Holidays Around the World,
Grandparents’ Tea, Spring Picnic, Graduation
 Expectations for family participation

LOOKING AHEAD…
 Metro
schools, the SGS calendar, and what it
means to be a year-round facility.
 SNOW DAYS: If MNPS are closed, SGS will
automatically go on a 2 hour delay. Please
check Channel Four Snowbird reports for the
most current information. On WSMV’s
website, you can sign up to have your email
account notified if SGS or any other school is
closed.
THANK YOU…
 …for
sharing your children with us – we
consider it a privilege!
 …for partnering with us and keeping the
home-school communication open.
 …for taking the time to be here today!
HERE’S TO A GREAT YEAR!