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WELCOME to Zachary Early Learning Center Pre-kindergarten Orientation 2011-2012 Cynthia Myers, Principal Angela Cassard, Assistant Principal Arrival/Dismissal Students are not permitted to arrive on campus before 8:00AM. Students should arrive no later than 8:20 (school hours 8:00-3:00). If you are late, please check your child in at the Early Learning Center office. The school day ends at 3:00 P.M. No checkouts after 2:35 on full days and after 12:25 on early dismissal days. Extended Day Program Zachary Early Learning Center will be offering the Extended Day Program on our campus this year. Drop off time is no earlier than 6:45 A.M. and pick up time is no later than 5:45 P.M. There is a $40.00 nonrefundable registration fee. Attendance If your child is absent, send a note giving the reason for the absence within 5 days after the student returns to school. Absences for illness, outside therapy sessions, appointments, and even special circumstances are excused; however, we do encourage you to schedule appointments outside of school hours when possible. Attendance Policies Elementary students shall not be absent more than 10 excused and unexcused days. More than five unexcused absences will be considered “excessive” and may be treated in the same manner as truancy. More than three unexcused tardies and checkouts during a semesters will be treated in the same manner as truancy and will be referred to the Child Welfare and Attendance office. After three unexcused tardies or checkouts, students will be assigned to the Principal’s Office for 10 minutes. Messages/Concerns Please notify your child’s teacher in writing or by fax of any changes in your child’s transportation before 12:00 noon. NO ORAL MESSAGES can be accepted – We must have it in writing. Please do not relay messages through bus drivers. Use the space provided on the daily notes to write a note or send a note in your child’s folder. This includes picking up a child from school, going home with a friend, and appointments. This is for your protection and no exceptions will be made. Fax number – 225-654-6392 Illness Attending school on a daily basis is important for the success of your child. However, please do not bring/send your child to school if they are sick. Specifically, a child must be free of fever for 24 hours before returning. If your child is vomiting or has diarrhea the night before school, PLEASE do not send them to school the next day. Germs spread quickly in a preschool setting! Please keep your emergency contact numbers up to date so we may contact you easily in the event of an illness or emergency at school! Visitors All parents must check in at the office to receive a visitors’ pass before coming to the classroom. You will need to present your license in order to obtain a pass. NO EXCEPTIONS. Uniforms White or Navy shirts with collars Khaki bottoms Pants with belt loops must have belts Tucked in shirts No hanging jewelry No Crocs White socks with shoes On Free Dress Days – no opened-toed shoes or Crocs Labeling Please label everything including book sacks, clothes, coats, sweaters, raincoats, etc. The school will not be responsible for lost items. Money Polices Zachary Early Learning Center will accept checks and money orders only. Please do not send cash unless requested. Tuition is $400.00 per month and is due by the 5th of each month. If students owe tuition, lunch money, or extended day money, they may not be able to attend that month’s field trip. Lunch/Breakfast If you would like for your child to bring his/her own lunch to school, they may do so. Nothing can be heated for your child due to safety reasons. Breakfast will be served daily and as a part of the program, therefore, each child is required to eat with his/her class. If you do not wish for your child to be served a school breakfast, you must send something for your child to eat with his/her class during this time. Full price breakfast will be $1.25 per day. Full price lunch will be $1.75. There is a new online payment system which allows parents to pay online for their child’s meals. This system also sends email notifications when your child’s balance is getting low. Snacks Students will not be assigned to bring snacks this year. Snacks will be provided as a part of the Child Nutrition Program. This split meal service will be served as a part of the lunch menu, but will be served after naptime. Student allergies will be taken into consideration, and an alternate snack will be served if needed. Birthdays We will make your child’s birthday a special day, but there will be NO birthday parties at school. You may send invitations for parties only if all the children in the class are included. Many children’s feelings are hurt when they are left out. If you would like to bring a special treat (NO BALLOONS) to school for your child’s birthday, please let the teacher know in advance. Birthday posters for your child may be purchased from the school for $15.00. Class Parties We will have different holiday parties throughout the year. Parents are invited to attend three celebrations: Christmas, Easter, and the end of the year Luau. You will be notified as the party date nears. Sorry, no siblings are allowed to attend classroom activities or field trips. Field Trips We will be going on several field trips this school year. We will send home more information when these dates arrive. Unfortunately, siblings are not allowed to attend these outings. Chaperones will be appointed at each individual teachers’ discretion. Each child will receive a field trip t-shirt that will remain at school and will be worn on field trip days. Toys Please do not allow your child to bring valuable things to school. NO TOYS FROM HOME unless requested by the teacher for special activities. Curriculum The teachers of Zachary Early Learning Center have written their own curriculum , which is grounded in the Creative Curriculum for Early Childhood. It focuses on “child centered” learning. There will be no worksheets or rote memorization. Children will be exposed to a print-rich environment and will learn through interaction between teachers, classmates, and manipulatives. Fundations Wilson Fundations is a phonological/phonemic awareness, phonics and spelling program for the general education classroom. Fundations lessons focus on carefully sequenced skills that include print knowledge, alphabet awareness, phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, and vocabulary. Teachers incorporate this program with the daily curriculum. Assessment Portfolios are the primary tool used for assessment in this program. A portfolio is a system for organizing samples of a child’s work in order to document progress over time. The portfolio will include actual writing, drawing, cutting, and painting samples as well as photos and anecdotal records. We will document your child’s progress and keep you updated by sending home a “progress report” every nine weeks. The Developmental Skills Checklist (DSC) will be given to students in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. Only language, memory, math, and handwriting skills will be tested. Behavior Management Behavior management is a process used to teach children about appropriate behavior and to guide them to build self-control in their actions. Zachary Early Learning Center implements Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS). Discipline in our classroom will be positive involving consideration of the whole child with the use of redirection, choices and decisions, positive reinforcement, and logical consequences. Classroom management and environment is a teacher’s responsibility; however, it is important for students to take ownership of their own behavior. Behavior reports are sent home every day. Behavior Management Cont’d Your student handbook contains the rules and expectations at Zachary Early Learning Center. Students will earn rewards for good behavior and consequences for disruptive behavior. Each child has the opportunity to earn Pony Points each day. These Pony Points can be redeemed at the Pony Store each Friday. In the case of continuous disruptive behavior, the teacher will contact you either by a note or personal phone call. With cooperation and communication between home and school, our efforts to maintain suitable conduct at school are more effective! Wish List There are no supplies required for pre-kindergarten; however, if you can donate any of the following items to your class, it would be greatly appreciated! Kleenex Ziploc bags new toys or candy for the treasure chest Parental Involvement We firmly believe that parents/guardians are the child’s first teacher, and we look forward to working with you this school year in providing your child with a wonderful pre-school experience. Parents are welcome to schedule classroom visits with the teacher and an available administrator at any time. Contact your child’s teacher at least one day in advance to set-up these visits. If you would like to volunteer, please notify your teacher to make arrangements. ITEMS NEEDED FOR THE FIRST DAY ONE complete change of clothes – your child’s name should be on each item and placed in a zip-loc bag. This needs to be a uniform, underwear, & socks. ONE towel for naptime – labeled with your child’s name. These will be sent home at least every two weeks to be washed and returned to school. NO blankets, comforters, or pillows please. ONE book sack – large enough to accommodate folders (without being folded) and their towels. A NAME TAG to include your child’s name, teacher’s name, and mode of transportation.