Guidelines

DISCIPLINE POLICY: (from Provincial Childcare Facilities Licensing Board) Discipline describes the teaching/learning process by which children develop socially acceptable and appropriate behavior as they grow to maturity. Its intention is to help children become self-disciplined as they learn appropriate and acceptable behavior patterns. Discipline involves a continuous process of guiding behavior and is offered while acceptable behavior is occurring as well as before, during and after unacceptable behavior may be displayed. The goal of discipline is to assist children developing self- control, self-confidence, and sensitivity in their interactions with others.

Strategies used:
1. Establish clear, consistent and simple limits.
2. Limits are stated in a positive rather than a negative way.
3. Focus on the behavior rather than the child.
4. Ignore minor incidents.
5. Gain children's attention in a respectful way.
6. Model problem solving skills.
7. Use natural and logical consequences.
8. Redirect, away from problem arousing situation.
9. Limit the use of equipment.
10. Removal away from the situation where the child is unable to cope.

Parents or care-givers in the playroom
We have an open door policy at our school. This means that you are very welcome to come in whenever you wish to be with your child. We encourage you to do this, so that you can understand your child’s preschool experience, and education. You may come as an observer, a participant or as a comfort for your child. You may not come to judge or pass negative criticism regarding someone else’s child. We feel very protective of the children in this regard. If you do have concerns regarding another child you are encouraged to speak with us so that we can be constructive, and try to meet your concerns.

Please do not socialize at length with other parents while you are in the playroom, as this creates too much noise! The playroom is not designed for toddlers, so please supervise younger siblings, and tidy up after them-they love dumping everything! We have an observation window in the reading room, should you like to observe your child and us at play.

Arrival and dismissal
Please wait on the porch, until we open the doors. It is not a good idea to wait in the cubby area as it gets so crowded and the children become edgy and restless. Help your child find his cubby, hang up their coats and then bring them into the playroom to greet us so that we know they have arrived. Please remember to sign them in the attendance book when you arrive and when you leave. No child may be left on the porch without an adult and please make sure that you close all doors and latch all gates behind you.

Dismissal time is very important because with so many people coming and going it is easy for a child to slip out to find Mom or Dad. If you need to talk to us please wait until all the children have been safely dismissed, so that our attention is not distracted from supervising this vital time. Once you have your child, you are then responsible for them in the parking lot etc. In addition, one teacher will stand at the gate to make sure that no child is leaving without a known adult.

During play time we will keep the door locked, especially in the beginning of the year, when new children decide it is time to go and find parent and wander out. If you want to come in, please get our attention through the glass doors. If someone other than the usual pick-up person will be picking up your child please send a little note and let us know who that will be. We cannot let a child go with someone who we are not familiar with or have never met without your permission. This includes spouses, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, etc.

Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety may or may not be a concern for you and your child. It is important to be aware that it isn’t necessarily restricted to the beginning of the year. The Teachers attempt to make this emotional experience as pleasant as possible and have provided you with the attached handout, entitled "Coping with Separation Anxiety".

Communication
We welcome and appreciate communication. Meetings for questions or concerns may be arranged with the Teachers on a one-on-one basis any school day after 3pm. In the event that you may require additional information, you may direct your concerns through your Class Representative or leave a voice mail for the Teachers, Executive, or Enrolment by calling the school at 469-0438. Please note that the Teachers will not normally answer the telephone during class times (unless it’s the smart ring Emergency number).

We publish a monthly calendar and newsletter, which will be placed in the top section of your child’s cubby. If they did not attend that day we will put them in the newsletter slot for you to collect later.

Our Annual General Meeting, usually scheduled in early September, enables parents to meet with the teachers and the Executive. This meeting also provides invaluable information to the parents about our program. Attendance by at least one parent is compulsory.

Regular meetings with the Executive, Teachers and parents are held every month. Again, attendance by at least one parent is suggested. Agenda’s will be posted one week prior and two weeks prior if a parent vote is required.

Snack
We offer a shared snack for the children to eat during classroom time.  This snack is prepared by a parent on a rotating schedule and will include a variety of healthy choices such as fruits and vegetables, sandwiches, cheese & crackers, with an emphasis on home baked goods instead of cookies, candies and processed foods. We promote "water drinking" so please send water or milk and not juice in a non-spill Rubbermaid drink container. If there are any allergies in the school, please respect the call to not bring certain foods (ie peanut products for allergies that are life threatening).

Birthdays
Each child’s birthday is celebrated in a special way. Summer birthdays are referred to as "pretend birthdays" and are celebrated during the school year. Please arrange, if possible, for a family member to spend your child’s birthday session enjoying the time with them. Parents are asked to send a treat to preschool for your child to share with his/her classmates. We suggest cupcakes (22), cookies, Rice Krispie squares or if you prefer, a non-sweet treat. Additionally, sometime during the first week of preschool, please send 4 or 5 photos of your child spanning their lifetime so that a birthday poster can be created for your child’s birthday. Please put the photos in a marked envelope with your child’s name, birth date and group and place them in the Birthday Envelope in the cubby room. Your child will be able to take the poster home after the celebration at preschool.

