EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS - White Bear Lake Area Schools Preschool Parent Handbook 2022-2023
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
White Bear Lake Area Schools
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Preschool
Parent
PROGRAMS Handbook
2022-2023
Normandy Park Early
Preschool Sites
Childhood Education Center
Phone: 651-653-3100, Fax: 651-653-3155 Birch Lake Elementary (BL)
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 3:30 pm 1616 Birch Lake Avenue
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
651-653-2776
WBL Early Childhood Mission Statement Lakeaires Elementary (LK)
Helping all children reach their greatest potential by providing the best 3963 Van Dyke St
possible environment for growth and development and strengthening White Bear Lake, MN 55110
families and communities. 651-653-2809
Normandy Park
Education Center (NP)
Phone Numbers 2482 County Road F East
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
651-653-3100
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SUPERVISOR Oneka Elementary School (OE)
Darcy Rodriguez...................................................................651-653-3102 4888 Heritage Parkway North
Hugo, MN 55038
EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPERVISOR 651-288-1800
Angela Drange.....................................................................651-653-3101
Otter Lake Elementary (OT)
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM SPECIALIST 1401 County Road H2
Nicole Mersch......................................................................651-653-3118 White Bear Lake, MN 55110
651-653-2831
PROGRAM SUPPORT/BILLING
Deana Gallagher...................................................................651-653-3100 Tamarack Nature Center (TAM)
5287 Otter Lake Road
ADMINSTRATIVE ASSISTANT White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Megan Hodgin......................................................................651-653-3100 651-653-3100
NURSE Vadnais Heights Elementary (VH)
Cathy Foster.......................................................................651-653-3103 3645 Centerville Road
Vadnais Heights, MN 55127
CHILD STUDY SECRETARY/ HEALTH ASSISTANT 651-653-2858
Deb Tacheny.......................................................................651-653-3106
Willow Lane Elementary (WL)
PSYCHOLOGIST 3375 Willow Ave
Aleta Schulte.......................................................................651-653-3104 White Bear Lake, MN 55110
651-773-6170
PSYCHOLOGIST
Amy Galyon........................................................................651-653-3136
2
WBLAS Early Learning Philosophy
Parent Aware Rated Early Childhood Screening
WBLAS Preschool Program is a four-star Early Childhood Screening is required
Parent Aware rated Program. Parent by the state of Minnesota for all
Aware is a statewide quality rating children prior to entering kindergarten.
system for programs that demonstrate Screening offers a snapshot of each
best practice for early education. child’s health and development
Programs that receive a four-star rating and provides families with valuable
are the highest quality programs in information about their child. Screening
the state. children between ages three and four,
allows time for intervention (if needed)
Serving All Children before the start of Kindergarten. For
A Place to Learn and Grow We are an inclusive community. this reason, we require Early Childhood
White Bear Lake Area Preschool Our commitment to diversity and screening within the first 90 days of
provides a safe and nurturing inclusion creates a culture of equity the start of the preschool year. White
environment for a child’s first school for children and families. We celebrate Bear Lake School District provides the
experience. Daily activities help our differences and we recognize that screening at no charge to families.
children develop social and emotional children bring their own unique cultural Screenings are held at Normandy Park
skills that are a key for future school strengths to our classrooms. on Fridays throughout the school year.
success. Licensed teachers provide Please contact our main office at
a variety of meaningful hands-on
Special Education
651-653-3100, if you have any questions
Special education services are provided
learning experiences in the areas of regarding screening.
for children on IEPs within our program.
reading and math readiness, science
Preschool teachers, Special Education
and social studies, art and sensory,
teachers and Specialists work together
music, and dramatic play. Our language
to support all students.
arts curriculum is aligned with the
district’s kindergarten curriculum so Family Engagement
our preschoolers will be well prepared Meaningful family engagement in
for learning to read and write. children’s learning supports school
readiness and later academic success.
