Small Bears Preschool - Parent Handbook Jill P. Griffin Owner/Director Small Bears Private Preschool
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Small Bears Preschool
Where friendship and minds grow
Parent Handbook
Jill P. Griffin
Owner/Director
Small Bears Private Preschool
35 Standish Circle Wellesley, Ma 02481
781-237-6119
Jillwell@aol.com
http://www.smallbearspreschool.com/
1
Small Bears Private Preschool is licensed under the Department of Early
Childhood Education and Care (EEC) and is located in the nurturing
environment of lovely a private home
2
Director/ Lead Teacher
Jill P. Griffin M. Ed.
Jill earned her Master of Science degree in Early Childhood Education
from Wheelock College. She has a Bachelor of Liberal Science degree in
American Studies and Elementary Education from Lesley University and
an art degree from Boston University. She has over 29 years of teaching
experience in Wellesley.
Sensory Integration Specialist
Jackie is a licensed and registered Occupational Therapist in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She has a Masters degree in
occupational therapy and a Bachelor's degree in rehabilitation services
from Springfield College. Jackie joined Small Bears School in 2011.
Jackie runs OT therapy groups as needed at Small Bears and works
privately with students at her office on Walnut Street.
Music Teacher
Kathy Lindsay
Kathy has been performing for her entire life and has been
teaching music to young children in the West Suburban
Communities for over 20 years.
Regular Assistant
Katie Flynn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Design
from Lasell College. She joined Small Bears School in January of
2011. Katie has several years of experience working in the early
childhood field and with children at the YMCA in Needham where
she served as the assistant director of the youth program.
Spanish Teacher
Linda Wilkins joined Small Bears School in 2009. She brings loads
of energy and enthusiasm. The Spanish curriculum focuses on
Spanish culture. The classes include Spanish vocabulary, music,
games, activity sheets, holiday celebrations, books, and food.
Ivy Kublin M.S. CCC-SLP
Ivy earned her Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology
from Boston University. She is certified by the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and is a member of the American Speech-
Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Ivy has a private practice
in Wellesley and she offers free speech and language screening
for all students enrolled at Small Bears School.
http://wellesleyspeech.com/therapists.html
3
Table of Contents
Small Bears Preschool
5
Program Description
6
Typical Daily Schedule
7
Guidance/Discipline
9
Parent Involvement
10
Enrollment and Tuition Policies
11
General Information
12
Emergency Evacuation Plan 13, 14
Lead Poisoning and Prevention 15
Medication Administration 16 - 17
Photo Gallery 18-21
4
About Small Bears Preschool and Toddler Programs
Small Bears school is a private in-home preschool and toddler program that
is affiliated with the Association of Family Childcare Providers of Wellesley
(AWFCP). It is licensed by the Massachusetts Office of Early Education
and Care (EEC).
Small Bears educational philosophy combines High Scope and Montessori
approaches to early childhood education. Small Bears supports the five
central principals of High Scope educational theory, which are:
1. Active learning - children learn by doing
2. Supportive adult-child interactions
3. Materials-rich learning environment
4. Consistent daily routine
5. Ongoing assessment
The Montessori approach has many similarities to High Scope but stresses
multiage groupings and emphasizes child-directed activities that encourage
natural learning. The Montessori teacher’s role is to provide a well-organized
material-rich environment that stimulates a natural curiosity for the child to
explore the classroom and interact with the materials. At Small Bears
School teachers use developmentally appropriate practices that are
associated with both High Scope and Montessori approaches to early
childhood education and care.
The educational emphasis at Small Bears is on art and literacy but does not
neglect to consider the child as a whole. Each learning domain is addressed
and assessments are ongoing to be sure that each child is receiving an
individual education plan based on their individual strengths and needs.
5
Program Description
Small Bears Private Preschool Program is designed as an enrichment program
with a strong art and academic focus. The current curriculum meets many of
the Massachusetts and National Standards and Frameworks for Pre K –2 in
the subject areas of language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and
the arts. Students who graduate from Small Bears Preschool will enter
kindergarten with a foundation of learning that will set them on the road for
academic and social success for years to come. Recent studies show that
children between 0-3 are establishing fundamental connections during their
first three years that cannot be replaced later on in life. Therefore it is
essential that early childhood programs and educators help children make
these connections early on. At Small Bears School, students develop
concepts and skills, to help them achieve success and feel better about
themselves as learners. We introduce developmentally appropriate academic
concepts and skills in a fun-learning environment that promotes learning. The
lesson plans use a variety of mediums and learning styles to maximize
students’ results and minimize frustration. The goal is to instill confidence in
your child by providing them with a foundation of learning, sharing, and
socializing that creates a positive educational experience from the
beginning.
