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| 2007 - 2008 Preschool Handbook | ||||||||||||||||||||
WelcomeWelcome to the Valley Covenant Preschool program. We are pleased you are going to be with us and look forward to working with you and getting to know you and your child better.Valley Covenant Preschool has two major goals. It is our desire to help you and your child as he begins to develop the beginnings of a Christian faith in these early years. God is presented as creator of the universe and Jesus as a living friend. Our Preschool will be a place that children will look forward to coming to each day. You can help your child to adjust to the new year by talking about the Preschool experience and introducing your child to the teachers. Preschool can provide invaluable experience for preschoolers in dealing with groups of children their own age, learning to share and play together and to respond to loving adults other than their parents. Parents are encouraged to be involved. We have an open door policy, parents are always welcome to visit or sign up as a parent helper. By volunteering in the classroom, it gives you the chance to become familiar with this new experience for your child. You get to know their teachers and their friends first hand. It will also give the teachers a chance to get to know you better. Your presence in the classroom will help other students adjust to other authority figures and become comfortable with you. We encourage you to share your special interests or talents with the class. Examples: musical talents, career skills, hobbies and art skills, etc. Parent helpers are a great addition to the classroom! Parents that help more than once every 30 days will need to be fingerprinted to comply with DCFS regulations. Please see Jill Huber for more information. Three year oldsDuring this 2 ˝ hour program the children are offered opportunities to begin to develop social skills such as sharing, taking turns, and caring for others. Each week a different Bible story will be presented to the children. God is presented as Creator of the universe and Jesus as a living Friend. Colors and shapes are introduced. Through art activities the children will improve cutting and coloring skills. Stories, songs, games, and movement activities are also part of their day.Before starting the three year old class, your child must be able to go to the bathroom on their own and wash their own hands. They should also be able to hold a crayon correctly. It is also suggested that your child be able to hold a pair of scissors and have been introduced to opening and closing them. Four and five year oldsIn this 3 hour kindergarten prep program children will play and learn through stories, songs, art, games, and movement activities. Through interaction with other children, cooperation, manners, and self-help skills are established. The alphabet, numbers, and name printing are introduced. Each week a different Bible story will be presented to the children. God is presented as Creator of the universe and Jesus as a living Friend.Before starting the four year old class, your child should be able to count to five (or ten); cut; hold crayon and pencil correctly; recognize their name, shapes (triangle, square, circle, rectangle) and colors.
EnrollmentWe are currently registering students for the 2008-09 school year. Please call for current openings. We have a list going for future classes. (2009-10; 2010-11; 2011-12) If you would like information about when we are ready to register future classes, please email us your name, your child's name & birthday, phone number, mailing address & e-mail address. We will contact you when we are getting ready to register for your child's class year.If you recently added your name on our list using the online pre-registration form, please email us your name, your child's name & birthday, phone number, mailing address & e-mail address. We have experienced problems with the online form and are no longer using it. For new students enrolling this school year (2008 - 09) Please call Jill Huber at 645-8882 or 986-9308 to check for openings before sending forms & money. Thanks!
* For students who were in the program last year, we will keep your child's records on file. We will ask you to update our records at the open house in the fall. New students need to complete all required forms. ** Medical forms and DCFS verification of receipt do not need to be turned in until your child's first day of school. Please make sure that all immunizations are up to date and medical forms are completely filled out. Please ask your physician about the TB skin test, this is required by DCFS to place your child in our facility. If your physician does not feel that the test is needed at this time he/she must attach a note stating that the child is not at risk. If your child has a summer birthday, (before Sept. 1st) you may want to read the book, Summer Children: Ready or Not for School, by James K. Uphoff, June E. Gilmore, and Rosemarie Huber. There are excepts from this book in the following article, "Ready or Not?" This may help you make a decision about when to start preschool or if you want to put your child in two or three years of preschool. If you are wondering which class would be best for your child, please call Jill Huber 645-8882.
