From the Northlake Preschool Parent Handbook…

Northlake Preschool Program

Enrollment

Registration Packet

You will receive a registration packet prior to your child’s first day of attendance.  The packet includes the following forms which must be completed before your child’s first day at Northlake.

Family Information pages

Consent to Medical Care form

Immunization form

Parent Agreement

A New Environment

When you have made the decision to enroll your child, we encourage you to visit Northlake with your child before the first day of attendance.  This will help your child become familiar with his/her teachers and new environment.  If a visit beforehand is impractical, our staff will be very helpful in making the “first week” transition easy for you and your child.

Saying Good-bye

The Northlake Preschool staff will do their best  to make your child’s morning transition as easy as possible, especially during those first days at school.  Parents are welcome to stay and visit, read a book, or share a snack...whatever makes your child feel comfortable and helps him/her say good-bye to you for the day.

For some children, long good-byes are more difficult and may give them the sense that you are uneasy about leaving them.  Our staff will soon learn how your child makes his/her transition to Northlake each morning and will help you and your child start each day in the best possible way.

Some Good-bye Tips

It is always best to let your child know when you are getting ready to say good-bye and leave.  It will also help to tell your child when you will return as well.  Children are more comfortable when they know what to expect.  You might say, “I’ll be back to get you at 4:30 after I finish work and after you have eaten your afternoon snack.”  Your reassuring voice will comfort your child even if he/she is too young to understand completely.

Family Involvement

Parents are encouraged to visit the center and spend time with children when schedules permit.  You are welcome in any area of the facility while the children are engaged in activities.  Bring your lunch and eat with your child, join in a project or field trip, or share a special talent or interest.  Your involvement will give children the message that you are interested in them and that you value their school experience.  Please, join us when you can!

Transition to a New Classroom

Advancement of your child to a new classroom is not determined strictly by age.  A move will be determined by the developmental readiness of the child to progress to the next age group, and by space availability.  The move will be made gradually by introducing the child to the new classroom for short periods at first to ensure a smooth transition.  You will be consulted before your child makes a permanent move to another classroom, and we will notify you of the official date that your child graduates to the new class.  Fees will be adjusted accordingly.

Clothing

Please, send your child in clothing that is comfortable and can withstand the wear and tear of our daily routine.  We will be outdoors at least twice per day (weather permitting), so please make sure your child has weather appropriate clothing, including hats, coats, mittens, and boots.

Rest Periods

Each child will have his/her own cot or mat and will have supervised rest periods following lunch.  Preschoolers who do not sleep or who take short naps may look at books quietly on their cots during rest time.

Outdoor Play

Fresh air and sunshine are essential for good health and well-being.  Our philosophy:  If your child is well enough to come to school, he/she is well enough to go outside.  Weather permitting, children and teachers will be outside at least twice per day.  Children may be taken for walks around campus and will have daily opportunities to run, dig, climb, and explore on the school playground.

While it is true that children attending school they must be well enough to go outdoors, we do acknowledge special circumstances.  Occasionally, a child has a medical condition (asthma, for example) that makes it impossible for him/her to play outdoors in certain conditions.  In this case, please ask your doctor for a letter concerning the specific health issue.  Ask your doctor to note the best practice for us to follow and any additional information we should know about your child’s condition.

Field Trips

Field trips offer children a chance to learn and have fun in a variety of settings.  Children over the age of three will have the opportunity to go on field trips.  Your registration packet includes a place for you to sign giving general permission for your child to participate in walking field trips offsite.  Parents will be notified in advance of upcoming field trips.  If you choose for your child not to participate in an offsite trip, he/she may remain at school with other classroom staff.

Staff accompanying the children on offsite trips will be trained in First Aid, pediatric CPR, and school procedures.  Parents are welcome to attend.

 Northlake Preschool

Discipline Policy

We believe that discipline is a process that ultimately helps children learn to be self-disciplined.

Children are learning to express their feelings and emotions with words, to have their needs met in acceptable ways, and to acquire the complex social skills expected in our society.  Understandably, they will try a variety of behaviors as they approach the difficult task of achieving a balance between their personal needs or autonomy and the rights and safety of others.  We see discipline as an educational process designed to encourage children to recognize the choices available and to help them be able to select those choices that are effective, appropriate, and acceptable.

The guidance process sets limits, models good negotiation skills, and teaches children how to solve their own problems, to listen actively and according to their developmental levels, and to take responsibility for their actions.  It is based on an understanding of the individual child’s needs and stage of development, and is designed to help the child develop inner control, acceptable behavior, self-respect, and respect for others.  It is fair and consistent and related to the child’s behavior.