6
Typical Daily Schedule:
8:00: Morning literacy: Students rotate through the 4 literacy centers
spending about 15 minutes in each center. Center activities vary from day
to day but generally follow a similar routine. The centers include a writing
center, a listening center, a guided reading center where students receive
individual guided reading instruction, and a computer center where students
work independently or in small groups on computers to target specific
learning goals.
9:00: Free choice activity: Blocks, dramatic play, puzzles, games,
puppet theatre, etc.
9:30: Morning meeting: Weather, calendar, show and tell an
interactive read aloud book that is connected to a monthly theme.
10:00: Morning activity: (Usually art, music, Spanish, or cooking)
Activities vary from day to day but usually follow a monthly theme.
Monthly science themes such as apples in September, pumpkins in
October, and leaves in November, serve as a focus for many of the
morning activities. Books and art projects are specifically chosen
around monthly themes. For example in September students listen to
stories about apples and create many art and cooking projects that are
related to apples. Toddlers may need to sit on a teachers lap during
any seated activities.
10:30: Snack time: Students relax and eat while they listen to several
books read by the teacher. This is often a time for Social stories that use
storybook characters to help children understand and develop many
important social skills.
11:00: Recess: Weather permitting, students go outside every day.
Students are encouraged to participate in a wide array of games and
activities that promote gross motor skills. If outside recess is not
possible then students usually participate in an indoor, gross motor
activity, such as dancing, marching band, exercises, or gymnastics.
11:45: Morning students are dismissed. This is the time for diapering,
toileting, and washing hands for lunch.
12:00: Lunch: Afternoon literacy students arrive. Full day students
and afternoon students eat lunch together.
7
12:30: Free choice activity
1:00: Some full day students prepare for naps or quiet time.
Afternoon Literacy students move through the four literacy centers
computer center, writing center, listening center, and guided reading.
2:00: Snack time: During snack time students relax and eat while they
listen to an interactive read aloud story. Students make predictions,
answer questions, and chime in with the teacher as she reads or sings
familiar stories or songs.
2:30: Recess
3:00: Writers Workshop
3:30: Math, science, crafts, cooking, parties, games, (activities vary
daily)
8
Guidance/ Discipline
At Small Bears the philosophy of discipline is based on the understanding
that school is a learning environment where there are rules for safety but it
is understood that nobody is perfect and that everyone makes mistakes. The
primary form of discipline is oral discussion. Teachers generally resolve
problems by having a brief discussion with the child, which serves to
redirect the child into a more positive alternative. Sometimes, if feasible,
negative behaviors are ignored and positive behaviors are reinforced by
attention and praise. However, it is the policy of Small Bears that the cases
of more persistent or worrisome behavior problems are best handled in an
atmosphere of ongoing discussion between parents and teachers in which
mutually acceptable solutions are worked out and implemented. Time outs are
not used as a form of discipline for children under 2 years old. In some
cases, where safety is an issue, there are short 1-2 minute time out periods
used to redirect the children or give the student a chance to calm down and
talk the problem over with a teacher before rejoining the group. Usually
during that time there is a behavior plan outlined by the teacher and
accepted by the student before the student can reenter the group activity.
Time out discipline is never used for any child under 2 years of age.
9
Parent Involvement
Small Bears welcomes parent involvement. Parents create a family collage
poster for their child at the beginning of the year that is posted on the
classroom walls and used many times throughout the year for numerous
activities. Parents are invited to: visit the classroom at any time, read a book
to the class during snack or lunch, chaperone class field trips, or volunteer in
the classroom on a regular or irregular basis. Parents are encouraged to
share their children’s culture with the class in any number of ways. Some
parents bring in games, food, music, books, costumes, toys etc. to share with
the class. Parents work cooperatively with the teacher with the guided
reading throughout the year. Parents are invited to join Parents and
Educators of Young Children book club (PEYC), where they meet other
parents and listen to professionals in the field of early childhood literacy
present and discuss quality children’s literature. PEYC is a community
partnership between parents and educators. Its purpose is to promote early
childhood literacy and create a love for reading. Parents who join PEYC will
have a deeper understanding of the books their children are listening to,
reading, and discussing in class and will have an opportunity to participate in
some of the book choices.
10Enrollment and Tuition Policies
Parent/school agreement
The parent agrees to notify the school of any illness their child has come in
contact with outside of school. The school agrees to notify the parent of any
illness the child has come in contact with at school. Students must be free
of vomiting, diarrhea or fever for at least 24 hours before returning to
school.
