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Discovery Preschool - September 2010
                Welcome to our Preschool 2010 – 2011 school year!                   
September is such an exciting month! For teachers and students it is a time of change and new beginnings. We are anxious to start this fun year of exploring and learning with your children.

             
NEWSLETTERS -Each month a newsletter will be organized and sent home with your child. We hope to be able to keep you well informed of our school's special events, current issues, and daily program objectives. Also to help keep the lines of communication open a MESSAGE CENTER bulletin is located in the hallway. The message center is available to parents for car pooling, educational pamphlets, field trip volunteer sign up and etc.

PARENT LENDING LIBRARY - Our preschool has a parent lending library. Many wonderful early childhood development and craft books and tapes are available to parents on the shelf in the hallway. Parents wishing to borrow books should check them out in the notebook on the cart.

OPEN DOOR POLICY – We would like to remind you that an "open door policy" is practiced at our preschool.  Parents, grandparents and friends may visit at any time. Also, if you have any interesting ideas for projects, recipes, and field trips we would love to hear from you.           

SHOW AND SHARE “SOUND BOX” – Each week 6 or fewer children are given the opportunity to bring an object or picture from home that starts with an assigned alphabet letter. Children will place their “Sound Box” item in a covered basket in the hallway. The “Sound Box” contents will be explored during circle time when children are given the opportunity to “show and share” about their special item. Sound Box notes will be sent home in a monthly calendar format. If your child misses their Sound Box day they may bring an item to school on the next class day.
           
PARKING - We ask that you park in the church parking lots or on the street. You may use the street parking opposite the front of the school. Please note that parking directly in front of the school doors is reserved for handicap parking. Also parents and transporters remember to escort your children in and out of the educational wing. It is a good practice to walk holding your child’s hand and/ or with your child close to your side.

FIELD TRIPS – Parents will be informed of the specific date, time and location of field trips through the monthly newsletters and/or special notes. All parents must sign the field trip permission form in the registration packet/ enrollment form to allow their child’s attendance in walking and transported field trips. Discovery Preschool does not have an outdoor play area. However, we do try to incorporate outdoor activities such as walking and exploring in the side yard or near-by park whenever possible.
Field trips are generally planned for the  entire class period  and begin at class start times. Siblings are welcome for most field trips. Siblings are the sole responsibility of the parent/guardian for supervision. We never say no to extra volunteers - you are always welcome even if it is a last minute opportunity.

FIELD TRIP TRANSPORTATION POLICY – The State of Wisconsin has increased the safety laws regarding the transportation of children. To best meet the safety requirements, Discovery Preschool will no longer arrange carpooling from the preschool for fieldtrips. Parents/guardians will now be responsible to provide or arrange transportation to and from field trips. Example: On fire station field trip day parents/guardians will transport their child directly to the fire station and not to preschool. Parents/guardians will provide transportation at the end of the field trip back to the preschool or to home. Parents may arrange carpooling with other parents. Discovery Preschool insurance does not cover transportation to and from field trips.

SNACK NOTES - Snack notes will be sent home with the “show and share-sound box” monthly calendar. Your child provides the snack for his/her class for the assigned week. Please send healthy and nutritious snacks. The teachers are happy to provide snack ideas upon request. The number of students in each class will be indicated on the snack note sent home. Also needed with the snack are 5 ounce or larger cups and napkins. Generally snacks are assigned in alphabetical order.  Preschool provides children with a choice of a 1oo-% juice beverage or water. Milk is occasionally served.
Please note that Discovery Preschool continues to implement a “NO NUT SNACKS” policy for all class groups. 
 
HAND WASHING POLICY- Discovery Preschool has established a hand washing health policy for all children and adults entering the classrooms. This policy will hopefully minimize the spreading of illness and lessen the chance of peanut/nut contaminants.

ART SMOCKS - Discovery Preschool will provide all students with art smocks through out the school year. We have accumulated a nice supply of plastic long-sleeved smocks and towel smocks so that each class is amply equipped. This procedure eliminates the clutter of multiple smock boxes and makes the laundering of smocks easier.

