Parent Handbook

Discovery Foundation for Learning LLC

Parent’s Handbook

Phone number: 509-302-7778

E-mail: discovery.foundation.for.learning@gmail.com

Introduction

Welcome to Discovery Foundation For Learning. As early childhood specialists, we recognize the importance of parent involvement in any early childhood program. It is our hope that this handbook will help clarify the policies and procedures for Discovery Foundation For Learning and build relationships between educators and parents. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the program director, Kaitlin Cazier, by e-mail at discovery.foundation.for.learning@gmail.com or by phone at 509-302-7778.

Program Philosophy

Discovery Foundation For Learning uses an eclectic approach, combining the best practices of several different approaches with a child-directed teaching style. Our program combines aspects of Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and constructivist teaching styles with traditional academics to provide a unique balance of child-directed and teacher-directed learning opportunities. We have a solid academic base that involves exposure to language and literacy, mathematics, art, and science experiences daily. We also plan and carry out standards-based activities based on the Utah Department of Education standards.

Our overall philosophy involves a lot of hands-on engagement, including many opportunities for “messy play”. Research shows that children learn through using each of their senses, but specifically through touching and manipulating materials in open-ended ways. We believe in nurturing the disposition to learn which comes from engaging in activities children find intrinsically motivating. Both concrete and abstract concepts are taught in a way that encourages children to actively participate in the learning process. Because we offer a sensory rich learning environment your child will get messy. One of the great benefits of enrolling your child in a hands-on learning environment is you don’t have to clean up all the mess!

We also follow what we refer to as a “risk aware” rather than a “risk avoidant” philosophy. We believe children learn natural boundaries and self-regulation skills through engaging in risk taking behavior. While it is not possible to eliminate every risk within the environment, we also don’t believe it is in the child’s best interest to eliminate any and all “risky” activities. Each of our caregivers is trained to regularly assess children’s activities using our “risk of harm” assessment, and to redirect activities where the risk of harm is significant. Where there is little chance that with proper precautions a child will be seriously injured caregivers are encouraged to take a “hands off” approach and allow children to problem solve on their own as much as possible. Sometimes it is scary to let a child climb on a jungle gym or cut a banana at a young age, but with proper supervision, our students thrive in this type of environment where they can learn and be challenged.

Daily Schedule

We have found children benefit from an extended period of time to explore and engage in learning activities. We plan and carry out creative art activities, dramatic expression, story times, literature-based activities, mathematics activities, music appreciation classes, and indoor and outdoor motor activities. A teacher/mentor will work with your child individually and in small groups daily. Children will be encouraged to participate in all activities, but participation is not required. Our goal ultimately is to provide a nurturing learning environment where children are responsible for their own learning journey; this goal is best achieved by allowing children freedom of choice in program activities.

Homework Policy

We occasionally send home worksheets that review the concepts we have already explored in hands-on ways in the classroom as one method to review these skills. These sheets are not intended to replace hands-on learning at school or at home. If your child enjoys doing the sheets with you, it’s a great chance to sit down and spend time discussing their day and what they are learning while you do the work together. If they do not enjoy them please feel free to, without hesitation, throw them in the trash. It is our belief that learning should be intrinsically motivating and we do not want homework to become a battle, especially the preschool age children and younger when it is not academically necessary! On rare occasion, we may send home a homework “assignment” that we ask to be returned such as a writing prompt for a class book. Other than those specific requests there is no need to return homework after it has been completed. If a concern arises when you are doing homework with your child, please reach out to us so we can address it in more detail (ex: you realize your child is struggling with adding two-digit number together). We do recommend you read with your child every day.

Assessment

We strive to individualize each child’s learning experience by becoming aware of where they are developmentally and what steps can be taken to help them progress to the next developmental level. We utilize a variety of formal assessment measures as appropriate throughout the year dependent upon age, ability and educational focuses. In addition, we use informal measures of assessment including documentation panels, children’s work samples, daily reports, and learning portfolios to show you exactly how your child is progressing.

Assessment results will be used to:

• Refer children with potential delays to specialized service providers

• Develop an individualized learning plan for each preschool, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten child

• Lead teachers to develop activities based on children’s interests and current developmental levels and needs

• Share information with families on their child’s growth and progress over time

Assessment results are considered private and are kept in children’s classroom files to be accessed only by the child’s direct teaching team, the program director, and parents unless specific permission is given by parents for the information to be shared with other service providers for the purpose of assisting the family in receiving needed services.