Fee Policies
All supplies will be furnished.* The tuition payments are spread across the year in equal monthly payments to make it easier for you to budget. That's why the monthly payment is the same regardless of snow days or holiday breaks - It all evens out over the course of the year. Tuition is due on the first of each month. A late charge will be added of $1.00 a day after the 5th unless you have spoken to the director about paying late. No refunds are given for absences due to illness or family vacations. Online Bill Pay: This is our preferred way of payment. If your bank has online bill pay, you may send us payment just as you would any other bill. You can schedule your payment to automatically pay on the first of each month. Please put your child's name as the "account number" and / or in the "memo line". (Stillman Bank has FREE online bill pay.) Payment envelopes (orange) will be handed out the week before tuition is due to serve as a reminder. If you do not use the orange envelope, please return to be reused for next month. Please put payment into orange envelope and put in teacher's box or mail to: Valley Covenant Preschool PO Box 250 Stillman Valley, IL 61084. Check: Please put your child's name in the memo line. Make checks payable to: Valley Covenant Preschool. Cash: Please remember to include your child's name somewhere (preferably on a piece of paper inside the envelope.) Pay Ahead: You may also choose to pay more than one month at a time or pay early and post date your check for the 1st. (or no later than the 5th) Credit Card: A service fee will be added for credit card payments.
Supplies*Each class is asked to bring two items at the beginning of the year for the classes to share throughout the year. All other supplies are furnished. See below to find out what to bring.
Classes
Doors will open five minutes before class time. Teachers need time to set up for class so please be respectful and do not drop off your child early. Since there is not much time between sessions, and the children get anxious if they have to wait long, please be prompt in picking them up after their session of Preschool. If you are more than 10 min. late, you will incur a $5 late charge & an additional $5 for each 10 min. after unless you call to notify us or there was an emergency. When you arrive at school.... Sign In - Hang up Book Bag & Coat (please have them labeled) - Child washes hands - Check mail box When you pick up your child.... Sign Out - Pick up Book Bag & Coat - Check mail box - Make sure a staff person sees you leave.
Schedule / CalendarVacations and holidays are set up concurrently with the calendar of the Meridian Community District #223. In bad weather the school will be closed when the Meridian School District closes. Closings will be announced on any of the three T.V. channels, and on radio stations WHRL and WROK.
SnacksChildren will be asked to bring snacks and juice for the class 5 or 6 times throughout the year. Due to DCFS regulations these snacks must be prepackaged, bought from a bakery/deli or prepared at Preschool. They also require that we post a menu to be prepared for any food allergies. Application forms will be checked for any allergies you listed for your child.We will give you a list of your child's snack days. You can check the snack menu in the handbook or the Calender to see what to bring. (It will also be posted on the bulletin board.) We will also send home a reminder with the menu item listed in your child's mailbox (once a month). If you forget your snack day, please bring something for the cupboard to use if someone else forgets. Drinks must be 100% fruit juice (apple, white grape, any light colored Juicy Juice) or milk (white or chocolate). One gallon of drink is usually enough for a class. Please do not bring red or dark juice - it is not carpet friendly! Each child will be assigned a snack day to celebrate their birthday or half birthday. (if their birthday is in the summer it will be for their half birthday.) Please no homemade treats, only prepackaged food or items bought from a bakery/deli. Example: cupcakes, cookies, cake (from store bakery). On these days you can ignore the snack menu, but please indicate what you are bringing on the Birthday treat list (located on bulletin board) a week in advance. We have to post this information to comply with DCFS regulations.
Notes HomeWe will only send printed notes home to those who do not have e-mail. Please check your e-mail often. If you are not able to check your e-mail at least once a week, please let us know and we'll send notes home to you both in print and by e-mail.Contact UsYou may call the preschool phone at 645-8882. There is an answering machine to leave a message if no one is available. If you call the church office phone instead we do not usually get those messages in a timely manner. Our e-mail account (preschool@valleycov.org) is monitored by Paula Ravn. She checks it once or twice a day Monday through Wednesday & Friday. If there is a message that requires a response from either Mrs. Huber or Mrs. Turner, she will pass along the message to them. At times, Mrs. Huber checks the account for new messages on Paula's day off. Be assured that all messages are kept confidential. You may contact Jill Huber at home 986-9308 or at jill_huber_613@comcast.net (she checks it daily at home.)
