Welcome To The Pre-Toddler Panda Class

Ms. Heather and Ms. Kristin

Agenda
Teacher Introductions Morning Arrival Classroom Schedule Language Arts Goals Cognitive Skills Creative Art and Music/Movement Skills Science/Nature Study Skills Motor Skills Self Help Skills Social Science Skills Assessments Behavior Management Parent Communication Menu Food Reminders Medications Birthday Celebrations Toys From Home Special Events Open Door Policy Questions?

Teacher Introductions
Ms. Heather is pursuing an Early Childhood Education Associate Degree, has completed a Childhood Development Associate equivalent, and has 8 years of Early Childhood and Teaching Experience. Heather also serves as one of our Curriculum Resource Specialist, correcting all lesson plans for the younger side of our school. Ms. Heather was the schools Teacher of the Year for 2012. She has worked with children in a variety of school settings. Ms. Heather is married and has a 15 year old daughter that keeps her very busy with her Irish Dancing. Ms. Kristin is currently pursuing her Associate's in Early Childhood Education and has 4 years of Early Childhood and Teaching experience. Her past experience includes working as a teacher's aide assisting children with special needs and an infant teacher. Ms. Kristin enjoys spending time with her son Brayden.

Morning Arrival
Upon arrival at school you will sign your child in at the front desk with your personal password on the iPad. A member of the management team will then buzz you into the building. If no one is at the front desk please ring the door bell and someone will come up front to buzz you in. The Panda classroom is an opening classroom so you can proceed directly to the classroom.

Morning Arrival
School starts at 7:00 a.m. however you may drop your child off as your schedule sees fit. We do encourage all children to arrive by 9:00 a.m. so that they can be here before morning circle time and center time begins. Breakfast is served until 8:00 a.m. (the school provides) you can send breakfast from home if you like. Children arriving in the morning have the opportunity to explore the interest centers as well work on creative art projects.

Classroom Schedule
Each day the children will spend time in interest centers in the morning as well as the afternoon. This is when they will get to work on their creative art skills, cognitive skills/math, and nature study/science skills. During morning circle time we will focus on our language art goals for the day as well as introduce or practice the Sign Language/Spanish word of the week. We will also practice signing and singing the ABCs as well as reviewing our colors, numbers, and shapes in English and Spanish. During Music/Movement each morning the children will spend 30 minutes singing and dancing and playing various instruments along to one of our Makin Music Cds.

Classroom Schedule
Each day the children will get plenty of time to practice their gross motor skills. We will spend 30 minutes outdoors in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon weather permitting. We do go outside if it is cold so please remember to send proper outdoor attire when the weather starts to get chilly. The children love playing in the snow!! During our morning outside time we will practice one or more of the poses from the Yogaroo curriculum. We also spend 30 minutes each day in our Fitness Room. In the Fitness Room the Fitness Room teacher will work on various skills with us each week.

Classroom Schedule
The children are encouraged to work on their self-help skills through out the day as well. Some of these skills include feeding themselves, washing their own hands, recognizing their own cubby, throwing their own trash away and self soothing. We will assist the children if needed with any of these tasks but we will allow them to try to do it themselves at first. We are not a potty training classroom but if a CHILD shows interest we will work with them.

Language Arts Skills

Speaks words clearly Uses two word phrases Attempts new words Names item while pointing Follows simple direction Tries to sing Waves and says bye-bye Combines words and gestures Introduce Time To Sign and Spanish words

Cognitive Skills
Points to named objects Points to some body parts Puts simple puzzles together Looks at pictures during story Responds to own name, to look and to no Tests limits Shows hand preference Builds block tower Uses objects and toys more purposefully Rebuilds and knocks over large-block tower repeatedly

Creative Art and Music/Movement Skills

Creative Art
Enjoys new tactile experiences Marks with crayon, marker or brush Recognizes own work Gains an understanding of basic concepts such as color, size and shape Uses different writing materials Scribbles spontaneously Begins to hold crayon in palm of hand and makes dots on paper

Music/Movement
Responds to music Marches and uses rhythm instruments Sings along with adult Recognizes loud and soft sounds

Science/Nature Study
Recognizes animals Make animal sounds Plays with water Smell flowers Watch shadows

Motor Skills
Holds crayon or marker in fist Eats with spoon Climbs on any available object Kneels Kicks and rolls ball Stoops to pick up objects Walks up and down stairs with assistance Shows increased balance and coordination in play activities Yogaroo poses

Self-Help Skills
Attempts to put shoes on Pulls pants up Puts on hat Feeds self Throws trash away Know own cubby Faces strangers Finds self in mirror or picture

Social Science Skills

Imitates adult actions Carries or hugs doll or stuffed animal Shows empathy Shows desire to help adults

Assessments
Assessment are done twice a year in November and April. You will receive a copy of the assessment at that time and will be given the opportunity to set up a parentteacher conference. Parent-Teacher conferences are done during naptime (1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.) and you can sign up through the Front Office

Assessments
Your child will be assessed in the following areas: Language Arts, Cognitive Skills, Creative Arts, Music/Movement, Motor Skills, Social Science/Social Studies, Nature Studies, and SelfHelp Skills They will receive an A for Always, S for Sometimes, N for Not Exhibiting or N/A for Not Applicable.

