Monthly Newsletter
You will receive a Parent Newsletter toward
the end of each month. This will tell you about our new themes for the
upcoming month, news and reminders and the new snack schedule. Your
tuition statement and a Scholastic Book Order form will also be attached.
Ordering from Scholastic Book Club is optional, but the books are very
reasonable priced and you can often find the most current titles for your
child as well as classic children's literature.
Teaching Methods
Program is organized around weekly themes.
Every week we study a letter, color, number, and concept.
Free play is offered daily. Play is a child's work. He/she
learns social interaction skills, problem solving, develops fine and gross
motor skills, and enriches his/her creativity and curiosity.
Directed group activities daily.
Small group instruction during class time every day.
Puzzles, games, and toys are selected to develop coordination and
perception.
Music is used to promote learning concepts in a fun way.
Enrollment Eligibility
A child must be at least three years of age
by October 15th of the current school year and also must be toilet trained
to enroll in the program. Children may attend our preschool through
age six.
Enrollment Policies
Children do best when they begin preschool
at the beginning of the school year in the fall. This allows everyone
to become familiar with the school routine at the same time. New
students meeting the basic age requirement may enroll anytime during the
year if space is available.
Adjustment to School
If this is your child's first organized
experience away from you, he/she may have trouble adjusting. Most of
the time, the teachers can help your child. If this continues to be a
problem, the teacher and parent will work together in determining ways to
ease separation anxiety.
Classroom Environment
We have numerous centers at our school
which are arranged to increase the child's knowledge and appreciation of the
world through interaction with the materials. These centers are Art,
Dramatic Play, Blocks, Computer, Math/Science, Music, Large Muscle,
Manipulative, and Language.
Health/Safety
Any child who comes to school with a fever,
or any Communicable condition such as diarrhea, ringworm, Impetigo, head
lice, pink eye, or scabies may be sent Home. We are required by the
State of Nebraska to Inform you of this exclusion policy.
A completed Health Immunization Record and Emergency Information form are
due the first day of school.
Staff
Each staff member is an experienced
preschool teacher who will strive to create an atmosphere of warmth and
concern for each child. A certified CPR/First Aid trained adult is
always at the site. The Director has a degree in Early Childhood
Education.
Fees
A non-refundable Registration fee of
$20.00 is due at the beginning of each new school year. This secures a
spot for your child and helps offset start-up costs and advertising.
The two day a week class is $70.00 per month.
The three day a week class is $90.00 per month.
A five day a week kindergarten readiness class is offered to four and five
year old children. The cost for the five day a week class is $160.00
per month. A different paper and project is offered each day.
All classes are 8:50-11:30 AM.
Attendance
All children are expected to attend
regularly. It is assumed when you register your child that t will be
for the full year unless a prolonged illness or an unexpected move occurs.
Please notify the Director at least two weeks beforehand if you are planning
to take your child out of preschool. If your child is ill, it is
helpful to call 492-8374 or 981-2028 to inform us he/she will not be
attending that day.
Clothing
Dress your child for the weather. We
do go outside occasionally. When we go to the Art Room, we use paint,
play dough, and stamp pads. We also paint during class sometimes.
Therefore, good clothes that are not easily washed are not practical to wear
to preschool.
Discipline
Whenever possible, redirection is used to
discourage inappropriate behavior. Hitting, kicking, biting, or
leaving the room without permission are not allowed. Any of these may
result in an immediate time-out. You will be notified of ay serious or
ongoing problem.
Snacks
The Director will schedule parents to bring
snacks each month. When it is your child's turn to bring snacks,
please provide the snacks for the whole week. The snack can be
something simple such as crackers, yogurt, fruit, muffins, or cookies.
The school will provide the drink. A monthly Snack Schedule will be
posted on the Parent Bulletin Board in the front window. It will also
appear in the monthly newsletter.
Birthdays
Your child may bring treats to celebrate
his/her birthday if you wish. It is helpful to let the teacher know in
advance if you will be bringing birthday treats.
Learning Objectives/Goals
TO HAVE FUN WHILE LEARNING!
At this age, if your child is not enjoying himself, he is not learning.
To develop a child's self esteem
To stimulate intellectual, emotional, social, creative, and physical
learning.
To help the child learn to share, wait, take turns, and be patient.
To increase your child's ability to get along with other children and adults
outside the nuclear family.
To encourage each child to demonstrate respect for their classmates, the
staff, and the toys and the equipment at the school.
To establish basic health and safety habits so that the child will care
about and for himself.
To develop coordination and large muscle skills.
To provide experiences which will broaden the child's aptitude for future
school work:
A) To learn to follow simple instructions
B) To develop number concepts and skills
C) To develop letter recognition and writing skills (3-year-olds are not
expected to have writing skills)
D) To introduce and develop concepts of shape, color, and size
E) To develop some small motor skills such as using scissors, stringing
beads, and lacing.
F) To acquire new language and communication skills.
Corduroy/Sharing Bag
Each student will have an opportunity to
take home the Sharing Bag during the year. This is simply a cloth bag
with a not inside telling you what our letter of the week is. You can
help your child select up to four items that begin with the letter.
The next class period, your child will share what he/she has brought.
Corduroy is a stuffed bear who is sent home with a different student each
week. Children are to bring Corduroy back the next class period and
they will share with the group a picture that they've drawn and tell what
Corduroy did at their house.
School Calendar/Bad Weather
The Growing Tree Preschool is in session
the day after Labor Day through approximately May 23rd.
We will be closed for spring and winter breaks at the same time as the Omaha
Public Schools. We also close for bad weather if Omaha Public Schools
are closed. You will be notified in the newsletter or by a sign posted
by the Parent Bulletin Board if there are other days that preschool will not
be in session.
Parent Bulletin Board
You will find the Parent Bulletin Board to
the left of the front entrance in the window. Here you will find the
learning objectives for the week, the current snack schedule, and other
important information.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher Conferences are held in
March. Prior to that, the teachers evaluate your child in many
different areas of learning and development. During conferences, you
will be given your child's report card. If you would like a conference
with your child's teacher before then, or wish to talk to the teacher about
a specific area of development, please don't hesitate to ask.
Programs/Holidays
We celebrate Halloween, Valentine's Day,
and Christmas. You will be invited to join us for short programs
around these holidays. There are other special event days listed on
your yearly schedule sheet. If you did not receive this schedule,
contact Mrs. Baker.