HealthParents are requested to report an illness to the child's teacher for protection of the other children. We ask that you do not bring your child to Preschool when the child has:
If your child becomes ill during the day we will make every effort to notify you immediately, so be sure we have your current home phone, cell phone, or work phone numbers. If your child becomes ill or is injured and needs emergency medical treatment, we will arrange transportation to the nearest emergency medical care facility. All children must have permission for emergency medical treatment by a physician. Due to DCFS Regulations, we are required to inform all parents that Adams Pest Control will be spraying the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 3:15 pm Transportation & Field TripsTransportation for all children must be arranged privately by the parents. Only authorized persons as stipulated on the enrollment form may pick up the children. Children must be accompanied by an adult as they enter and exit the building. When you arrive with your child, make sure that a teacher acknowledges your presence. As you leave, again, make sure a staff member knows that you are leaving with your child.Parents will be notified in advance of all field trips and will need to sign a permission slip for each trip. You may be asked to accompany or drive the children on a field trip. ClothingChildren should be dressed in comfortable, easy to launder, clothing. All removable clothing (such as hats, boots, mittens, jackets etc.) should be clearly marked with child's name. We are not responsible for lost items if they are not marked.Discipline and DismissalHarsh punishment is prohibited. Discipline will be handled with kindness and understanding. No child shall be subjected to cruel, harsh, humiliating, petty, severe, or provocative treatment, or corporal punishment. No child shall be subjected to verbal abuse, threats, or derogatory remarks. No child shall be deprived of needs or any part of meals or snacks as punishment. Discipline measures shall be designed and administered in such a way as to help the individual child develop his own self-control and to assume responsibility for his own actions.We will establish simple rules that set limits of behavior required for the protection of the group. The Preschool reserves the right to dismiss any child for disruptive and / or damaging behavior. Parents will be notified of such behavior and required to help develop a plan to correct such behavior. If the child is still unable to adjust to the school routine and engages in continued disruptive behavior, the child will be dismissed. This policy is without regard to race, sex, and creed. This policy is enforced so that we can ensure all children attending the Preschool will have a safe and comfortable atmosphere in which to grow and develop. Insurance / Accreditation & Personal InformationThe Preschool is covered by accident insurance in case of injury to your child while in attendance at Preschool. We are licensed by State of Illinois under the Division of Children and Family Services. The teachers and aides are qualified and licensed according to the State regulations. By law, teachers are required to report cases of child abuse to the Department of Children and Family Services. No personal information about your child will be released without written authorization.
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FundraisersIn the past we have purchased playground equipment, laminator, binding machine, bikes, die cut machine & die cutsIN THE FALL . . . Computers for Education - We usually raise $850 - $900 We need 100% participation.....It's very EASY - Just fill out the whole book COMPLETELY and TURN IN at the open house - you may use each individual family member on a separate page even if they have the same address (Mom, Dad, brother, sister, grandma, grandpa, etc. Some people even use pets!) They will receive an offer to purchase magazines. If they are not interested tell them to just throw it away. If they don't order they will receive a second notice they can throw away and that will be the end. They will not bother them anymore. If someone does order your child may earn a free t-shirt. Highlights - another very easy fund raiser that doesn't cost you a thing! Each slip turned in gives us credits to receive free stickers. Just fill out the yellow slip and indicate yes or no. If you choose NO, please be sure to fill in child's name and Sign it. We get credit for both yes and no responses. Please TURN IN at the open house. We may do this again later in the year. Just watch for the slip and return back ASAP. Tupperware - We receive ˝ the profit Last year we raised $1500. Participation not required, but help if you can! Please turn in by: Sept. 22nd ON-GOING . . . Recycle Program To help fund our scholarship fund, we are asking for empty good condition Ink Jet Printer, Fax or Copy Cartridges or Cell Phones. The pre-paid envelopes are now available in the upstairs classroom. Take some extras with you to give to neighbors, friends, coworkers or your office. Each time you change your printer, fax, plotter, cad, etc. cartridge, please place the used cartridge in the mail-in envelope and send off to the retrieval center. AAA Environmental, Inc. will be paying us for every good condition cartridge selected to be remanufactured. Scholarship