Child Supervision

To ensure the safety of your child we will provide supervision by a trained adult at all times. Children will be required to stay in the classroom area in sight of the teacher, except when using the bathroom or in situations where another trained adult is available to supervise them. Teacher-Mentors have clear expectations for safety, both indoors and out. We are constantly taking a head count to ensure that all children are present and within our line of sight! Children who have difficulty regulating their own behavior are encouraged to stay close to a teacher-mentor who can intervene whenever necessary to ensure the safety of these children and others in the class.

Ratios and Group Sizes

The adult to child ratios in most of our classes is much smaller than the ratios required by the state. We believe these smaller ratios allow more individualized curriculum implementation as well as encouraging stronger relationships between children and their peers as well as with their teacher-mentor.

Outside Play

We typically go outside everyday unless there are severe weather conditions. We use the Child Care Weather Watch as our guide to determine “severe”, and most days we will go out. Because of our “all weather” philosophy as well as staffing issues we are unable to keep children inside during these outside play periods. If a child is too sick to go outside they are also too sick to be at school. We will not make exceptions to this policy except for children with asthma, who may be kept inside on yellow or red air days as needed.

Children should bring weather-appropriate clothing including coats/jackets, boots, gloves or mittens, and snow clothing as needed. If weather-appropriate clothing is not brought parents will be contacted and will need to bring clothing before their child’s outside period begins. We do have occasional donations of these clothing items, so please contact us if your child is in need of appropriate clothing or if you would like to donate. While outside teachers actively supervise children to ensure they are engaging safely.

Snacks & Allergy Policy

We provide snack daily. We make every possible effort to accommodate our students’ allergies or dietary needs, so please let us know your child’s allergies when you sign up and anytime you discover a new allergy. However, for some allergies, parents will be asked to provide their own snacks.

Immunizations & Medical Information

In accordance with Utah State laws parents are required to provide either proof of current immunizations or proof of a state-approved exemption from immunizations upon enrollment into the program, annually in September, and upon the child’s progression into a different class group. We are glad to accommodate families who make alternative health decisions for any reason; however, for everyone’s safety children who are not immunized or who are selectively immunized will immediately be excluded from the program upon a confirmed case of a vaccine-preventable illness within the county. Families will still be responsible for paying applicable tuition to hold their child’s spot.

Parents will also be required to provide information on health insurance coverage upon enrollment into the program with documentation including the insurance carrier, policy number, and name of insured. During the orientation parents will be asked to sign a permission form indicating who may have access to their child’s medical information. Typically, this information is shared only with the center director and the child’s direct teaching team.

Parent/Teacher Communication

At the beginning of the semester we will schedule a parent-teacher meeting to set up an individualized learning plan, identifying goals and objectives for your child to work on throughout the semester. These goals and objectives will be reviewed quarterly with parents in order to keep individual learning plans up to date. We also have a Facebook page available for parents highlighting our activities throughout the week. Documentation panels and bulletin boards can also be found throughout our classroom, please take the time to come into the classroom and see what your child is doing! Parent/Teacher conferences are available approximately once a quarter, though parents may request a conference at any time. Teacher-Mentors are always glad to converse with parents over the phone, via e-mail, or in person regarding their child’s school experience. However, to protect children’s privacy and ensure that children are supervised adequately teachers may be unable to speak with parents extensively during drop-off and pick-up times.

Parent Participation

At Discovery Foundation For Learning we believe that parents are the child’s first and most important teacher. Parents are welcome to observe or participate in the classroom at any time. We welcome assistance with story time, learning center activities, and assessments. Parent assistance may also be helpful with documentation, preparation of materials, and other class-related activities. Please remember while volunteering in the classroom parents can never be left alone with any child but their own unless a full background check has been completed.

Tuition

Tuition is due weekly on or prior to the first day of the month your child attends. Any payment made after this date will be charged a late fee of $10 per day unless you have made arrangements prior to the payment due date. There are no exceptions to this rule. Checks or cash are accepted for tuition payments. Delinquent accounts overdue by more than two weeks may result in termination from the program.

Drop Off and Pick Up

The standard tuition rate covers contracted hours during each session.

Contracted hours for each academic session are as follows:

7:30 AM – 6:30 PM

The doors will not be unlocked until 7:30 AM. After 6:30 PM a fee of $1 per minute will be assessed and must be paid prior to your child’s next day of attendance.

Check In/Check Out Procedures

This ensures that we are always aware of which children are in each teacher’s care and helps ensure no child enters or leaves the facility without being released into the care of a responsible adult.