Clothing
Our program encourages active, imaginative, and sometimes, messy play. Children will use paint, glue flour, bubble-mix, finger-painting, goop, food color, clay, etc. Please send your child to school in comfortable, washable play clothes. We do encourage the children to wear paint smocks, but we don’t insist. Suggested clothing for preschool includes: comfortable pants & tops or dresses, 1 pair rubber boots, 1 hooded water-proof warm coat, 1 pair of velcro shoes (not lace-ups), and 1 pair of waterproof mittens (not woolen and not gloves) for snow play. Just so you know, Friendly Forest sells T-shirts & sweatshirts (a good choice for play clothes to wear at preschool).

Health
Due to the number of children enrolled in our preschool it is important to have the cooperation of parents in helping to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. A general guideline is to keep the child at home if he or she is infectious to others. Decisions as to the significance of an illness are difficult, but are made more easily when a child:

is developing or has an acute cold with fever, runny nose and eyes, is sneezing, coughing or has a sore throat.
is feverish or feeling sick, these being possible early signs of an illness which might develop quickly.
is vomiting or has diarrhea.
has infected skin or hair, or an undiagnosed rash.
(These ailments may require a doctor's confirmation as to whether or not the child is infectious.) If a child develops any of these symptoms while at preschool, the staff will make the child as comfortable as possible and attempt to contact the parents. Please keep your sick child at home until he or she is able to participate in normal preschool activities, including both indoor and outdoor play, and until he or she is no longer infectious.

If your child contracts an infectious disease please let us know so that we can notify the other families and the Public Health Nurse.

Medication at school
Licensing requirements do not permit us to administer any medication (even Tylenol, Asthma puffers or cough syrups) without a written request from your doctor. Please do not leave any medication in your child's backpack or lunch box. It must be handed over to a teacher for safekeeping.

Allergies
Please discuss any allergies your child may have directly with the Teachers. When necessary the Teachers may request that all children do not bring a certain type of food in their school snack, please respect this request.

Outdoor policy
We believe that children need to go outdoors every day. They need to fill their lungs with fresh air, and have space to develop their large muscle skills. In order to understand the seasons, they need to experience them, hot, cold, wet or dry. The warm sun, cool wind, crackling leaves, wet rain, dry air and the smell of green spring leaves are all wonderful. We avoid taking the children out in a heavy downpour, but you may see us out in a light rain. If you do not wish for your child to go outdoors, because you believe their cold will worsen, we ask that you keep your child at home on those days as our staff ratio requirements cannot be met if one teacher is inside with one child.

If children get wet while playing outside we make sure that they are changed into dry clothing as soon as possible. Please make sure that you always send clothing to keep your child warm, and dry. If we feel that your child does not have sufficient clothing to keep them warm we will find something extra for them to wear from our spare clothing box.

Field trips
Field trips are usually planned once the children are fully familiar with the preschool routine. We make trips to the local libraries, pet stores, beaches and parks as well as introducing the children to public transit in the form of a bus ride! Your field trip coordinator will arrange carpooling for those wishing to do so. The fieldtrips will either be the duration of class time or the school will b open prior to and after the fieldtrip. You are welcome to stay with your child, but in this event we ask that you be responsible for their safety. We ask you to do this because with so many adults, (and possibly siblings), present, it is very difficult for the teachers to supervise. If you do not wish to stay please let the teachers know so they can take over the responsibility of your child.

Field trips for the 4-year-old classes are usually scheduled once a month. We do not plan as many field trips for the 3-year-olds, unless we feel the place will be appropriate for their interest level. Once again you will notice that we choose very open-ended places to visit, where the children have room to physically explore, rather than listen to presentations given which will not hold a young child's interest. On field trips we carry the Emergency cards, attendance records and a First Aid kit. We are open to suggestions and opportunities for field trips. Please let us know.

Supported child care program
We welcome any child with special needs into our center. With the help of the Staff from Neighborhood Choices program, we can try to meet their special needs and ensure that they have the same experiences as their peers. Our Support worker is Michelle Le Grow and occasionally you may see her in the playroom visiting with the children. We believe that all children has "special needs", and always focus on the "child within" first rather than placing focus on their disabilities.

Practicum students
During the year, Early Childhood Education students from Douglas, Langara or Capilano College will be doing their Practicum at our center. The practicums usually last 6 weeks. These students have all had criminal record checks done before they start in our center.

Early withdrawal
If it becomes necessary to withdraw your child from the preschool we require one month's written notice. Please notify the teachers and the President. Failure to provide written notice will result in a penalty of one month’s fee. After April 1st however, any withdrawals will require payment for the balance of the school year.

Preschool's constitution
A copy of Friendly Forest Preschool’s constitution can be obtained at any time by contacting a member of the Executive.