Behavior Management
We do not use Time Out at our school. The main form of behavior management that we use is redirection. If there is an ongoing problem we will work with you directly to find a solution. Shadowing is another technique we may use if a child needs it.

Parent Communication
Each day you will receive a DAR or Daily Activity Report. This will highlight each of the activities that we did for the day. It will also tell you what your child ate for lunch, when they napped, and when they were diapered. This report will also have a Memorable Moment from your childs day. This will be something special that just your child did. This will be emailed to you as soon as your child is signed out for the day. There is a green folder in your childs cubby any items that need to go home will be placed in this folder. (Please do not take the folder home.) At the beginning of each month you will receive a class newsletter highlighting some of the activities of the month. Important dates and reminders will also be on the newsletter. Friday Notes from Directors via email You can always contact the Front Office anytime during the day to check on your child if you need to at 703-5428474 or by email at [email protected]. We ask that if you have something important to discuss that you please set up a meeting so that we can give you our undivided attention. Morning drop-off and evening pick-ups are not the best time to discuss these matters due to teachers still needing to supervise other children.

Menu
The school will provide three snacks a day.
7:00 a.m.- 8:00 a.m. cereal and milk 9:10 a.m. mid morning snack 3:30 p.m. afternoon snack
A snack menu can be found in the lobby at the beginning of each month and is also emailed to all parents. Juice is only served a couple of times a week. We typically do not have any parents that want their children to have juice so we ask that the kitchen not bring it, if you would like your child to have juice please let us know so that on the days juice is served we can let the kitchen know to bring enough for your child.

Menu
Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. You have two options:
Option 1: Pack your childs lunch. Items can be heated up. They must come prepared and ready to be heated. No glass containers. All items to be heated should be placed in the cooler on top of the cubbies in the classroom. Container (lid and bottom) should be labeled with your childs first and last name and the date. All other items should remain in your childs cubby in a lunch box with an ice pack. All items in the lunch box should also be labeled with first and last name and date as well as the lunch box. Option 2: Catered Lunch from Schoolhouse Grill. You can order directly from them at www.schoolhousegrill.com. Please remember to order at least 2 weeks in advance to ensure they get your order.

Food Reminders
We are a Peanut and Nut Free School!
This includes all products containing nuts such as cereal bars, almond milk, peanut butter and many cookies and multi-grain breads. If your child loves peanut butter sandwiches, sunflower seed butter is a very good alternative.

Medication
All medication including over the counter medicine requires a form to be filled out from your physician. If your child needs medication fro any reason please stop by the Front Office for the proper forms. Once the proper forms are received a MAT trained employee will be allowed to administered the medication per the physicians instructions.

Birthday Celebrations
If you would like to bring a special treat for a birthday we ask that you have it to the classroom before 10:00 a.m. on the day it is to be served. All items must be store bought and in the original container with the ingredient list attached. This will give the teacher the time to check the allergen list and contact any parents if needed about possible allergies. If purchasing cupcakes we ask that you look for cupcakes that ARE NOT processed on equipment that processes nuts. Giant Food typically has cupcakes that are safe.

Toys From Home

Please do not bring toys from home unless asked to for a special Show and Share activity. Your child can have a special lovie for naptime providing that it does not have any stuffing in it. Virginia licensing prohibits stuffed animals, pillows, etc. under the age of 2.

Special Events

Parents Night Out 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. is typically last Friday of each month and in December will be held on a Saturday morning Open House about 4x a year (will be announced in class newsletter and Friday notes) October 31, 2013 3:30 p.m. Halloween parade and class party November 20, 2013 3:30 p.m. Special Thanksgiving Snack December 20, 2013 3:30 p.m. Holiday Party February 14, 2014 3:30 p.m. Friendship Party March 17, 2014 3:30 p.m. St Patricks Day Celebration April 6-12, 2014 Week of The Young Child: Fun activities will occur each day celebrating this NAEYC event May 9, 2014 Muffins with Mom June 13, 2014 Doughnuts with Dad June 16, 2014 Summer Camp Starts July 3, 2014 Independence Day Parade 3:30 p.m.

Open Door Policy

We have an open door policy and invite you to visit the class at any time. We also have a Guest Reader Program. If you would like to come in and read the class a book we ask that you sign up with us at least a day in advance. We will let you know what book you are reading (it will be a book from our lesson plans). If you would like to take the book home to look it over in advance please let us know. You can let us know what time is good for you to come in to read. The only blackout times are eating and naptimes.

Questions?

Thank you for coming!

We are going to have a great year!