Fund You may also donate to our scholarship fund to help families with tuition. IN THE SPRING . . . MDA Hop-a-thon / Carnival - The Hop-a-thon is a fun and educational program that teaches children about disability awareness. The money raised by the children will help provide many services to those affected by muscular dystrophy in our community. Last year we raised: $5,585. You will be receiving a Hop-a-thon packet in the spring. When you get your packet, please ask people to donate a flat rate instead of per hop. Every donation counts, so please help anyway you can! Last year we had 4 carnivals that was during your child's normal class time. The kids each hopped for the Hop-a-thon during their carnival. The carnival had games set up around the church and pizza for lunch. We will be asking for a $5 registration fee for each child participating in the carnival to cover the cost of the games, pizza & t-shirt. (Please indicate t-shirt size on info card for this!) Each child will also receive a gift bag full of prizes when finished playing the games. (In addition to the prizes they earn for collecting donations for the Hop-a-thon.) Siblings are welcome to participate and will be required to register in advance. Adults can enjoy pizza and a beverage for $3.00. We will need volunteers to gather donations from area businesses. In addition to monetary donations, some items donated last year were: food coupons, pencils, flashlight key chains, balloons, suckers, bouncy balls, stickers, note pads and gum. We have a list of businesses that donated last year and can provide you with that list and a letter to send. If you have a business or have a contact with a business that you think would like to help us in this effort, please let us know. We will also need volunteers to organize and plan the games, decorate & set up games and helped the day of the carnival to run games and serve food & write thank you notes after the event. If you would like to be on a committee to plan the details of this event, or willing to help with a particular task, please talk to Jill Huber.
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Tentative Schedule & Overview 2008 - 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sept 2 (Tues.) - Open House for Parents /First Day for students,
morning classes 9:00, afternoon classes 12:30
(Monday / Tuesday classes) Sept. 3 (Wed.) No school, Labor Day Sept. 3 (Wed.) - Open House for Parents /First Day for students, morning class 9:00, afternoon class 12:30 (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday classes) September 22, 23 & 24 (Mon. - Wed.) - Picture Day! Turn in: Computers for Education booklets, Highlights slip & Tupperware packets. Book orders: are due on the 15th of every month. You will receive order forms for Scholastic Book Clubs & God's World in your child's mailbox. You may order your Scholastic books directly online at: Order Books Class User Name: valleycov Password: HuberBell Your credit card will not be charged until we actually submit the whole class order. They give us a detail break down of who ordered what, so we'll know who the books go to when they come in. If you have coupons to redeem, there is a code on the coupon you can enter. If you earned coupons (from the Click! Software club) we will distribute them to you with your order. God's World does not have parent online ordering, but when you turn in your paper order to us, we place the order online which gives us free shipping, so you do not need to pay the per student shipping & handling fee (50 cents) as indicated on the form. For all book orders using the paper order form: Please make checks payable to: Paula Ravn. We will not cash your check until we place the order. Please no cash. If your books are gifts for your child, please e-mail us, or write "gift" on your order form. We'll put them into a brown paper bag. School pictures: You should have received your picture packet in your child's mail box. Photos will be taken by Jackie Willich of Photos and Frames. Pictures will be taken outside - in case of rain we will reschedule. On picture day the students will not be playing outside so their clothes won't get dirty. October 10 (Fri.) - No school, (Teacher's Institute) October 28 (Tues.) - Dress Up Party for M / T October 31 (Fri.) - Dress Up Party for W / T / F classes classes Fire Station: The Stillman Valley Fire department will come for Fire Prevention Week. Dress up Party: Please no "scary" or "spooky" costumes. We want to prevent any tears from kids who might get scared. Try and stick to characters or occupations. Your child can bring their costume and change in time for the party. Party will start around 10:15 - 10:30 for AM classes & 1:45 - 2:00 for PM classes. Watch for Sign up sheets for: Treats, Drink, Cups, Paper plates (6" - 8"); Napkins; Take home treats; parent helpers & digital photographer. [If you sign up for digital photographer, please take pictures with a digital camera and give us a copy (either on CD or bring your USB cable to download before you leave.) If you do not have a digital camera, but would like to volunteer to take pictures, we have a digital camera that can be shared between upstairs & downstairs.Those that bring things for the party please be aware that there will be parent helpers and maybe a few younger siblings, so please bring extras so we can include everyone in the party.
