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CLASSROOM POLICIES FOR THE
LEARNING CENTER
General Policies:
All children enrolled in Pre-K must be potty trained before school starts. Any
information from the parent to the teacher should be written, dated, and pinned
to the school bag. If an emergency arises during the morning, call the school
and the message will be relayed to the teacher. We cannot accept verbal messages
from your child.
Again, children are released only to authorized adults as stated on the child’s
registration form. A written note is necessary if a child will be going home
with an adult not on the authorized list. Positive identification of adults is
required.
Dress
Your child should wear clothing and shoes suitable for outdoor play, art,
floor activities, movement, and that are easy to clean up. We encourage tennis
shoes. Please no flip flops or sandals without straps.
Please mark your child’s name on all outerwear.
Children should not bring umbrellas to school. A hooded raincoat is
recommended for rainy days.
No jewelry, either real or play, for this can be distracting, easily lost, and
dangerous in play.
Children should have a complete change of clothes in their bags.
Snack Policy
Each parent is asked to participate in our snack program. Your child’s teacher
will offer a sign-up sheet for you to provide snacks for one day of each month
during the year. Your will be responsible for sending a simple, nutritious snack
for the children in the class.
Snack suggestions include: cut-up fruit or raw vegetables, cheese and crackers,
small sandwiches, celery or graham crackers with peanut butter, cereal mixtures,
muffins, granola bars, pretzels, or raisins. All snacks should be prepared and
ready to serve in class. Birthdays should be coordinated into the snack
schedule. (Please see your child’s teacher.)
Show and Tell
Each child has a sharing time on a day specified by the teacher, with the
exception of the two-year-olds and Mother’s Morning Out classes. Children should
not bring any toys unless it is a Show & Tell day, and then limit it to one item
only.
Please allow your child to bring safe, sturdy, non-breakable items to share.
Sharing items should be brought in your child’s school bag for easy handling. We
request that you do not send guns, toys used as weapons, or any sharp items.
Children are encouraged to bring articles pertinent to topics of interest in the
classroom.
Birthdays
We enjoy celebrating birthdays with special treats, such as cookies or ice-cream
cups – but no goody bags, please! Please see your child’s teacher in planning a
party during school hours.
Parental Involvement
Special programs for parents and families are held several times throughout the
year. Parents are encouraged to participate in various classroom activities; for
example, reading stories, sharing personal expertise or items regarding units of
study and planning parties. We, as a rule, have an open door policy; however, we
prefer that when you visit, you plan the purpose and check with individual
teacher schedules. Typically, visitors create excitement, and you may expect to
be the focus of attention in the class, as well as being your child’s center of
attention.
Bringing Other Children Not Enrolled
As long as an enrolled child is in our building or on our playground, TLC staff
is responsible for his/her instruction and discipline, if needed. However, we
cannot, be responsible for other children (i.e., siblings) brought in during a
visitation. We ask that if you come in to visit and bring a child/children, that
you be prepared to closely monitor them with regard to their own safety as well
as not allowing them to be disruptive in the class.
Animal Policy
Teachers will check registration forms for allergies before allowing any animal
in the classroom or allowing children to go outside to visit an animal. Animals,
reptiles, insects, or spiders must be in a contained box or other secured
enclosure (no glass) if they are going to be entering the building. Large
animals must remain outside on a leash. A parent should stay with the animal at
all times and the visit should remain brief, but allow enough time for all the
children to see and enjoy the animal. Reptiles, insects, or spiders may not be
out of the containment for any reason at our school.
Plant Policy
Staff should be aware that certain plants are poisonous, and should check the
list of poisonous plants posed in the supply room. Plants on this list are not
allowed in the classroom.
Health, Safety and Hygiene
The State of Georgia requires that each child have an immunization record on
file. These forms are available through the county health department or your
pediatrician’s office. Each child must have a current “gold card.” Good physical
health is required for all staff. CPR and first aid training is held annually.
To protect the welfare of all children, teachers may question the health of a
child. If there is any question concerning a child’s health and his/her
participation in the program, it will be brought to the director’s attention.
