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Seahorses & Starfish
Attendance
We would appreciate it if your child could arrive to school by 9:00 a.m. If your child will be absent, please be sure to call the school to let us know. Information regarding your family's plans to be out of town for vacations, appointments, etc. can also be recorded on the "Teacher's Notes" form located in your child's classroom.
Please be sure that your child has eaten breakfast before coming to school.
Please also remember that, in accordance with DC law, parents are required to sign their children in and out of school each day. Sign-in sheets are posted in the hallway next to the front door of the school. This new placement will ensure an easier morning transition for you and your Starfish/Seahorse as you can sign in before you say your goodbyes at the door of our classroom.
Your Child's Classroom
Your child has been assigned a cubby and coat hook in the classroom where extra diapers, clothes, book bags, snacks and mailboxes are located. Your child also has a clip board for posting feeding schedules, pick-up authorizations, medical forms, sleep needs, and other pertinent information. After putting away your child's personal belongings, we recommend that you immediately drop off your child with his or her teacher, with hugs and a goodbye, at the doorway to your classroom. We expect tears some mornings, and a quicker drop off always leads to a quicker and more independent response from your child in calming their emotions.
Diapers and wipes are kept in individual baskets under the changing table. The infants usually go through 4 to 5 diapers a day. Lunch and snack food should be placed in your child's designated tray in the refrigerator in the classroom. An extra set of seasonal clothing should be maintained in your child's cubby as well as additional diapers and wipes.
Bottles, lunch, and snack food should be labeled with your child's full name and date of preparation and placed on his or her class's designated shelf in the refrigerator.
An extra set of seasonal clothing should be maintained in your child's cubby. All items should be clearly labeled with your child's full name.
Your child's clipboard is located on the wall as you enter the classroom. Please be sure to check the clipboard daily for day sheets, lesson plans, art projects, and important notices and reminders.
Visiting the Classroom
There is no doubt that children greatly benefit from their parents' involvement in their school experiences. We recommend that you join us periodically for activities in the classroom and for field trips and other special events throughout the year. You are also welcome to volunteer to read a story, lead an activity, or make a craft with your child's class. Please let us know if that is something you are interested in doing and we will be sure to reserve the appropriate time within our lesson plan for your visit.
While we welcome your visits during the day, please keep in mind that we must ask that you refrain from visits during nap time, as it disrupts all the children as they try to sleep.
The Curriculum
Your child's classroom activities are structures to provide exposure to language arts, music, drama, creative movement, fine and gross motor, art, creativity, math, and science.
Communication
We want the lines of communication between you and your teacher to be as open and comfortable as possible. You are encouraged to speak directly to your child's lead teacher if you have any questions or concerns about your child's school experience.
Twice a year, we will conduct parent-teacher conferences. There will be no school on conference days. Parent meetings will be scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. A packet will be sent home approximately 2 weeks prior to the conference day with more details about the conferences, as well as your specific conference time.
On a daily basis, you will receive "Day Sheets" which will provide you with critical details regarding your child's day and what we learned each day. Please look for messages on your child's day sheet in the "Important Notes/Reminders" section. This will help you stay abreast of upcoming activities and events, including field trips, special visitors, needed supplies, or schedule changes. In addition, a snack schedule is posted on the refrigerator in the kitchen so that you can see exactly what snack your child is receiving each morning and afternoon.
Classroom Routines
Meals: Please be sure that all bottles, storage containers, and other personal items are clearly marked with your child's name and date of preparation. Please place bottles, snack, and lunch items for your child in the classroom refrigerator. Be sure that you have completed and periodically updated a feeding schedule to help us adhere to your child's feeding routines, foods offered, and special dietary restrictions.
Nap Time: Your child will be allowed to nap throughout the day as needed. The school provides sheets for each crib. Please bring a blanket, lovie, and any other sleep aid from home to help your child sleep comfortably. All infants in our program are put to sleep on their backs. If you prefer an alternative sleep position for your child, please indicate so on the sleep needs form available from his or her teacher.
Field Trips: Occasionally, the Starfish and Seahorse classes will take trips outside of the regular class routine. On field trip days, your child should wear a Friendship Children's Center t-shirt (that can be purchased in the school office).
"Call me 'Miss' please": To prepare your child for future student/teacher and child/adult interactions, we ask that your child begin calling his or her teacher by "Miss" followed by the teacher's first name (for example: "Miss Sharron" or "Miss Adrianne"). We certainly want your child's time at school to be fun and relaxed, but we also want to instill in your child a sense of respect and appreciation for the adults in his or her life.
Safety & Health
Your child's safety and well-being are extremely important to us, which is why it is essential that we follow a strict illness policy. Please refer to the Family Handbook for specific details regarding exclusions and procedures for readmission and sick pick-ups. These procedures will be strictly adhered to in the Starfish and Seahorse classrooms. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please be sure to talk to your child's teacher or the director.
How You Can Help
Volunteer in the classroom - come in and play, go on a field trip, or be a room parent - but remember that this is a time in your child's life to grow and be independent. Scheduled, organized visits are often the most beneficial for your child and for you, not to mention the least disruptive to the other children in the classroom. If you think that your presence in your child's classroom will not be productive (for them or you), please feel free to talk with us about alternative ways that you can support your child's class.
At home, develop a routine on the weekends or days off that is consistent with the routine of the Starfish and Seahorse classrooms. This will tremendously decrease the stress level of your child as they will have consistency both at home and in school.
Remember, that your support and involvement are the keys to your child achieving learning excellence. With your spirit, encouragement, and cooperation we know that this will be a fun, innovative, and rewarding year for your child. We look forward to partnering with you in helping your child grow and have a safe, happy, and healthy school year.
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