Nov. 11 (Tues.) - No school, Veteran's Day Nov. 26, 27 & 28 (Wed. - Fri.) No school, Thanksgiving break The Bread of Life Ministry of Valley Evangelical Covenant Church distributes Thanksgiving meal baskets to needy people in our area. Please help us to make 75 meals to be distributed for Thanksgiving. Watch for a sign up sheet and dates to bring items in. Please let us know if you are planning to bring something so we don't end up with too much extra "holiday specialty" items (especially the potatoes since they will not keep.) Our food pantry serves 75 families every two weeks all year round. The pantry accepts donations all year long. Common items always needed are: peanut butter, tuna, rice, pasta & cereal. If in doubt of what is needed, money is always useful to buy the items needed most. December 16 (Tues.) - Christmas Party for M / T classes December 19 (Fri.) - Christmas Party for W / T / F classes December 22 - Jan 2 (2 weeks) - Christmas Break Snow Days: During the winter months, please be sure to watch the weather and check the morning news if you wonder if we will be closed. Generally we follow whatever the Stillman schools do for snow days. LABEL, LABEL, LABEL: Remember to label coats, hats, mittens, scarfs, book bags and any other loose items. Christmas Party: See schedule for dates. Party will start around 10:15 - 10:30 for AM classes & 1:45 - 2:00 for PM classes. Sign up sheets will be available for: Treats, Drink, Cups, Paper plates (6" - 8"); Napkins; Take home treats; parent helpers & digital photographer. [If you sign up for digital photographer, please take pictures with a digital camera and give us a copy (either on CD or bring your USB cable to download before you leave.) If you do not have a digital camera, but would like to volunteer to take pictures, we have a digital camera that can be shared between upstairs & downstairs.] Those that bring things for the party please be aware that there will be parent helpers and maybe a few younger siblings, so please bring extras so we can include everyone in the party. Holiday Gifts: We ask that students do not exchange gifts at preschool. We also ask that instead of buying any gifts for the preschool staff, that you would consider donating to one of the following causes: - Buy new hats or mittens to hang on our hat & mitten tree for Bread of Life families. You can also give food to the Bread of Life food pantry. Common needed items are: Peanut Butter, Tuna fish, canned fruits, cereal, pastas, rice and pasta sauces. - Donate to our scholarship fund to help families with tuition.
Class Preference: For students currently enrolled in our program, you will be given the chance to indicate your first, second and third choice of which class you prefer for the following year. We do this at this time of year to help us give an idea of next year's class dynamics. Final placements are not made until registration material are passed out in March. Pre-registration: For new students, we start collecting registration for our 3 year old classes. February 10 (Tues.) - Valentines Party for M / T classes February 13 (Fri.) - Valentines Party for W / T / F classes February 16 (Mon.) - No school, President's Day Valentine's Party: See schedule for dates. When you bring valentine's for your child's classmates, please do not put individual names on the envelopes (just sign your child's name) This makes it easier to pass them out. Party will start around 10:15 - 10:30 for AM classes & 1:45 - 2:00 for PM classes. Sign up sheets will be available for: Treats, Drink, Cups, Paper plates (6" - 8"); Napkins; Take home treats; parent helpers & digital photographer. [If you sign up for digital photographer, please take pictures with a digital camera and give us a copy (either on CD or bring your USB cable to download before you leave.) If you do not have a digital camera, but would like to volunteer to take pictures, we have a digital camera that can be shared between upstairs & downstairs.] Those that bring things for the party please be aware that there will be parent helpers and maybe a few younger siblings, so please bring extras so we can include everyone in the party.