Play Based Learning
Here are some ways for you to support
Play is the foundation upon which all
you student:
preschool learning is built. As such,
free-choice play times are incorporated • Attend your child’s preschool
into our preschool day, as well as orientation meeting at the
guided play-based learning activities beginning of the year
that are designed to teach children a • Ensure your child’s regular
specific skill. Children will experience attendance at school
hands-on and creative activities that
• Attend conferences twice a year
will stimulate their learning while
with your child’s teacher
allowing the freedom to explore
their environment and express their • Read the communication that
creativity. This play-based learning comes from your child’s teacher,
philosophy is supported by our guiding and reach out if your child
curriculum: the Creative Curriculum needs support
for Preschool. • Attend school events throughout
the year
Conscious Discipline
• Consider joining our White Bear
White Bear Lake Early Childhood
Lake Area Schools Early Childhood
uses Conscious Discipline, which is an
PTA. For more information, visit
innovative social-emotional learning
littlebears.memberhub.com
and classroom management framework.
Conscious Discipline teaches children
self regulation skills for everyday life.
This is taught by helping children to
identify and name their feelings, and
use breathing and calming strategies
to regulate.
3
Tuition Transportation Safety
Tuition payments are based on a yearly Student Drop off and Pick up Cold Weather Policy
amount divided into nine equal parts. Drop off and pick up procedures will Outdoor time is an important part
Payment is due on the first day of each be explained by your child’s teacher of the school day for our children.
month. Automatic monthly payment at the beginning of the school year. If Please make sure that your child is
deductions are an option through your you are picking up your child early from dressed appropriately for the weather.
Eleyo account. You also have the option school, you will need to go through the Boots, snow pants, jackets, hats and
to pay the entire annual bill at the front office of your school building. mittens are a must during the winter
beginning of the year. Children will be released to parents months. While most Minnesota days
or authorized persons listed on the are great for outside play, district staff
Online Payment emergency form. If someone different will monitor the weather and keep
Monthly bills will be sent to the email is picking up your child from school, children indoors on days where weather
address that you provided when you please notify the teacher. Please be conditions make it unsafe to play
created your Eleyo account. Follow aware that photo identification is outdoors. The district’s temperature
the instructions given in the email to required to enter all White Bear Lake guidelines for outdoor recess and play
submit your payment School buildings. is -10 degrees (air temp or windchill).
Mail or In Person Payment Your child’s teacher will communicate
Pick Up and Drop Off From Busing more about cold weather policies as
If you are paying by check, make Staff members will meet children at
checks payable to WBL Early Childhood winter approaches.
the bus when they arrive at school and
Program. Then submit payment to: bring children to the bus at the end of Emergency Contact Information
Normandy Park Education Center each school day. Parents/Caregivers are Emergency contact information is
2482 County Road F East responsible for walking children to the required prior to the start of each
White Bear Lake, MN 55110 bus when they leave home and meeting school year and needs to be updated
the bus when children arrive home. with the teacher when there are
Withdrawing From the Program Please be ready for the bus 5 minutes changes. Be sure to inform all
You are required to provide our office before the scheduled time. individuals listed on the emergency
(at Normandy Park) with notice of form that they have been named as
withdrawal from the program two Bus Schedules potential caregivers in your absence.
weeks before the first of the month. Bus schedules will be sent to families You will be notified in the event that
If notice is not received, the following about 5 days before the start of the your child experiences an accident or
month’s tuition will be charged. If new school year. a sudden illness that makes remaining
withdrawing from preschool, please call at school inadvisable, and you will be
651-653-3102. Late Pick-Up Policy
If you are more than 10 minutes late asked to pick up your child, or send
Late Tuition Charges to pick up your child, or if your child someone listed on the emergency form
It is important that tuition be paid on receives transportation and no one is to pick them up.
time. However, we understand that life home to receive the child, they will be Mandated Reporters
sometimes intervenes. We provide a brought back to school and late fees State law requires that all school
grace period of 10 days for each tuition will be assessed. employees report suspected abuse
payment. After 10 days, a late fee of • First incident: warning and and neglect to the local county social
$15 will be assessed to your account. reminder of the pick up policy. service.
Not paying your tuition will result in
termination from the program. • Second and subsequent incidents: School Closing Information
copy of our late pick up policy Closings are announced on the radio
Absence Due to Vacation, Illness or and charge of $20.00 for the (WCCO- 830 AM), local TV stations and
Inclement Weather first 15 minutes and $1.00 per on the district website. In addition,
No tuition reductions or reimbursements minute thereafter. parents will also be notified by a School
will be made for absences for preschool. • If late pick ups continue, you Messenger phone call, email and/or
will be asked to set up a meeting text message.
with the program administrator.
