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Child Guidance Policy The purpose of the Child Guidance Policy is to assist children learn, grow and develop self-control, respect, trust, confidence, self-esteem and appropriate problem solving skills in a positive, peaceful, safe and secure environment. We set the stage for positive behaviors by establishing predictable routines, setting clear rules about expectations, being attentive to children’s needs, communicating with children’s families and modeling kindness and respect. Positive Child Guidance techniques we use are setting limits, providing explanations, providing choices between two appropriate behaviours and problem solving. Physical punishment, emotional deprivation, threatening to deny any basic necessity or use of any form of physical restraint is prohibited at preschool. Parents will be notified of any persistent problems. If a child’s behaviour indicates that he/she is not adjusting to the program, has significant issues co-operating with peers or teachers and is consistently having a detrimental effect on the class, parents may be asked to withdraw the child from the pre-school. Volunteer Policy Each family is expected to provide a volunteer in the classroom on a rotation basis (every second month). We ask that every family takes time to volunteer. This is a special time for you to spend with your child in preschool and to learn what is happening there. As it is a special time for your child too, please arrange child care for siblings. The duties of a volunteer are to be an extra pair of hands and eyes in the classroom, help where needed and to provide and aid your child in the distribution of snack. Drinks are provided by the preschool. Your child will be the SPECIAL HELPER on that day and is encouraged to bring one treasure for "show and tell". We would like everyone to have a turn at volunteering in the class. If this is not possible, please feel free to ask a friend or other relative to take your place. If volunteering on a regular basis is not possible, please speak to the teachers and arrangements will be made for your child to still be a special helper. On that day, we still would like you to provide a snack. Snack Policy Each family is required to provide a snack for the entire class on a rotation basis (every second month). All snacks must be store bought or pre-packaged and contain two of the food groups as set out by the Canada Food Guide. Snack ideas are listed below:
Restrictions:
Birthdays Policy Birthdays are special to children. Every child's birthday is celebrated during our school year. Parents are welcome to bring a special snack for their child to share at school. We suggest muffins, cupcakes or cookies. Please do not bring cakes or cupcakes with icing. Keep in mind that we are a peanut-free preschool. On this day, your child will visit the birthday box to pick a toy and the class will sing Happy Birthday. Drop off/Pick up Policy Parents are required to sign the "sign in/sign out" sheet when dropping off and picking up their child from preschool. Parents must notify the teacher of any changes in the pick-up arrangements. A child is only released to the parent or the designated adult (s) mentioned on the registration form. Please arrive promptly at class start and end times. Please drop off your child promptly at the scheduled time and avoid entering the preschool prior to start time as teachers use this time to set-up the classroom. Late pickups hinder the teacher's cleanup and preparation duties for the next class and can be stressful for children when they are the last ones to be picked up. If you must be late, please call the school and let us know. We can then relay the message to your child. Field Trips Policy Parents are required to sign a permission slip in order for a child to participate in a field trip. Field trips are determined and scheduled by the teacher. These field trips are either bussed field trips organized by the preschool or parent transported. Volunteers are also required for field trips. Outdoor Play Policy Outdoor space is a large grassed area behind the building and is used for wide games (year round weather permitting). School policy for outdoor activities is minus 5 degrees Celsius and above with no wind chill. Outdoor activities include group games, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, neighborhood walks, playground visits and nature walks. Administration of Medicine Policy The staff should be told about all medical concerns and allergies. A completed enrollment form and health form are to be collected before your child starts preschool. If there are any changes during the year, please let us know so we can update the information. These forms will be updated and signed by parents in January/February. If your child is attending preschool and is taking ANY medication, please let us know. Medication forms available at the preschool are required to be filled by the parent with information including the date, time, amount and reason for medication. All medications are stored in a lock box located in the kitchen and out of children's reach. Illness Policy For the safety of other children and staff, we ask that if your child is ill and unable to participate in preschool activities, please keep him/her at home. Please call us and let us know - we worry! Any child displaying symptoms such as vomiting, fever, diarrhea, pink eye, strep throat, Chicken Pox, Mumps, Rubella, Pertussis or a new or unexplained rash or cough will be excluded from attending the Preschool. In case a staff member deems a child is exhibiting any of the symptoms mentioned above, the staff member will ensure that the child's parent/guardian is contacted to remove their child from the program premises immediately. A child sent home from the program due to illness will not be allowed to return to class until a staff member is satisfied that the child has been symptom-free for at least 24 hours or upon receipt of a note from the child's physician. Accident/Injury Policy All staff members are trained and hold certificates in First Aid for Child Care. In case of a minor injury, the staff will:
In case of a serious injury, the staff will:
Emergency Procedure Emergency evacuations are practiced monthly. In the case of a real emergency, the children will be evacuated to Foothills Alliance Church, 333 Edgepark Blvd. NW and parents will be contacted as soon as possible. Program Closure Preschool will not be canceled due to weather unless transportation is impossible. Our program follows the Public School Calendar including school closures due to bad weather. Parent-Teacher Communication Communication and regular updates between staff and parents are achieved through orientation days, Parent Information Handbook, website, newsletters, emailed updates, UKP Facebook page and daily communication. The newsletters are an opportunity for the teachers to let you know what is happening in the classroom. Newsletters may include information on thematic units, upcoming events, as well as other classroom news. Speech Therapy Assessment A registered speech language pathologist visits our preschool for free screening assessments of children during class times that may lead to free therapy, if required. This is all part of an Alberta Government funded program. Program information will be provided at the beginning of the school year. Holidays/Special Events Special days are planned during the year. Some of these are listed in the Unique Kids Preschool calendar. In addition, details of the special days and events will be explained in the monthly newsletter such as PJ days, baking days, backwards days, teddy bear picnic and many more. We celebrate Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s and Father's Day. There will also be an end of year celebrations for all classes including the Graduation Ceremony for the 4 year olds and Family Picnic for the 3 and 4 year olds. Field Trips to the Library, Petland, Butterfield Acres, grocery stores, fire hall, etc. take place throughout the year along with many in-classroom visitors from the community. |