Registration for Next Fall: Class placements will be made in order of payments collected. First payment will be the $50 Registration fee due no later than March 1st. Play Outside: As the weather starts to warm up, remember to bring a coat in case we decide to go outside. Dress your child in comfortable, easy to launder, clothing as the playground is especially dirty in the spring. April 10 (Fri.) - No Schoolk April 14 & 15 (Tues./ Wed) - MDA Hop-a-thon / Carnival April 26 (Sun)- Preschool Recognition Sunday 10:45 am Next Fall payments: To secure next year's class placement the first half of First month's tuition will be due by April 1st. The Bread of Life Ministry of Valley Evangelical Covenant Church distributes Easter meal baskets to needy people in our area. Please help us to make 75 meals to be distributed for Easter. Watch for a sign up sheet and dates to bring items in. MDA Hop-a-thon / Carnival: Dates to be announced. See page on Fundraisers for more details. Turn in Hop-a-thon packet & Carnival registration. Bring in boxed treat for Treat walk. (Examples: Little Debbies, Hostess Snacks, Fruit Snacks, Fruit Roll ups, etc.) Make sure we have your child's shirt size. (Youth sizes: Small, Medium or Large) Preschool Recognition Sunday 10:45 am: The Christian Education Board will recognize the Preschool Staff and the students will sing a song (or two) in the service. We'll show pictures - including some from the MDA Hop-a-thon / Carnival. An offering will be taken for our church members to give to the scholarship fund. After the service everyone will enjoy cookies! May 11 (Mon.) - Graduation / Parent Tea 9:30/1:00 during class times for M / T classes May 12 (Tues.) - Class Picnics / Last day of school M / T Classes at S.V. Park May 13 (Wed.) - Graduation / Parent Tea 9:30 /1:00 during class times for W / T / F classes May 14 (Thurs.) - Class Picnic / Last day of school W / T / F classes at S.V. Park Next Fall payments: To secure next year's class placement the second half of First month's tuition will be due by May 1st. Parent Tea / Graduation Program - Students come at normal class time - Parents are welcome to attend the program at 9:30 for the morning classes or 1:00 for the afternoon classes. (Grandparents, Aunts/Uncles, baby sitters, friends and other relatives are also welcome to join us.) The program will be held in the church sanctuary and include songs the kids will sing and a picture slide show from the school year. Refreshments will be served following the program in your child's classroom. Class Picnic / Last Day Please drop off and pick up at Stillman Park at your normal class time. Bring your own snack / lunch to eat. If it rains, the picnic (and class) will be cancelled.
A Child...is Born when it's ready,Teethes when it's ready; Creeps when it's ready; Talks when it's ready; Walks when it's ready; Goes to School when.... Ready or Not? The following information comes directly from the book: I Hate School, by Jim Grant; Rosemont, NJ: Programs for Education, Inc., 1986. "We feel, on the basis of research we have done and after reviewing data provided by others, that we are tempted to say that EVERY child under the age of five years, six months should wait a year before starting kindergarten." While many parents will argue the "exceptional" quality of their child, we feel that even though a youngster may be academically talented, he is still not physically, socially and emotionally mature enough to do justice to the experience of formal education as it exists today. Those few children who might be exceptions are so rare that they would be immediately spotted in a kindergarten screening and appropriate adjustments would be made. Truly gifted children are a separate concern. It must be emphasized that being bright and being developmentally ready are two entirely different things. We realize, of course, that there will always be an older and a younger element in the classroom. Beyond pure age considerations, we are interested in a broader goal – to have all children in any given classroom developmentally ready so that each child in the class can learn more easily and more rapidly. When this goal has been successfully met, then the entire group of youngsters can progress at a faster pace. Before learning to read and write, children must develop certain skills – and they must develop them naturally. Dr. Wooddell, like many other professionals, is concerned that many youngsters are being taught to "read" and/or to "write" in a way that is out of sync. "development," she explains, "follows an orderly sequence. When we force things in the cognitive area to happen out of order, we're ruining the natural process." Speeding up this process, many experts agree, can actually harm children socially, emotionally, and physically as well as intellectually. You don't have to have a Ph.D. to realize that the rate of development varies with each child. Children who walk and talk at an early age are not necessarily smarter than their slower counterparts. By the same token, Dr. Woodell points out, "Slower