St. Therese School Early Childhood Parent Orientation
Our Early Childhood Staff Ms. Lisa Deborah Oi - Principal Ms. Catherine Biel - Assistant Principal Ms. Kelly Rojas - Assistant Principal Ms. Elizabeth Blackburn – Pre-Kindergarten STC Ms. Linda Li - Pre-Kindergarten SBC Mrs. Laura Shortino - Junior Kindergarten SBC Ms. Angela Gloninger - Junior Kindergarten STC Mrs. Miriam Gonzalez – Kindergarten STC Ms. Ashley Rogers - Kindergarten SBC
Attendance Policy • On-time attendance is essential for a successful school year! • Please be respectful of the school day. – 7:40 am - Classroom doors open . Circle time starts promptly at 8:00. Arriving after 8:00 is extremely disruptive to the class. Please, make sure your child arrives to school on time. – If your child arrives after 8:00 , you MUST FIRST go to the office to get a tardy slip BEFORE going to the classroom. • DO NOT COME TO SCHOOL EARLY! – Arriving too early to school causes a safety issue – We do NOT have a before school program so no faculty, staff, or patrol will be able to supervise your child until classroom doors open at 7:45 am – DO NOT GATHER OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOMS BEFORE 7:45! • 3:00 pm - End of school day dismissal
Excessive Tardies & Absences If your child has 20 or more combined tardies and absences in a school year, you will be required to attend a meeting with your child’s teacher and administration. Excessive tardies and absences may result in mandatory attendance of the summer school program or, in some cases, retention. Discretion will be used in cases of extreme illness.
Transitioning to School… Getting your child ready! ● Involve your child with purchasing school supplies and a backpack. Get them excited about going to school. ● Tell them that it’s okay to be scared or nervous about going to school. Also, remind them that school is a happy and friendly place to be. Use positive language when talking about school. ● Practice short separations with your child, by leaving him/her with a responsible adult. Show them that you always come back! ● Start a regular bedtime routine
Potty Training ● Children entering Pre-Kindergarten, Junior Kindergarten, and Kindergarten classes must be fully potty trained. ● If a child comes to school wearing a diaper or pull-up, it is required that the program has a designated diapering area , which we DO NOT HAVE . Therefore, accepting children who are not toilet trained compromises the license-exempt status of our early childhood. (IL DCFS Licensing Standards 407. 340) ● If a child has 3 or more accidents in a short period of time, your teacher will request a meeting where your child will be asked to take a week break from school to focus on potty training skills. Administration will attend.
Mom and Dad… Practice giving your child INDEPENDENCE Allow them to: • Brush their teeth on their own • Go to the bathroom on their own • Eat on their own
Establish a Drop-Off Routine ● It is NOT in your child’s best interest to stay in their classroom for a long period of time. This simply prolongs the amount of time it will take for your child to settle down and become comfortable with the school environment, and their teacher. ● It is important to establish a routine with dropping off and picking up your child. This makes them feel safe and helps them adjust to new situations. ● Give them a hug/kiss and tell your child to have a good day at school. Remind your child that you will see them later and you want to hear about their day.
Ways to encourage your child! • Compliment your child; frequently offering words of encouragement will build his/her self-confidence • Display their accomplishments at home (art projects, drawings, writings, etc) • Give your child small chores around the house so that they gain independence
Behavior Management • Reward Board Teachers will have a token board for each student to which they will add stickers, stars, or stamps, etc. The students will receive tokens when they exhibit positive behavior. Positive behavior may include: sharing, helping a friend, helping the classroom and teacher, or working extra hard. When the student has received the designated number of tokens, which will be determined by each grade level teacher, they will receive a reward. Below is an example of a token board.
Consequences We will be using the 3 R’s Consequence method where the student will first receive a reminder, then they will be redirected, and lastly they will be removed from the activity. When a child exhibits inappropriate behavior, the teacher will work with the student to learn how to make a better choice the next time. The student may be asked to speak with the teacher about their behavior or to complete a “think about it” slip. If the behavior continues, the student will receive a behavior notice to sign and return to school.
