A typical DAILY SCHEDULE is as follows:

Arrival and Greeting- Children are welcomed by the teacher. The door will be open five minutes before class begins. Please let the teacher know of any unusual circumstances or if your child is being picked up by someone else. Independence is encouraged so please let your child remove and hang up their own clothing. A teacher will be available if help is needed.

Opening Good Day Song- A time to sing about weather, birthdays and when we introduce Art, new activities, toys, etc. Children are encouraged to talk about happenings in their lives.

Art and Free Play- Children have free choice activities (play dough, block building, puzzles, dress up, etc.) while some do art or cooking. Some children may choose not to do art but are always encouraged.

Pick Up and Quiet Time- Children are encouraged to pick up toys together and then participate in a short quiet time while they listen to a record.

Circle and Music- A time for music, movement, finger plays and introduction of concepts relating to math, science, language art, etc.

Snack Time- Children enjoy snack after a short poem or grace. During the year snack is often made during free play with the class. On Birthday Days, the child leads the parade and sits in the birthday chair. Parents are always invited to join us.

Story- An appropriate story (Picture Book) or flannel board is read by the teacher.

Outdoor Play- The children are encouraged to dress themselves and every effort is made to play outside daily, year around, except on party days and in inclement weather (Director's decision). Please do not involve teachers in discussion during this time as we all need to be aware of the children for safety’s sake.

Dismissal- Children are called together a few minutes before pick up and then are helped into your car. Please pull up a space and buckle your child in to facilitate a timely dismissal for all. Children in the Green room will always be dismissed at the playground gate. Blue room classes will be dismissed also at the gate except on rainy days when dismissal will be from the main entrance.

Our primary GOALS AND OBJECTIVES are as follows:

...Children will express and identify emotions; use words to get their needs met and resolve conflicts peacefully.

...Children will play successfully with peers, engage in a variety of activities both indoors and outdoors and will lead the group as well as follow.

...Children will use language to express needs and ideas, hold conversations, recall songs, stories, finger plays and will be able to follow mullet-task directions.

...Children will practice and master fine motor skills.

...Children will develop self help skills in dressing, eating, toileting and responsibility for belongings.

...Children will feel safe and cared for in the nursery school and have positive experiences using routines and rules as a structure for growth.

...Teaching staff will have an awareness that always provides for a safe environment.

...Teaching staff will establish an observation system in which notes on children are kept.

...Teaching staff will be supportive of parents encouraging involvement, encouraging open and honest communication while using tact and discretion.

...Administration will develop staff potential through proper supervision and evaluation, (making expectations clear, following through to see that expectations are met and utilizing staff input and their abilities).

Table Toys are games, manipulatives, puzzles and collectibles that children can play with at the table or on the floor. At Scooter School both rooms have a collection of table toys from which children can choose and the collection changes throughout the year.

These activities can be done alone, shared with a friend, or with a teacher. The children enjoy the variety of textures, colors, shapes, and patterns. A basic skill children learn in playing with table toys is to choose an activity, decide how to accomplish the task (where to set it up, who to share it with), completing the task and putting the activity away. This task completion skill is necessary to many more complex tasks which follow as the child grows older.

All areas of children’s development can be positively affected by their regular interaction with table toys.

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
*self esteem grows with task completion
*cooperation skills developed
*turn taking practiced
*patience is tested and grows
*self-help skills are practiced

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
*experiments with construction
*imagination stretches with chance to invent
*problem solving skills developed
*emerging math skills practiced (seriation, matching, classification)
*visual discrimination skills practiced (identifying shapes, patterning, sequencing, sorting)

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
*eye-hand coordination practiced
*fine motor skills refined
*body control necessary to task completion practiced

DRESS should be appropriate for the weather as we make an effort to spend time outdoors daily. Sturdy washable play clothes are highly recommended except on party days which are announced in advance. Sneakers are the shoe of choice as we are developing many gross motor skills. BOOTS AND MITTENS are to be brought to school all winter long and into the muddy spring. Please have all children bring their outdoor things in a bag with their name on it.

SNACKS are furnished by the school and our menu is posted on the board in the foyer. Water is served with our snacks so spills are never a problem. However if you would like to send in a special snack, please check with the teacher in advance as we sometimes have made plans for cooking or a birthday.

BIRTHDAYS are usually celebrated in school with a special crown and a parade. Your child will be able to choose a book from the birthday box as a gift from us. We ask that you furnish a healthy birthday treat. NO CUPCAKES. If you do send in cupcakes they will be sent home with the children and another snack will be substituted. Favors are NOT necessary and are NOT requested. No balloons please. Please send in birthday napkins. Summer birthdays are celebrated during the year whenever it is convenient. Please return the form which you will receive from the teacher prior to your child's birthday. We feel birthdays are special days and it is a great opportunity to visit the class. Please do not distribute invitations at school for home parties unless all are invited. Also please do not exchange birthday gifts at school. We start parties in the beginning of October in order for the children to first get acclimated to school.

HEALTH POLICIES Parents will be called if your child becomes ill during school. If we are unable to contact you, one of your emergency numbers will be called. Please tell us if you are not going to be home. If your child is injured at school; a staff member will use basic first aid and you will be notified of the injury. If the injury is serious, 911 will be called and your child will be transported by ambulance to the hospital of your choice. Every effort will be made to contact you in the meantime. Please make sure we have work numbers and notify us where you can be contacted if not at home.