doesn't mean dumber and physically inferior." That's why it seems almost ludicrous to assume that any child who has reached age five by September 1st, for instance, is physically, emotionally and socially prepared to enter kindergarten. It may seem just as ridiculous to say that no child should enter the formal structure of kindergarten until he is five years, six months old. While we certainly admit to exceptions to this and just about anything else in education, we still stick to our CAUTION statement. "Sometimes people feel that if a child is bright – that is, if he has a high I.Q. – he should be able to succeed in school. This presumes that the intelligence alone goes to school and that mere brightness is enough... do not confuse high intelligence with maturity and readiness.... A child can be unquestionably bright, but at the same time immature." –Dr. Louise Bates Ames, Clyde Gillespie, John W. Streff, STOP SCHOOL FAILURE "No matter how hard you push and no matter how hard the child tries... you cannot appreciably hurry or speed up the time at which your child walks, or talks, or is ready to read and write and adjust to the demands of a school situation... the best environment, the best food, the finest teaching, the most loving care will not make a child do any of these things until his organism is fully ready." – Dr. Louise Bates Ames, IS YOUR CHILD IN THE WRONG GRADE? Readiness is a common sense concept Did you know that educators can predict – with surprising accuracy – which children will succeed and which will have difficulty in school? Did you know that they can predict whether children already in school will make the grade? The best predictor of school success or failure is a child's developmental age. What does developmental age mean? Developmental age means the age at which a child is functioning as a total human being, the age at which his entire self – hands, eyes, muscles, bones, nervous system, etc. – is in harmony. It is the age at which he can function with skill and ease. A child's developmental age may or may not correspond with his calendar age. Childhood development is not a contest. The child who creeps at an early age is not superior to the child who takes his own sweet time. Children are born when they are ready. They talk when they are ready. They teethe when they are ready. But they go to school.... ready or not, when they are five. Ready or not, you must be taught. Having five candles on your birthday cake – the sole legal requirement for school entrance – is not the best way to measure a child's readiness for kindergarten. At each stage of development, a child becomes ready to master certain new skills. First grade, like every other grade, is geared to a particular developmental age; it is designed for six or six-and-a-half year old DEVELOPMENTALLY. First grade requires, for example, that a child have the ability to concentrate despite distractions and the ability to cope with a full day of school. First grade demands coordination between eyes and hands; a child's hand must be able to squeeze out on paper the letters that enter her mind through her eyes. A younger child cannot do that easily. A child who has not yet reached the developmental age of six is at risk and may fail first grade, no matter how smart that child is. Using your common sense uncommonly. Whoever coined the phrase "nothing succeeds like success" had a good understanding of how children – and adults, for that matter – achieve. Success builds success. When children are ready for school, they succeed in learning a new skill without undue frustration. This initial success builds toward greater success in the future when they attempt another new teak. The result is a child who learns with ease and enjoys the effort. On the other hand, a child who struggles through school because he is not ready to be there is struggling with the impossible task of trying to be something and somebody other than himslef. If this child is your child, you can make a change in his life that will lead to lasting success. If your inner voice is telling you that your child is too young for school, pay attention. You'll never regret listening to your common sense and giving a child who needs it extra time to grow. The following checklist has been complied and adapted from Highland Elementary School's checklist for kindergarten and Summer Children: Ready or Not for School, by James K. Uphoff, June E. Gilmore, and Rosemarie Huber; Middletown, Ohio: J & J Publishing Co., 1986. You should be able to answer yes to most of these questions: 1. Will your child be five years, six months old or older when he or she begins kindergarten? 2. Can your child tell you the names of three or four colors that you point out? 3. Can your child draw or copy a square? 4. Can your child name drawings of a square, circle, rectangle and triangle? 5. Can your child repeat a series of four numbers without practice? 6. Can your child count to ten? 7. Can your child tell his left hand from his right? 8. Can your child draw and color beyond a simple scribble? 