Authorized Pick Up

For children’s safety, we will only release your child to individuals whose names are on the enrollment form as an approved pick up. If someone not on the form will be picking up your child you must notify us in writing (text is fine) or by phone in case of emergencies. Please make sure to designate an emergency contact on your enrollment form, so we can contact someone to pick up your child in case of an emergency if we are unable to reach you. We strongly recommend listing more than one emergency contact, including an out-of-state contact we can reach in case disaster situations lead to failure of local phone services.

Confidential Information

All information in your child’s file is considered confidential and will not be shared with other parents. We request parent permission at the beginning of the year for phone numbers to be released for our parent directory--however this is not a requirement. In addition to personal information any accident or incident reports are also considered private. If there is another child involved in an incident we will not release their name, however we will assure you that measures are being taken to protect your child while in care and will clearly communicate what our plan of action is to prevent your child from being injured.

Photograph & Video Permission

Upon enrollment parents will be asked to sign a photograph permission form indicating how we may use your child’s photographs. We regularly photograph and video tape children for documentation purposes. Images and videos may be shared publicly on a blog, Facebook page, or in advertising materials only if you have given prior consent. Their name will not be associated with any public use of images. Your child’s safety is our first priority; please contact us if you have any concerns about your child’s privacy.

Absences

Your weekly tuition payment pays for your child’s space in the program. As a result, credit will not be given for absences due to vacations or illness. If your child is going to be absent please notify us as soon as possible, preferably by call or text (509-302-7778). Because our program is highly individualized we often plan activities for specific children, if we know they are going to be absent we can make arrangements to change these activities to a day they will be present. Tuition does not change from week to week regardless of the number of days off for holidays and paid vacation. This is primarily because “vacation” times are often used to work on preschool-related activities such as preparing lessons, entering observations, completing portfolios, and training staff. Rent and many other expenses also must be paid, regardless of how many school days there are per month, so please do not ask for exceptions to this policy.

Use of Media

We are a “no TV” facility. We do occasionally use YouTube for active engagement including music and movement time or for brief educational clips or book reenactments relating to a topic of study.

Health Policies

Children will be excluded from care if they are showing signs of a communicable condition. This includes diarrhea, severe coughing, difficult or rapid breathing, yellowish skin or eyes, pinkeye, unusual spots or rashes, sore throat or trouble swallowing, infected skin patches, unusually colored urine or stool, headache and stiff neck, loss of appetite, severe itching of body or scalp, or a temperature over 100 degrees. Please keep your child home for at least 24 hours after either vomiting or having a fever. A child who arrives at school with any of these symptoms will be sent home immediately, a child who demonstrates these symptoms during the school day must be picked up within 30 minutes of parent notification or your emergency contact will be notified. Any medications required during the school day must be administered by the director or office assistant and require a medication form. This includes over-the-counter medications and homeopathic remedies including the application of essential oils.

Hand Washing

Hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of diseases within the classroom environment! We ask caregivers to assist their child in washing hands as soon as they enter the classroom. Parents (who are staying) and caregivers are also asked to wash their hands upon entering the program or moving from one classroom to another.

We also wash hands at the following times:

• Before and after serving food or eating

• Before and after changing a diaper

• After using the toilet or assisting a child in the bathroom

• After coming in contact with any body fluids (including mucus or breast milk)

• After playing with or handling animals

• Before and after playing in the sensory table, playing with play dough, or other hands-on activities where germs can be easily shared

• When coming in from outdoors

• After cleaning or taking out the garbage

Accepting Differences

Discovery Foundation For Learning accepts children of any race, ethnicity, culture, family type, or religion. These differences are celebrated in our community and are discussed openly. The children naturally engage in discussions about their families, cultures, and religious beliefs; teacher-mentors actively participate in and encourage these interactions. While we do not “teach” any form of religion, the children do share their thoughts and feelings in this area on a regular basis, and we do recognize and celebrate holidays from various religions and cultures. Please be aware that your child may work and play daily with children whose family history and belief systems are vastly different from their own. We ask that you support these differences in whatever way you feel appropriate and ensure that other children do not feel judged for their family’s lifestyle. If you have any concerns please don’t hesitate to contact us.

At Discovery Foundation For Learning, we will have all of the children learn a few signs in sign language and a few words in Spanish. We do have a teacher that is fluent in Spanish and many teachers who know signs in sign language. We also, all know the language of play and that has been the best way for kids to communicate with each other, they all can play together, even if they don't speak the same language. We also have books with sign language signs and books in Spanish for kids who prefer those languages, but also to show that all languages are normal and beautiful.