FEVERS are a sign of infection. Please do not send your child to school until he has been without fever for 24 hours and Tylenol has been discontinued. If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic please keep your child at home for 48 hours after commencing the medication. MEDICATIONS MAY NOT BE ADMINISTERED AT School. Children who are coming down with a cold should be kept at home for the first three days. Please do not send your child to school if they have vomited in the past 24 hours. If a child is coughing, feverish or seems to be ill, we will call you or your emergency number to pick the child up at school. We would appreciate that you contact us anytime your child is ill or on medication and will be absent from school. Our policies are made for the welfare of all the children and we appreciate your cooperation.

HEALTH FORMS are required for every child by the beginning of the school year as we are visited at regular intervals by officials of the town and state to insure that we are following all of the regulations. The school is licensed by the State of Connecticut. Scooter School teachers are trained in state approved first aid, CPR and epi-pen administration courses.

HELPERS are those indispensable people who help with phone calls, parties, book club, special projects and field trips. If you are able to participate in any other way and would like to please contact us and let us know.

TOYS (etc.) may be brought to school. Children sometimes enjoy showing special things. They are always welcome and will be kept in the treasure box for safekeeping. Please limit your child to one item and check that he has not forgotten it when going home. Lost items are kept in the treasure box. No to weapons, action heroes with weapons, etc, please.

CONFERENCE DAYS are scheduled and communicated to the parents in advance. There will be no school on that day as conferences are very helpful both to staff and parents. Please make plans for child care for 1/2 hour. If anytime during the year you would like a conference please speak to your child's teacher. If we feel there is an area that a conference with you would help in enhancing your child's experience we will ask you to set a time to come in and speak with the a member of the staff.

OPEN DOOR POLICY The Scooter School has an open door policy which means you are welcome to drop in without notice. We do this to assure you that The Scooter School is a safe, secure, warm and nurturing environment that your child will flourish in during these precious years.

SEPARATION ANXIETY is a process, not a problem. Some children will have difficulty at the beginning of the school year and some will have a delayed reaction. What seems to work best is if you do not carry your child into school-it is much easier for a teacher to take over if you only say goodbye once and allow child to be redirected and distracted by the teacher. We will try to reach you on your cell phone to let you know how quickly your child settled in. Once a child is familiar with the school and routine they become comfortable with the process. Parents are definitely are partners in this process-if we both do our part it will be a smoother transition.

BATHROOMS are available for use anytime a child needs. Please make sure you talk to your child about using the potty at school. Teachers will help children with snaps, buttons, etc. as needed. We do appreciate when children are dressed for comfort and ease with the potty. Some three year olds are not trained yet and we will help you through the process. Our goal is by January all should be on their way. We have extra clothes in case of accidents. You are welcome to bring in labeled Ziploc bag of clothes for us to keep in the bathroom. Parents will be contacted in case of bowel movement accidents, as we do not have the facilities in that case.

FIELD TRIPS We appreciate help on field trips which are taken throughout the school year. The signed permission slips are kept on file for your child. Sign up sheets for field trips will be posted for volunteers prior to trips. Thank you in advance for your help. The Tuesday- Thursday classes do not go on field trips.

DROP OFF Driveway traffic enters from North Brooksvale and goes counter clockwise around the driveway. NO ONE is to exit except on North Brooksvale Road. Please do not get out of your car before you find a place to park by the fence. Bring your child into school at the main entrance where he/she will be greeted by the teacher. The door will open 5 minutes before class time. Be sure to read the board to your child. Brief good-byes always work better. Traffic may enter between Dowling Ford and the Mobile station if you are coming from the south end of town. Exit is by way of North Brooksvale Road ONLY. If you need to come into the school for more than a minute please park in the shopping center nearest the school opposite the entrance to Shangri Lee Restaurant. This is where parking is available for special days, parties, coffees, etc.

PICK UP of your child at the proper time is important as we have to have time for a thorough clean-up between classes. The child also becomes concerned if he is left after his friends have gone. Please call if you have a problem that would prevent you from picking up your child on time. A teacher will help your child into your car at pickup time. The Green room will always dismiss at the play ground gate. The Blue room will also dismiss at the play ground, except on rainy days, when they'll use the main entrance.

EARLY AND LATE POLICY Please be punctual in dropping off and picking up your child. Children may not be dropped off early without express permission of the director. Parents who are late will be charged a $5.00 late fee per each fifteen minutes you are late. Late fees can be given directly to the teacher. A reminder note will be sent home with the child if fee is not given on that day.

STAFF Our teachers have a variety of backgrounds. However, the primary qualifications we look for in our teachers, and the ones most important to your child, are a genuine loving manner, a depth of commitment to working with young children in a positive caring way and the ability to share their own "human-ness" with others. There are bound to be occasions where there will be a difference of opinion with a teacher. Please give her the benefit of the doubt, remembering the sincerity of her commitment and the intensity of the work she does. Open communication with the teacher will solve most problems but you are welcome to contact the director if you feel it's serious and would like her to intervene.