Financial Agreement
Tuition will be billed once a month, in the beginning of the month, for the
month. Tuition is due regardless of whether the student is present or
absent. Make-ups may be available at no extra charge if space is available.
Small Bears Preschool follows the public school calendar and therefore will
close for three weeks of paid vacation, one week in December, April, and
June. Small Bears will be open for a summer camp as an additional option.
(See Jill for summer schedule) Parents will contract for one full school year
at a time, from September through June. There will be no charge if school is
closed because of teacher illness
Paid Holidays include: Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day,
Thanksgiving, New Years Day, Martin Luther King Day, Washington’s
Birthday, Patriot’s Day, and Memorial Day.
A one-month non-refundable deposit for tuition guarantees placement for
enrollment. Deposits will be credited towards your last month of tuition and
forfeited if the student does not finish the school year.
11General Information
Requirements
Students entering Small Bears toddler program should be at least 18 months
old by September 1st, and students entering Small Bears preschool program
should be between 2.6 and four years old as of September 1st. Students
bring a snack, lunch, and at least two beverages each day and should also
supply a change of clothes, wipes, diapers or extra underwear, and any
appropriate seasonal clothing. Students must provide proof of a recent
health exam and a copy of their updated immunizations required by the
state. Parents must complete and hand in a registration packet for each
child they wish to enroll. Specific allergies or food requests should be
documented in writing.
Suggestions
We strongly suggest that you send your child in appropriate clothing. Things
can get a little messy at times, especially during art, lunch and outside play.
Your child will be encouraged to wear a smock or bib; however accidents do
happen. Many students feel constricted by bibs and smocks and refuse to
wear them. As a result there is a strong possibility that their clothing will
get soiled or stained.
12Emergency Evacuation Plan
In the event of a fire, gas, or other household emergency or for a fire alarm
drill the students will be taken across the street to Audrey Callahan’s
enclosed 3 season porch to await the fire trucks and/or emergency
personnel. This way the children will be a safe distance from any smoke or
fire and out of the way of any emergency personnel and vehicles. Audrey
Callahan’s phone number is 781-235-7373.
In the event of a fire, natural disaster, or other situation requiring
evacuation of the building (such as a chemical spill or bomb threat), the
children will be taken by car to the Wellesley Middle School. Parents will be
notified by phone as soon as possible. Small Bears School will use its own
vehicle(s) to transport the children to the emergency location, or if needed
the school will request assistance from emergency vehicles. Small Bears
School has sought permission from the Wellesley Police Department to
create this evacuation plan in order to be sure there is a safe, comfortable
space for the children there. In the event that the emergency is more
widespread and requires the school to identify another location further
away outside of the neighborhood the school will seek guidance from the
Wellesley police department as to where to take the children and how to
notify the parents in case all local telephone lines are unavailable. In that
case that all local phones are unavailable the following contact person
outside of Massachusetts is Jill’s sister, Dee Ganley. Her phone number in
East Andover New Hampshire is 603-735-5543. Dee will be the contact
person to advise you where the children were taken if the Wellesley Police
department is unavailable. Her email address is deesdogs@tds.net. If we
must evacuate the facility, we will take the emergency contact information
for all children, emergency medical treatment consent forms, special
medications needed by the children, and first aid supplies. A school bag with
a change of clothing, blanket, pillow, diapers, wipes, etc, and some toys and
books for each child in the program as well as some emergency food supplies
such as juice boxes, water, snacks, cereal, crackers, etc. will be taken with
us. An emergency cell phone will be brought to the site for emergency use
and contacting emergency contacts for students. The cell phone number for
Jill is 617-584-3668. As in any off-site activity, we will count and make a list
of the children in attendance before we leave the school. We will recount
the students and take attendance again once outside and before leaving the
site. We will recount students again when we get to our destination to be
sure all students are accounted for. We will document when the children are
13picked up and by whom. In some emergency situations it may be safer to
remain on site until the emergency has ended. In the event of severe
weather or other emergencies creating a power outage, loss of heat or
water, Small Bears School will close and the emergency contact persons
would be contacted. An emergency generator for the school is on site for
power outages that will provide enough temporary power for an emergency.
The water and sewage at Small Bears School are provided by the city and do
not require electric power for service. All smoke and gas alarms have back up
batteries for coverage in case of a power outage. There are sufficient
batteries and flashlights on hand on each level. There is a cell phone on site
for emergency use in case of loss of telephone service. There are enough
emergency supplies of food, blankets, flashlights, and other necessities to
keep all of the students, teachers, and household members as comfortable.
