School Cancellations and Delays:

Preschool programming follows LPS school cancellations:

If school is canceled, LCP is closed for the day.

If schools are delayed for two hours:

All classrooms will begin 2 hours after their usual start times. Buses will be adjusted accordingly.

Discrete therapy services ( OT/SP/PT) for children who do not attend LCP begin at 10:30 ( 8:30, 9:15 and 10 am appointments canceled).

 

Please also be aware that if weather deteriorates during a day when school has not been canceled, the afternoon sessions of our preschools may be canceled. We will try to contact you directly should this occur.

 

Separation Anxieties

Separation anxieties in the beginning of the school year are normal for both child and parent! Please be assured that if your child seems upset or cries, that the staff will handle it with warmth, TLC, understanding, and experience.

Separation from a loved one becomes easier with the following suggestions:

  1. Take advantage of open house pre-enrollment/orientation visits that are designed to help you and your child become
  2. familiar with the school, classroom, and teachers.
  3. Talk about school with your child and let them ask questions. Honor their questions, never tell them that what they ask is silly or not founded.
  4. When you do leave, we suggest a kiss and a hug, along with the reassurance of your prompt return at dismissal time. Prolonged good-byes can bring tears and make the separation even more difficult.
  5. You are welcome to give your child a picture of you or your family to hold, put in their pocket, or in their backpack/lunch box. Sometimes just seeing this picture can be reassuring.
  6. Some children might need to bring a transitional toy or object and that is o.k.
  7. Try not to linger in the hallways or outdoors where your child might be able to see you.
  8. Please do not leave without making sure you say good-bye. Sometimes children become very upset if they suddenly turn around and a parent is not where they expect them to be.
  9. If you are upset and also experiencing separation anxieties, try not to let your child see you upset or crying. This is very confusing to them. “If mom/dad is so excited to see me come here, why is she/he crying?”
  10. Please be on time to pick-up your child at dismissal to reduce anxiety and concern that you are not coming to get them.
  11. If separation continues to be problematic or stressful, we will work together to create a solution. As always, we have your child’s best interests in mind.

Clothing

Children should wear comfortable clothing that will allow them to participate in all preschool activities. This includes solid footwear(rubber soled shoes are helpful, no flip-flops or shoes without back straps) and outerwear suitable for the season and weather. Please bring shoes or slippers to change into if your child wears boots to school during the winter months.

We try to keep clothing covered during painting or other goopy activities, however, it almost seems inevitable that paint finds clothing!! We ask that you send in your child with an extra set of clothes to be kept in the classroom for the school year. This change is needed in case of bathroom accidents, outside messes, or whatever. Please send in a shirt, pants,socks, and underwear in a bag (large Zip-lock bags work best) labeled with your child’s name.

If your child is not yet fully toilet trained, we will need at least several diapers and a package of wipes. Uponfirst wearing underwear, we may ask you to supply us with a second set of clothes “just in case”!  If a child needs changing for whatever reason during the school day, we will do so without criticism or embarrassment. A note will be sent home with your child to inform you of that change.

Outdoor Play

We will be going outside to play most days with the exception of extreme cold, rain, or when our playgrounds/hot top are covered in snow or ice. Please keep an eye on the weather and dress your childappropriately. If you are concerned about your child going outside due to illness or physical limitations please let us know. A general rule is that if your child is too sick to go outside, then they should probably not be in school.

In the winter, we will schedule a day out of the week to play in the snow during our outdoor playtime. On these days, you will need to send in snow pants, jacket, boots, hat and mittens. On the other days, we will provide gross motor movement activities or go the Ripley gym. Since we are a 2 1/2 hour program we feel that time is better spent on working with the kids and providing learning activities than spending long periods dressing and undressing every day.

Label Everything

Please help us by labeling any and all things that come to school with your child’s name on them. 

We frequently have multiples of the same bags, lunch boxes, etc… Please label items so that we can can reduce fighting, return things to their correct owners, and eliminate tears. Clothing that can be removed such as sweaters, coats, hats, mittens, etc… need to be labeled as well. Many children do not know their own belongings or are unsure of their own things as the seasons change (i.e. a new spring coat).

School Bags or Backpacks

Please send your child to school each day with a school bag or backpack of suitable size to send belongings back and

forth in.

Toileting

We recommend that children enrolled in our programs be toilet trained and capable of independent self-care in the bathroom (including wiping),however, this is not an enrollment requirement. A bathroom is housed within our classroom area and is available at all times. Children are encouraged to go when needed.