Consistent late pick ups may Fire, Tornado and Lock Down Drills
result in termination from the Children and staff participate in
program. fire, tornado and lock down drills
periodically throughout the year.
If no one picks up the child at the
dismissal time of class, first the
caregiver/parents will be called and
then all emergency contacts will be
called. If staff cannot reach anyone
after 45 minutes, and do not hear
from an adult responsible for the
child, the police will be notified.
4
Classroom
Toileting Meals
Children must be independent with You will receive more specific
toileting without the use of a pull-up or information from your child’s teacher
a diaper to attend preschool classes. at the beginning of the year.
Backpacks Students at Elementary School Sites
Your child should bring a backpack to Students will have access to school
school everyday, labeled with their lunch and will be issued a food service
name. Please make sure that their PIN to use when eating school breakfast
backpack is large enough to fit all of
their belongings, including outdoor
and lunch. This number will stay with
your child throughout their school years Health
gear, extra clothes and a folder for in White Bear Lake Schools.
school communication and art work.
Please check your child’s backpack Students Attending Full Day Classes at
everyday! Normandy Park Illness/Absences
Students will need to bring lunch from If your child is ill, or will be absent for
Preschool Attire home each day and eat breakfast any reason, please contact your child’s
Children should be comfortably dressed before arriving at school. teacher and let them know. When a
for play. They will be exposed to many child becomes sick during class time,
kinds of materials including finger paints, Rest Time the parent will be called at the phone
mud, water, playdough, etc. Please Preschoolers work hard! As such, they numbers provided on the emergency
recognize that your child will occasionally need downtime to recharge their form. Refer to the “Is My Child Well
get messy, and dress them accordingly. minds and bodies. Having a designated Enough to Go to School?” flier to help
If your child wears a dress or a skirt, you rest time gives them a chance to make a decision about when a student
may want to put shorts on underneath. decompress. All full day students will should stay home or attend school.
Students often sit criss-cross on the have a rest time built into their daily
floor and play outside or in the gym schedule. Students will bring a blanket Immunization Record
daily. Good shoes are important! Please or beach towel to create their own Any child entering a Minnesota public
have your child wear comfortable shoes space on the floor for rest. During school must provide a statement from
without a slippery sole to school. They rest time, teachers will turn off the a physician or public clinic indicating
should be able to take them off and lights and often quiet music will be the child has recieved age appropriate
put them on again by themselves. Also, played. Students are expected to be immunizations.
accidents happen, so we ask that you quiet during this time so that their
Medication
keep a complete change of clothing for friends who need to sleep are able to
If mediation is necessary during school
your child in their backpack (in a gallon do so. Having rest time encourages
hours, it will be administered by the
sized ziplock bag). Please label all of preschoolers to slow down, relax, and
school nurse, and in compliance with
your child’s belongings with their name. as a result better process what they
appropriate law and school district
have learned that day!
Snacks administrative procedures. The
All classes (with the exception of Conferences following must be provided before a
Tamarack) will have a snack time built Conferences are held twice a year. Each medication (either prescription or over
into their schedule each day. Teachers teacher will send out communication the counter) may be administered to a
will communicate snack procedures for about scheduling conferences. Please student at school:
each class at the beginning of the year. plan to attend; you will hear valuable • A signed order from the licensed
Students drink water with their snacks. information about your student’s prescriber stating the name and
Please send a labeled water bottle to progress and some ideas about what dose of medication, times and
school with your child everyday. you can work on at home to support duration for administration.
your child’s learning and development.
• A written authorization from a
Behavior parent/guardian
Preschool teachers are trained in • Medications must be sent in the
Conscious Discipline and incorporate original container or pharmacy
strategies that foster a positive labeled container
learning environment for all students.
If challenging behavior(s) occur on a Allergies
continuous basis in the classroom, the If your child has allergies, an allergy
teacher may consult with a specialist, plan should be completed by your
in partnership with families, to develop child’s physician and a copy should
and implement targeted supports to be provided to the health office at
prevent the challenging behavior(s). your child’s preschool site. Please
talk with your child’s teacher and
the school nurse about any necessary
accommodations.
5
You can also read
