Families

Project HELP values family involvement and recognizes that parents and guardians are their child's first teachers. Upon entering the program, families are provided with an interest survey to welcome volunteer opportunities, as well as to encourage family participation. Teachers maintain open two-way communication with families in a variety of ways, including home visits, newsletters covering both developmental and parenting topics, parent boards, daily updates via take-home folders or electronic methods (text, email, Class DoJo, etc.), and Parent/Teacher Conferences. By collaborating, the teaching staff and families can work together to support and enhance each child's growth and development. At no point will any fee be charged for participation in the program, including for snacks, supplies, materials, or field trips.

For many children, preschool is a family’s first experience with school. Project HELP strives to create a welcoming introduction to the school environment by offering families a one-on-one family or home visit. During these visits, families can learn more about the program and receive guidance on completing the required paperwork. In addition, families and students will be invited to an Open House, where students can spend time becoming familiar with the classroom environment alongside their families and peers. Throughout the school year, families will be invited to at least two informal gatherings. These gatherings provide an opportunity for families to engage in fun and educational activities together. Family gatherings will be scheduled at different times to accommodate the needs of families.

Online Survey

Parents may have questions about the IELDS such as where to access them, why they are important, or how will they know if their child is meeting the benchmarks.  The Illinois Early Learning Project has put together an FAQ pertaining to the IELDS that can assist you to inform parents of the IELDS that guide developmentally appropriate instruction.  

Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards: A Guide for Parents