The director or assistant director will make the final determination as to
whether the child should remain at school. A child should not be brought to
school if he/she is ill or exhibits symptoms of an oncoming illness. This
includes: fever of 99º degrees or more, sore throat, earache, green discharge
from nose, bronchial or deep chest cough, undiagnosed rash, red eyes or
discharge from eyes, diarrhea, or vomiting within 12 hours prior to school. If
your child becomes ill at school or shows symptoms of illness, you will be
notified and asked to take your child home.
Parents will be notified if their children are exposed to anything contagious.
Biting, scratching, or any behavior inflicting injury will not be tolerated. A
child’s health must allow him/her to participate fully in all group activities,
including outside play.
Information on any child with a health risk, such as severe allergies or asthma,
will be posted in the classroom.
Medical Care
For minor injuries, i.e., scrapes, bumps, insect bites, we will:
1. Take the child to the Preschool Office. First aid kits are kept in the office
and on the playground.
2. Treat the injured area.
3. Notify the parents if further immediate care is necessary such as sutures or
dental work. If unable to reach the parents, we will notify the emergency
contact person/s.
4. Complete an accident report and send home with the child. Make a copy of the
report and leave it with the director.
The staff does not administer medication unless there is a life-threatening
situation.
If a child has a severe allergy, the parent should advise the school in writing
of the symptoms with detailed instructions for administering the medicine and
possible side effects. If the child is having a reaction to the allergy,
treatment will be given and the parents notified. The medicine is kept in the
director’s office along with written consent and explicit instructions.
Emergency Procedures
1. Our first priority is to attend to the child and apply any first aid
treatments necessary.
2. If the injury is serious, we will call 911 and call the parent immediately.
If an ambulance is necessary, transportation to St. Mary’s or Athens Regional
Hospital will be requested. If the parent has not reached the school at the time
of transport, a staff member will accompany the child with the child’s emergency
authorization form.
3. Parents or other emergency contacts will be contacted in case of any injury.
4. The teacher will complete an accident report to send home with the child and
leave a copy with the director.
All emergency numbers are posted next to the office telephones.
Classroom Hygiene
Since hand washing is the single most important way to prevent the spread of
infection, children are encouraged to wash their hands frequently for general
hygiene purposes.
Toys, counter tops, and table surfaces are disinfected daily.
If you child has vomited or had an accident in his/her clothing, the soiled
clothing will be placed in a plastic bag and sent home. Soiled clothes will not
be rinsed since this increases the spread of infection.
Diapering procedures are strictly adhered to in a method to prevent infection.
Potty Training
Please notify the classroom teachers when your child is ready to start potty
training. Teachers will gladly assist your child during this time. Children in
the process of potty training should wear pull-ups to school and clothes that
allow for easy changing.
All Pre-K students must be
potty-trained prior to the first day of Preschool.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS AND EMERGENCY
PROCEDURES
Inclement Weather
We will close school if Clarke County closes due to inclement weather. If the
weather becomes threatening for any reason, you are encouraged to pick up your
child early rather than wait for the regular dismissal time. Listen to
television or radio stations for the latest developments.
Emergency Evacuation
A plan has been developed for emergency evacuation, and exit routes are posted
in each classroom. Emergency procedures are in place for severe weather
situations. Fire and tornado drills will be conducted throughout the year.
Fire Safety
In case of a fire, the fire alarm will ring signaling teachers to evacuate
children from the building using the nearest designated exit. Once outside the
building, attendance will be taken to confirm all children are present.
Tornado Safety
In case of a tornado, the alert warning on the weather radio will signal.
Teachers will direct children to an inside wall. Children will be directed to
face the wall, kneel down, and cover their heads with their hands. Attendance
will be taken to confirm all children are present.
Loss of Electrical Power or Water
If loss of electrical power or water occurs during school hours, the school day
will continue and be kept as normal as possible. Should the electrical or water
supply be interrupted for more than a day, school will be closed until the
utility has been restored.
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