SIGN IN AND OUT – All classes have a sign –in and sign out sheet. Parents or individuals dropping children off at preschool must sign- in the child or children they deliver.  Children will only be released to individuals who are authorized on the enrollment form or have special written permission from parents.
Students are also provided with a sign-in and sign-out sheet with large traceable letters. This provides students a daily opportunity to practice printing their names in the printing format used by the Ripon school system.

"WE CARE RECEIPTS" -Please consider signing us up as your Pick'n Save beneficiary. Our school has significantly profited each year from this donation program. Here's how you can help us!
Pick'n Save issues a plastic Roundy’s Advantage card. When you apply for your card you can identify DISCOVERY PRESCHOOL as your donation choice.  Each time you use your Roundy’s Advantage card at the check out, a percentage of your total grocery purchase will be donated to us. 

D'NEALIAN' ALPHABET - The D'Nealian alphabet is a special method of printing the upper and lower case letters of the alphabet. This system was designed to use more of a continuous stroke instead of straight up and down lines. The letters are also printed with more of a slant and end with curly tails. Most children using the D’Nealian method learn to write cursive letters quickly and with less frustration.
The Ripon Public Schools have adapted this program. I feel it is important to be consistent with the school and therefore we use D'Nealian in preschool.  A copy of the printing style is attached to the newsletter. I also realize that we have several students not from Ripon and their future kindergartens do not use D'Nealian. We will make every effort to use the standard block printing with these children. Whichever method is used it is important to remember to use capital first letter and preceding small letters when printing your child's name.
The intent of sending this information home is to provide your child and you with a consistent example. Please do not drill your child in printing these letters.  Some children will be ready to copy letters or words during the school year. Some children will not have developed the fine motor coordination necessary -- and that's all right! It is our job to introduce and let children experiment and have fun with the printed word.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES - The charts provided in the back of your handbook, give you a guideline of symptoms and restrictions of various illnesses.  We are attempting to decrease the spread of illnesses your child could catch at preschool. Please look this over and keep it as a reference. In the event that your child should contract one of these diseases or nuisances such as head lice please call school so we can notify all children exposed. Confidentiality to the affected child is maintained.

BOOK ORDERS - In the past we have offered parents the opportunity to order from various children's companies. The books, stickers and games are reasonably priced. Plus the preschool earns bonus points to purchase materials for the classroom. If you wish to order, return your completed order with cash or checks by SEPTEMBER 15. Please make checks payable to Discovery Preschool. Scholastic books are also available to order online. I have attached the directions with your book order form.

REMINDER LIST AND DATES TO REMEMBER:

First Day of School Bring:
- A parent or adult friend to share the excitement of a new adventure. Over the years we have found that adult attendance on the first day of school has been very beneficial in helping children make the transition to preschool. Many returning students can also be a little hesitant on the first day. This opportunity provides parents a view of preschool activities and a chance to socialize with your student’s classmates and parents.
-Bring a backpack to take home the fun projects you will make.
- Lots of smiles and hugs because we are going to have a great time!

Dates To Remember
Thursday, September 2  - MTR PM    first class day –12:30 –3:30 PM
Friday,      September 3  - MWF AM  first class day –8:30 –11:00 AM
Tuesday,  September 7  - TTH AM    first class day –8:30 –11:00 AM

FIELD TRIP to RIGGS COUNTY PARK ,RIPON - Douglas Street
September 16 and Friday, September 17 each class group will meet at the Riggs Park for a day of nature walking and crafts. Remember parents that you will need to make arrangements for transporting your child to and from the field trip. If it is more convenient for you to attend a different class group you may do so by speaking to the teachers. Please dress your child for outdoors and apply any sunscreen or insect repellent you wish your child to have. Siblings are welcome to join us. A letter with more details will be sent home the week before. Also note that I have scheduled a rain date for September 21 and 22.

PHOTO DAYS—TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12 and WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13 
FAMILY PHOTO NIGHT – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12
Quick and Smart Photographers of Fond du lac will come to school and take our pictures during the class sessions. Family Photo night is an opportunity for families to have their pictures taken at a reduced rate. More information and photo package information will be available in mid September.

Whew! Future newsletters I promise will be shorter!