Pre-K Handbook

Lebanon City Schools

 

Preschool Program

 

Our Mission For Your Child

 

To provide a learning environment that is safe, nurturing, and challenging for your child while creating experiences that are developmentally appropriate.  We strive to prepare children to become independent thinkers and life long learners.

 

 

 

 

How To Help Your Child Learn At Home

 

·      Read to your child every night.

·      Ask questions about the story as you read.

·      Be sure your child gets 10 hours of sleep at night.

·      Provide a place at home to put your childs school bag, so that it can be easily found in the morning.  Look at everything your child brings home from school.  Praise progress and effort.

·      Limit TV time.  Be sure what your child watches is appropriate.  Do not use the television as a babysitter.

·      Listen and talk with your child.  Real conversation increases language skills.  Dont just give directions.

·      Do your best to keep your child healthy.  The habit of washing hands after they go to the bathroom and before they eat is important.

·      Have a positive attitude about school.

·      Make sure you have plenty of time to get ready for school.  Being rushed is not a pleasant start to the day.

·      Remember to lead by example.

·      ENJOY YOUR CHILDREN!  They will be grown up all too soon. 

 

Is My Child Too Sick For School?

“Sick children belong at home…well children belong at school.”

 

Lice:  Children must be treated for lice and be nit and lice free before they can return to school.  The home environment and other family members need to be treated as well.  It is a system-wide policy that your child receives nurse’s approval before returning to the classroom.

 

Colds:  A child with a mild cold and no other symptoms is probably well enough to come to school.  A new cold less than 36 hours old, or a heavy cold that includes a deep or croupy cough probably needs bed rest at home.  A doctor should probably look at a sore throat with white spots or fever.

 

Fever:  A child with a fever, especially over 100 degrees, must stay at home until the fever is normal for 24 hours. 

 

Stomach Upset:  Persistent or severe stomachaches need to be diagnosed by a doctor.  Children who are vomiting or have diarrhea should stay home for 24 hours after they get better.

 

Rashes:  A rash can be the beginning of many contagious illnesses.  A doctor might need to diagnose the cause of any rash that lasts for more than 24 hours. 

 

Pains:  A child with an earache should see a doctor without delay.  A child with a toothache needs to see a dentist.  Headaches are not usually severe enough to keep a child at home unless they persist, are severe, or if vomiting occurs.

 

Ringworm:  Children attending school with ringworm must see a doctor and keep it covered with a band-aid while at school.

 

Pink Eye: A child with pink eye must be checked by the school nurse and receive approval before returning to the classroom.

 

Flu, impetigo, pink eye, scabies, and chicken pox are contagious!  Children must stay at home until they are not contagious.

 

If your child’s teacher to pick up your child from school contacts you, please do so promptly in order to avoid spreading of any illness.

 

If you have a question about school attendance for a sick child, please feel free to speak with the school nurse.

Thank you.

  

Policies and Procedures of the Lebanon City Schools Pre-K Program

 

Hours of Operation:

 Monday through Friday

 8:00 – 1:30

 

Admission:

Students entering preschool for the first time must have the following documents in order to attend:

 1. Tennessee Preschool Immunization Certificate (yellow shot record)

      2. Certified Birth certificate

      3. Physical

      4. Social Security Card

 

Court Documents:

If parents are divorced, the custodial parent must furnish legal document granting custody and/or guardianship to the parent/guardian.  If custody is not permanent, a Temporary Custody Order is required.  Due to circumstances involving individual matters, other legal documents may be required.

 

Absences and Tardies:

Attendance is expected.  Arrival at school on time is important.  Late arrivals cause disruptions and various changes have to be made for those coming in late.  Tardiness is an undesirable habit and repeated tardiness will result in a referral to the Family Service Coordinator.  Upon arrival to school after 8:15am, please stop at the office to sign your child in.

 

Arrival:

Pre-K students may begin arriving at 7:45 a.m. for the 8:00 a.m. class. Parents must accompany their children to the classroom to sign them in.

 

Dismissal:

Pre-K students are dismissed at 1:30.  All students must be picked up by 1:45 p.m.  At that time parents will be called. After repeated incidents, the program director will be notified.

 

Early Pick-Up of Students:

When children are going to be checked out of school early, please send a note or call to notify the teacher.  Only those listed on the release form will be allowed to pick up your child.

 

 

Breakfast and Lunch:

Breakfast and lunch will be provided daily.  You will not need to send snacks for your child. If you plan on eating lunch or breakfast with your child, please notify the teacher ahead of time so you may be counted on the breakfast/lunch count.

 

Dress Code:

Students may not dress in any way that is distracting to other students or that interferes with the educational process.  Obscene pictures, symbols of lewd, profane, or suggestive language shall not appear on clothing.  Pictures and/or slogans promoting alcohol, tobacco products, or other items deemed improper or distasteful are not permitted. 