9. Can your child draw a picture of a person that has at least 6 parts? (i.e.: head, body, arms, legs, eyes, nose, mouth, hands, feet, hair) 10. Can your child tell what things are made of, such as cars, chairs, shoes? 11. Can your child identify common objects such as cards, plants, airplanes, etc.? 12. Can your child travel alone in the neighborhood (two blocks) to store, school, playground or the home of friends? 13. Can your child print the numbers 1 through 5? (perhaps even through 10) 14. Can your child copy or write his first name? 15. Can your child sort objects by size, color and /or shape? 16. Does your child look for answers and solutions to problems? 17. Can your child name some letters and numbers? 18. Can your child participate in a conversation? 19. Can your child play a simple table game such as Candyland? 20. Does your child help with household tasks such as setting the table or sweeping? 21. Can your child get dressed without supervision? 22. Is your child beginning to relate the clock time to a daily schedule? 23. Can your child use yesterday, today, and tomorrow accurately? 24. Can your child tell what action is going on in pictures, for example, "Kitty is eating"? 25. Is your child able to wait his/her turn? 26. Does your child enjoy playing make-believe? "A ready child is able to cope comfortably and thus is free to use his intellectual powers. Readiness is only strengthened by time. Waiting will not hurt the child; pushing usually does irreparable harm." – Questions and Answers about School Readiness and Developmental Placement, Brevard County (Flordia) Schools.
ABC’s of PreschoolA is for attendance. Please call if your child is sick or will not be in school.B is for book bag. Your child needs a standard sized book bag to take home art work and papers. PLEASE DO NOT SEND A TEENY TINY BOOKBAG! C is for centers, the children will be in a center daily. D is for discipline. We use the card changing method. E is for eating. We love to eat snacks at preschool. Please send nutritional snacks on your snack day. F is for fun. We have lots of fun at preschool, just ask your child when he/she gets home. if you ask them what they did at school the answer is always the same, “We just played”. G is for God, each and every day we talk about God. H is for hands, hands must be washed when your child arrives at school. I is for individual, children learn differently, we will do our best to meet individual needs. J is for juice, DCFS requires juice to be 100% real juice. K is for kids, watch our for the children in the parking lot when you drop off and pick up. L is for late, if you are running late to pick up your child please call. M is for music, we love to sing fun songs. N is for noise, yes it does get noisy! O is for outside, we will play outside when it is nice, do not send your children in their Sunday best. P is for paint, painting is fun and messy we will try to warn you when it is paint day. Q is for questions, if you have a question please ask R is for reinforce, reinforce what your child is taught at school. Spend time with your child work with them. S is for sniffles, if your child has a runny nose and not running a temperature they are fine to come to school. T is for tuition, please pay your tuition by the 1st of each month. U is for unbelievable, you will hear some very far out stories. V is for vacuum, sometimes after messy snacks like cupcakes we need to vacuum. Please try not to send real messy snacks. W is for weather, snow days are a possibility listen to the radio or T.V. X is for Xerox, we do a lot of hands on activities, don’t expect a lot of worksheets. Y is for You, parents, grandparents, guardians etc. are very important to the learning process of your child. Work with them at home. Z is for zip, teach your child how to zip their own coats..
Play TodayYou say you love your children,And are concerned they learn today. So am I, that’s why I’m providing a variety of kinds of play. You’re asking me the value of blocks and other such play? Your daughter’s creating a tower She may be a builder some day. You’re asking what’s the value of having your children play? Your children are solving problems… they will use that skill every day. You’re saying you don’t want your son to play in that “sissy” way? He’s learning to cuddle a doll…. he may be a father some day. You’re questioning the interest centers….. they just look like useless play? Your children are making choices. they’ll be on their own some day. You’re worried your children aren’t learning and later they’ll have to pay? They’re learning a pattern for learning for they’ll be learners always
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Youth |
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103 S. Maple Street · PO Box 250 · Stillman Valley, IL 61084 Church (815) 645-8872 · Preschool (815) 645-8882 Fax (815) 645-8814 |
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| Pastor - Rev. Don Holmertz | Youth Pastor - Chris Ravn |
| Preschool Director - Jill Huber | Secretary - Karen Carlson |