  • We require that children wash their hands each time they use the bathroom. Washing hands throughout the day is a proven germ fighter and reduce scolds and illnesses as well as it is just good hygiene practice.
  • We are happy to support your home toilet training practices so long as it does not significantly impact classroom activities.
  • In the preschool we will call all body parts by their appropriate names (i.e. bottom and genitalia). It is important that children know the real names for their body parts to eliminate confusion or create future embarrassment. Please know that should the need arise for body parts to be named, that it is done matter of factly. If you have concerns about this policy, we will discuss what solutions we can come up with.

Birthdays

We would be happy to acknowledge your child’s birthday at school. Due to increasing concerns over food allergies and food sensitivities, we cannot allow food items in celebration of your child’s birthday. Small items such as trinkets or “grab bag” objects are fine. Please check with your child’s teacher on how many items to bring in. If your child’s birthday falls on a non-school day or during a school vacation, please feel free to celebrate it on an alternate day. If your child has a summer birthday, you are welcome to pick a “happy un-birthday” date or celebrate on your child’s half-birthday.

Toys

Please try to keep toys and other personal belongings at home (the exception being objects a child needs for separation difficulties). We will have scheduled“Show and Tell Days” throughout the year where toys or other items can be brought in. Certainly, there are times when a child has something very special to show and we gladly welcome these sharing items at any time (such as a creature from outside, pictures of a new baby or vacation, a present grandma brought from a trip, etc…).Our classroom is well supplied with many toys and other equipment. Toys that do come to school can have a tendency to get lost or become broken and tears can be the end result.

Birth Certificates

We are required to have a photocopy of your child’s birth certificate on file in the classroom. If you have not already given us a copy, please do so as soon as possible. We will be happy to make a copy for you if needed.

Behavior and Discipline

While it is normal for a child to test authority, rules, and routines, our classrooms do have a specific method to handle the behaviors that are inevitable in any early childhood program. Primarily, we believe in the most effective behavioral approach, “catch the children being good and use positive praise and reinforcement whenever possible”. If a child is behaving in a manner that requires the teacher’s attention, it will be handled in a consistent and matter-of-fact approach. Most behaviors can usually be handled with redirection or gentle reminders. For more involved behaviors, the teacher will give the child clear and concise choices with natural rewards or consequences. The child is then in control of their own behavior choices. The teacher’s role is to follow through with the reward or consequence as quickly and consistently as possible. Children are taught to verbalize and to be able to discuss their behaviors and alternative solutions for the future. Behaviors are always handled with respect and with the child’s dignity in mind. Teacher voices are NEVER raised in anger. A firm but normal speaking voice is used to address the unacceptable behavior.

Be assured that if a child’s behavior is on-going or concerning, that we will address the situation with you so that we can create behavioral management strategies together that are consistent and comfortable for all involved.

Classroom Rules

As a preschool community, we expect all children and staff to learn and follow common universal classroom rules. Rules around safety, respect for oneself and others, and common courtesy will be integrated throughout the school year and are a part of the daily curriculum Learning to follow rules fosters independence, acceptance, and socially responsible behavior.

Parent Volunteers

We strongly encourage parent participation throughout the year. One way to participate is to volunteer for the day. We welcome moms and dads, grandparents, or other special people. We would appreciate it if siblings did not accompany you on

the days you volunteer. This is a very special day for you and your preschooler and it is very difficult to manage younger siblings. It is also very difficult for the other classroom children and can be a big distraction throughout the day. Sign-up sheets will be available outside the classroom. If your child rides a van, a volunteer form will be sent home periodically

with your child. If you are able to come into volunteer at that time, you can return the form to the classroom or just let us know if .a time becomes available to you. Given today’s lifestyles, parent work schedules, and family commitments, it is certainly understandable if parents are unable to volunteer for a day. Also, we would love to encourage parents to“share” themselves by teaching or sharing with the kids a special family tradition, your career, a craft or cooking

activity, or even if you like to read stories to the kids let us know!!! We would love your ideas and input so that we can plan for these special activities into our school year and during our various themes throughout the year. It is expected that parents who volunteer in the classroom respect the rights and privacy of individual children. It is not appropriate to “gossip” or inform a child’s parent or other parents in the classroom or community about an individual child’s strengths, weaknesses or difficulties.

What To Do When You Volunteer For the Day

  1. ENJOY the day! HAVE FUN!
  2. Participate in Circle Time and group activities.
  3. Circulate around the room. Feel free to assist any child who may need help.
  4. Assist teachers with craft projects,painting, toileting, snack, or setting-up and
  5. cleaning-up activities.
  6. Help run a game, work on tasks, or read a story to a small group of children.