 

Cancellation of School:

If school is cancelled, or the starting time is delayed by 1-2 hours, the television and radio stations will be notified.  Parents are encouraged to listen to news reports during bad weather for notice of school closings or delayed starting times.  Most stations begin broadcasting school closings by 5:30-6:30am.  The announcement for our schools will be listed as LEBANON SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

 

Illness or Injury:

The school nurse will administer first aid treatment for minor injuries.  At times it is necessary to call parents to pick up a sick child.  This is another reason the school needs the names and telephone numbers of at least two people who are authorized to pick up a child if parents are not available.

 

Discipline:

Discipline is an attitude that begins at home, is reinforced at school, and is applied throughout one’s life.  Our school board believes that acceptable behavior is essential to an effective school program and each teacher should work to create school environments favorable to the development of self-discipline and self-direction. Parents are expected to work with the school staff if discipline issues should occur. Excessive behavior problems, which we are unable to resolve together, may jeopardize your child’s education.

 

Field Trips:

Field trips will be included in our learning environment.  These field trips will be teacher supervised and are in correlation to a unit of study.  Adequate notice will be given to the parent and transportation will be provided for the children.  Parent volunteers are much needed at this time. 

Withdrawal from the Pre-K Program:

If you want to withdraw your child from the Pre-K Program during the year, you will need to contact Penny Thompson at the LSSD Central Office at 449-6060 X 24.

 

LSSD Pre-K Website:

Visit the Pre-K Website at LSSD.org. Go to the home page and click on the Pre-K icon. You can get updated information on the program and also link to each classroom teacher’s web page.

 

 

Contact Information:

If you have questions or concerns concerning the LSSD Pre-K Program, you may contact the Pre-K Director at the LSSD Central Office, 701 Coles Ferry Pike, Lebanon, TN

615-449-6060 X24

thompsonP6@k12tn.net 

Parent and Teacher Agreement

 

We are looking forward to a wonderful year with your child.  There is much to learn and accomplish.  We know that we will work together as a team for the benefit of your child.

 

Preschool is not a mandated program for your child, but a unique opportunity to provide the best experiences for your three or four year old.  We do expect your child to be at school on time each day, and we will work toward the goal of self-control by following classroom rules.

 

The agreement statement below states that you have received, read, and understands the policies outlined above,

 

I understand and will abide by the policies of the Lebanon City Preschools and have received all the information listed above.

I have received the Tennessee Department of Education Childcare Requirements.

 

 

Signature of Parent/Guardian: _________________________________

 

Date: ______________________

 

 

 

 

Goals For Lebanon City Preschool Programs

 

 

The preschool programs of the Lebanon City Schools will strive to afford each child the opportunity;

 

Social Development:

To practice cooperation and sharing

To participate as a leader and group member

To develop cultural awareness and understanding of diversity

To practice conflict resolution and self-control

 

Emotional Development:

To become independent, persistent, and self-reliant

To develop respect, empathy, and care for others

To value oneself and foster self-concept

To develop trust in others

To express emotions in a positive way

 

Physical Development:

To strengthen and enhance fine motor skills

To strengthen and enhance gross motor skills

To develop self-help skills

To strengthen eye-hand coordination

To be aware of the need for a healthy lifestyle

 

Cognitive Development:

To enhance problem solving, classification, and analyzing skills

To think, reason, question, and make decisions

To increase expressive and receptive language

To develop and enhance literacy and phonological awareness skills

To develop and enhance listening comprehension skills

To develop concepts, recall, and memory skills

It Looks Like Play, But We Are Learning…

              

to work and play together

to respect the rights of others

to express ourselves creatively

to grow in self-control

to grow from dependence to independence

to listen to directions and follow them

to develop good work habits

to finish what we start       

to clean up after work or playtime

to participate in group activities

to enjoy using a variety of materials

to share toys, experiences, equipment, and time

to develop an interest in books and literature

to develop an interest in the world around us

to improve coordination and strength

to stay with our plans for longer periods of time

to develop new interests and extend familiar ones

to understand new words and to use them

to BE HAPPY!

LSSD Pre-K Meal Policy

 

Our goal in LSSD Pre-K is to make every minute of the day a learning experience for children. This is one reason that we have ‘family-style’ meals in our classroom. All students are required to eat the meals provided by the cafeteria (breakfast and lunch) each day. During the meals the students are learning skills such as formal language, vocabulary, and mealtime manners. Therefore, these rules have been set.

 

1.    All children eat breakfast and lunch provided by the school cafeteria. No lunches can be brought from home.

2.  Over-income families must pay for the meals by Monday of each week. The cost of breakfast and lunch for one week is $10.50. If the LSSD Nutrition Office raises the cost, then you will be notified of the increase.