Student Drop Off- STC We strongly encourage you to use this system! Whether you walk OR drive to school. • Each morning upper grade students/teachers will be available in front of the school to take your child from your car safely into the school between 7:40-8:00. • You may bring your child to the main doors, but please keep in mind that double parking directly in front of the school is not allowed and you may be ticketed. • Also, please be mindful of the safety patrol who are on duty helping the younger students to safely cross the street • 23 rd Street runs Eastbound between 7:40-8:00 and 3:00-3:30 • Be mindful of the parking lot.
Student Drop Off - SBC Whether you walk OR drive to school. • You must bring your child to the main Early Childhood doors on Quinn Street between 7:40 am - 8:00 am. • Any child dropped off before the EC doors open at 7:40 must be dropped off in the St. Barbara Campus lower hall. The children will be walked over to their classroom by an Early Childhood staff member.
Student Clothing ● All students must wear their school uniform everyday. ● Gym Shoes with a secured back are required. No dress-up shoes, flip flops or shoes without a back. ● All hair styles should be simple and off the face. ● Please label every single piece of your child’s clothing, including coats, hats, scarves and gloves.
Shoes with Laces If your child cannot tie their own shoes, they may NOT wear laced shoes to school! For your child’s safety, Velcro shoes are highly recommended .
. Fall/Winter Student Clothing St. Therese gym t-shirt (light grey or white), Got Blue* t-shirt, Play date* t-shirt, red/blue/white St. Therese polo, or a plain (no design) white polo short or long sleeves St. Therese gym sweatshirt Plain black, navy, white, or grey sweater St. Therese gym sweatpants Plain black or navy leggings/athletic pants Athletic (gym) shoes (Velcro recommended) T-shirt (under sweaters and sweatshirts- optional) - plain black, navy, white, or grey *If your child dresses in layers, all layers must be part of the uniform code!
. Spring/Summer Student Clothing • St. Therese gym t-shirt (light grey or white), Got Blue* t-shirt, Play date* t-shirt, red/blue/white St. Therese polo, or a plain (no design) white polo short or long sleeves St. Therese gym sweatshirt Plain black, navy, white, or grey sweater St. Therese gym sweatpants/knee length shorts Plain black or navy leggings/athletic pants Athletic (gym) shoes (Velcro recommended) T-shirt (under sweaters and sweatshirts- optional) – plain black, navy, white, or grey *If your child dresses in layers, all layers must be part of the uniform code!
When My Child Is Sick… • Notify the school office either by phone or by email stating why your child will not be in attendance. • If your child goes home sick from school an adult must “sign out” in the main office and in the attendance log. • When your child stays home sick from school, they must be SYMPTOM FREE for 24 hours without medicine before returning to school.
When Do I Keep My Child Home from School? If your child has: • Fever within the last 24 hours • Has diarrhea, a stomach ache, or is vomiting • Constant cough or sore throat • Excessive runny nose • Rashes, bumps, or sores • Yellowish skin or eyes (Jaundice) • Red eyelids with tears or discharge • Any signs of a communicable disease i.e. influenza & whooping cough YOUR CHILD WILL BE SENT HOME IF THEY SHOW ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS!
** CHILDREN RECOVERING FROM A CONTAGIOUS ILLNESS MUST PRESENT A DOCTOR’S NOTE BEFORE RETURNING TO SCHOOL. **
Blue & Homework Folders Pre-Kindergarten Junior Kindergarten Kindergarten *Friday Folder *Friday Folder * Friday Folder * Homework will be * Homework will be sent home *Homework will be sent home starting at the sent home starting at the beginning of the starting at the beginning of the second beginning of the school year. trimester. school year. Please check your child’s folder regularly to avoid missing important classroom information!
Backpacks Send your child with a backpack EVERYDAY! The backpack must be large enough to hold a folder and a change of clothes . *Please be sure to change the extra clothes according to the weather.
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