Bodily Awareness

With toilet learning and other typical interactions with children of the opposite gender it is normal for interests in bodies to occur. As with most subjects, if the topic comes up we will discuss it with the children openly. We teach children to respect their bodies and we do discuss “good touch/bad touch” since that is, unfortunately, a topic that should be covered early on in any community. We also teach the children that their bodies are private and special. If you have any concerns about your child’s developing awareness in this area please do not hesitate to discuss them with your child’s caregiver.

School Clothing

Our program offers hands-on, interactive activities, many of which involve making messes! Your child may frequently get paint, mud, clay, and other such substances on their clothing. Please send your child in play clothes, so we do not ruin good clothing! We also request that each child bring an extra pair of clothing (shirt, pants, underwear, & socks). Children who are currently potty training should have two complete changes of clothes available. If your child does not have clothing and we must use clothing provided by the program your account will be charged $1 per clothing item if items are not returned.

Diapering & Toilet Learning

Parents are required to provide diapers or appropriate training pants (either disposable or cloth with a waterproof cover) for children who are not yet able to toilet independently. Cloth diapers are acceptable but must be “all in one” diapers with an absorbent lining and a waterproof cover and must include an individual, sealable wet bag for each diaper. Cloth diapers or soiled clothing will be bagged in a labeled bag and returned to the parent that day without rinsing or laundering. This includes clothing soiled from a toileting accident with feces. Due to the high risk of contaminable diseases we will not rinse any soiled clothing at the center. If parents prefer they are welcome to dispose of soiled underclothing in an appropriate container rather than taking the clothing home to be laundered. Teachers will not dispose of clothing without parental consent.

We view children learning to control their toileting as a natural process rather than a lesson that must be taught. We work cooperatively with parents to determine when your child is developmentally ready to begin this process. Please check and make sure your child is in a clean diaper when they are dropped off.

Discipline

We believe that children are competent learners and capable of working and learning within a classroom community. We encourage children to work together in small groups, using appropriate negotiation skills to resolve conflict. However, some children may not initially have the skills required to take turns, play cooperatively, or wait patiently for materials to become available. Even adults have difficulty waiting at times—it’s hard to be three and have to remain calm when a classmate is taking their turn with your favorite truck! One of our primary goals as a teacher is to support children emotionally while they develop these sometimes challenging skills. We encourage children to use their words to express what they are feeling and what they need. If the children are not in a place where they are able to use their words, they are invited to go to one of the safe places in our room (usually a pile of pillows or a rocking chair) until they have regained control. Because we believe in allowing children to express their emotions openly, children in the safe place may be expressing themselves through crying or screaming and the teacher is always ready to listen and help the child help themselves.

Expulsion Policy

We strive to create a community where all children are welcome, including those who have difficulty with emotional self-regulation. We do everything in our power to be all inclusive, however, we want every child to feel safe at our center so the only time a child will be excluded is if the child is causing a safety concern for another child.

Behavior Expectations

Behavioral Expectations and

Discipline Methods Used

Infant/Toddler:

Children in this age group are just beginning to discover the world around them and develop cause-and-effect relationships. We expect them to explore the world through their senses, including mouthing objects in the environment.

Discipline Methods Used:

• Validation of emotions

• Redirection

• Preparing a safe, child-centered environment

• Providing “shadowing” for children who need additional support

Two Year Old kids:

Children in this age group are just beginning to develop language skills and the ability to recognize that their actions have consequences. We expect them to test their limits and provide guidance through this sometimes difficult phase.

Discipline Methods Used:

• Validation of emotions

• Helping child to name emotions

• Redirection

• Preparing a safe, child-centered environment

• Providing “shadowing” for children who need additional support

Preschoolers:

Children in this age group typically understand their actions have consequences, but still need support in determining what these consequences are. We expect them to begin the life-long process of learning self-regulation skills and problem solving abilities in difficult situations.

Discipline Methods Used:

• Validation of emotions

• Helping children name emotions

• Preparing a safe, child-centered environment

• Providing “shadowing” for children who need additional support

• Involving children in setting the rules

• Intentionally teach self-regulation and problem-solving skills
  

School-Age Children:

Children in this age group typically have the ability to recognize and label their emotions, identify solutions for problems they are facing, and recognize the need to change troublesome behaviors. We expect them to continue working on their ability to self-regulate and problem solve.
Discipline Methods Used:

• Validation of emotions

• Helping children name emotions

• Preparing a safe, child-centered environment

• Providing “shadowing” for children who need additional support

• Involving children in setting the rules

• Intentionally teaching self-regulation and problem-solving skills

Once again, please feel free to contact us via phone @ (509)302-7778 or e-mail at discovery.foundation.for.learning@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or concerns! Thank you for sharing your child with us.