Philosophy Membership General Information
Enrollment in the Preschool will be restricted to a maximum of 12 (4 Year olds) & 10 (3 Year olds) children per class and it is required to have (1) adult per (5) children.
e.g. A class of 10 children requires 2 adults (1 Preschool Teacher & 1 Parent-Helper)
A class of 11 children requires 3 adults (1 Preschool Teacher & 2 Parent-Helpers)
At Registration parents will sign a waiver that allow their child/children to participate in any activities that will take place outside of the school. (Example, walk-a-thon, kindergarten visit, etc) Most off-premise excursions will be within walking distance of the Playschool. The Playschool may require extra volunteer parent supervisors to ensure proper child/adult ratios and that all reasonable safety precautions are adhered to.
For all excursions requiring vehicle transportation, the child’s Parents will be responsible to provide or arrange transportation to, from and throughout the excursion.
The children play actively and love to experiment with many different kinds of creative materials such as magic markers, paint and glue. Parents will need to provide the following to the Playschool for the duration of the school year:
– a clean pair of indoor, non-slip, non-marking shoes (Velcro shoes are the most efficient)
– a complete change of clothing in case of accidents or spills.
The rule of thumb: if it’s too fancy to get dirty, don’t wear it to playschool.
In all instances, both the children & the Parent Helpers are to dress appropriately for the weather.
E.g. Winter/Fall: Warm coat, ski pants, water resistant mittens, toque, boots
Spring: Water resistant coat, splash pants & rubber boots
The children, Playschool Teacher and Parent Helpers will be encouraged to practice good hygiene habits by washing their hands:
– Before and after eating and/or preparing food
– After caring for an ill or injured child
– After assisting a child in the use of a tissue
-After toileting (or helping a child, as applicable)
– After using any cleaning products
Children entering playschool must be fully potty-trained (No Pull Ups). Only those children with physical or cognitive disabilities will possibly be accepted without toilet training, and an Educational Assistant is required.
Each Parent of a playschool child is to supply a snack for their own child consisting of healthy food items and a drink.
Parents are asked to refrain from sending snacks containing nuts or nut products, high in sugar or salt, or soft drinks. Absolutely NO PEANUT BUTTER. Please check all snacks to ensure they are nut-free, including no snacks that MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF NUTS OR NUT PRODUCTS.
Some healthy suggestions would include: fruit (fresh or dried) & vegetables, crackers, cheese, yogurt, juice. Snacks will not be refrigerated. Please refrain from sending food/drinks that will require refrigeration.
The Playschool is a nut-aware, scent-aware and smoke-free environment.
The Playschool Teacher is to be advised of any and all allergies a child may have as it may have a direct impact on the planning of activities and excursions.
The Playschool provides a wide variety of toys to aid in the children’s development; fostering their imaginations, providing challenges and enjoyment.
Designated Show & Tell days and other “special” days offer the children opportunities to bring toys from home to share with their friends. Show and Tell takes place at the end of the school day, and generally not shared, just shown. Some children, though, have brought toys to playschool to play with. The child should consider whether they will be willing to share a ‘special’ toy or not. If sharing causes a problem, it may be put away until home time.
Please label any personal toys brought to the Playschool, in case they are misplaced.
Parents, visitors, Playschool Executive Members and the Playschool Teacher will refrain from smoking during the Playschool’s hours of operation while in attendance at the Playschool and in the company of the Playschool’s students.
The Playschool caregivers use positive discipline to maintain safety and to help establish harmonious relationships among the children.
All behavioral problem incidents will be handled in a non-punitive manner. Methods of distraction, reasoning, clarifying and separating will be practiced. The children will be encouraged to share, take turns and to work out their own problems. The Teacher will practice active listening, positive reinforcement and empathy to show an understanding of the children’s expressions.
Stoplight cards are also used to encourage the children to exhibit positive behaviour.
In situations where the Playschool Teacher finds it important to intervene, it may be necessary for the child(ren) to have a ‘time out’. If this occurs, the parents/guardians will be informed that day. During and after any confrontations, the Teacher will guide the child(ren) with problem-solving skills.
The child’s parents may be contacted to remove the child for the day if:
1. discipline attempts are not effective, and
2. the child has been given a minimum of (3) opportunities to change his/her behavior, and
3. the teacher and/or parent-helper are unable to perform regular duties due to negative physical or verbal behavior.