There are plenty of activities and materials on hand to keep the children
busy until the situation resolves. In the event of a tornado the students will
move to the basement or hall closet. In the event of an earthquake there are
emergency shut off valves for electricity, gas and water service in the
basement and outside. Small Bears school shares its contingency plans with
parents at the time of enrollment, and reviews and updates its contingency
plans regularly.
14Lead Poisoning and Prevention
All family childcare educators are required by EEC to provide parents with
information regarding the risks of lead poisoning. The following are some
facts parents should know about lead and lead poisoning.
Lead poisoning is caused by swallowing or breathing lead. Lead is
poison when it gets into the body.
Lead can stay in the body for a long time. Young children absorb lead
more easily than adults.
The harm done by lead may never go away. Lead in the body can:
o Hurt the brain, kidneys, and nervous system.
o Slow down growth and development.
o Make it hard to learn.
o Damage hearing and speech.
o Cause behavior problems.
Most of lead poisoning in Massachusetts comes from lead paint dust in
older homes. Many homes built before 1978 have lead paint on the
inside and outside of the building.
When old paint peels and cracks it creates lead paint chips and lead
dust. Children between 9 months and 6 years are most at risk.
Home repairs and renovations also create lead dust.
Most children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick. The only
way to know if your child has lead poisoning is to have a lead test. Ask
your doctor to test your child for lead.
Some children may have an upset stomach, trouble eating or sleeping,
headache, or trouble paying attention.
All children between the age of 9 months and 6 will have to provide
documentation of a lead test.
I am required to disclose to you if I am aware of any sources of lead
in my home.
Small Bears school was built in 2006. There is no lead in any part of
the school.
To learn more about Lead poisoning, you can visit
http://wwwmassgov/dph/clppp or call the Lead Poisoning Prevention
Program at (800) 532-9571
15Medication Administration
EEC has regulations requiring Educators to have a policy regarding the
administration of medication to children in care. As a licensed family
childcare provider I am also required to take medication administration
training. The following guidelines are common to all programs that are
licensed by EEC.
Prescription medication
Prescription medication must be brought to the program in its original
container and include the child’s name , the name of the medication,
the dosage, the number of times per day, and the number of days the
medication is to be administered. This prescription label will be
accepted as the written authorization from the physician.
The program will not any medication contrary to the directions on the
label unless so authorized by written instructions by the child’s
physician.
The parent must fill out the authorization of medication form before
the medication can be administered
Non-prescription medication
The program needs written parental authorization to administer oral
non prescription medicine. The parent must fill out the authorization
of medication form, which allows the educator to administer the non-
prescription medication. The statement must be renewed on a weekly
basis.
In case of unanticipated non-prescription medication that is used to
treat mild symptoms (e.g., acetaminophen, ibuprofen), the program
must still have written parental authorization; however it must be
reviewed annually.
The educator will make every attempt to contact the parent prior to
the child receiving the non-prescription medication unless the child
needs the medication urgently or when contacting the parent will delay
appropriate care unreasonably.
Topical ointment and sprays
Topical ointments and sprays such as petroleum jelly, diaper rash
ointments, sunscreen, or insect repellant will be administered to the
16child with parental written permission. The signed statement from the
parent will be valid for one year and include a list of all topical non-
prescription medication. The parent will provide all topical non-
prescription medication and label the medication with their child’s
name on the medication.
When topical ointments or sprays are applied to wounds, rashes, or
broken skin, the educator will follow the written procedure for non-
prescription medication which includes the written order of the
physician, which is valid for one year, and the written authorization
for medication form signed by the parent.
All medications
The first dose of any new medication must be administered by the
parent at home in case of an allergic reaction.
All medications must be directly given to the educator by the
parent.
All medications will be stored out of the reach of children.
Jill Griffin is the only authorized educator to administer
medication.
The program will maintain a written record of all medication
administered during the school day (excluding topical ointments
and sprays applied to unbroken skin) which will include the child’s
name, the time and date of the of each administration, the dose,
and the name of the person administering the medication. The
completed record will become part of the child’s file.
All unused medication will be returned to the parent or disposed of
in accordance with the Department of Health guidelines.
17Photo Gallery
Art Art Art
Art Art Room Art
Reading Reading Reading
Self Portraits Self Portraits Self Portraits
18Friendship Friendship Friendship
Listening Center Music Music
Library Library Library
Outside Space Outside Space Outside Space
19Math Center Sensory Table Math Center
Writing Center Writing Center Writer’s Workshop
Garden Unit Garden Unit Garden Unit
Garden Unit Summer Harvest Pumpkin Patch
20Computer center Computer center Computer Center
Apple Unit Apple Unit Apple Unit
Gingerbread unit Gingerbread Unit Gingerbread Unit
Block Center Block Center Block Center
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