Preschool Curriculum

 

Here at P.E.S. we use the curriculum, DIG: Develop. Inspire. Grow.  It is a comprehensive early childhood program designed to provide the best start possible for our youngest learners and to prepare them for school success. The program helps develop relationships with children, their families, and amongst peers. The content meets the needs of the whole child: social/emotional, academic, and physical.  DIG provides a balance between play and instructional skills by offering an array of developmentally appropriate activities and instructional approaches through the following themes:

 

                                                           

DIG also incorporates The Letter People.  These special friends get children talking, moving, interacting, experimenting, drawing, counting, and ultimately reading and writing. By stimulating their imagination, children respond because The Letter People are friends, language and learning partners and just plain fun!  Letter People helps early learners develop the strong foundation they’ll need for reading and writing success in today’s rigorous kindergarten classrooms.

 

This year we will use Eureka Math for our math curriculum, which is also the curriculum used by upper grade levels.  Eureka Math teaches students by connecting math to the real world in ways that take the fear out of math and build student confidence. 

 

We also use the handwriting curriculum, Get Set For School from the company Handwriting without Tears.  This program incorporates child-friendly teaching strategies, such as using music and movement to bring lessons to life, and multisensory manipulatives to build fine and gross motor skills. The readiness and writing lessons teach social skills, listening skills, letter and number recognition, letter and number formation, and focuses on how to properly grip writing utensils. 

 

Teaching Strategies GOLD (TSGold) is an ongoing system used to assess students throughout the entire school year. By using this system, teachers are able to plan appropriate learning experiences because we have an up-to-date report on how each student is learning and developing.  It is important to remember that every child develops at his or her own rate. While we all tend to compare our children to other children of the same age, this is not an indication of how that child “turns out” later on! 

 

Preschoolers will receive a report card for each of the grading periods. This report card is used only as a means of indicating your child’s progress of the introductory skills. Your child will not receive traditional grades. Blank spaces on the report card indicate that either the skill has not been introduced or your child has not had time to practice using that particular skill.

 

Name Tags

 

Please fill in a temporary nametag and make sure that your child wears it every day for the first nine weeks of school.  These tags are color-coded according to your child’s homeroom teacher.   Please attach the tags to shirts only; they are not to be worn on pants or anything that hangs around the neck. 

 

In addition to the temporary nametag, each student will receive a permanent tag labeled with his/her afternoon transportation information.  The permanent tag will remain on your child’s school bag for the entire school year.

 

 

Money Sent to School

 

All money sent to school should be placed in an envelope and labeled with the following information: 

child’s name, teacher’s name, amount of money, and why the money is being sent. Put envelopes in the communication folder. Please do not put the envelope in the child’s school bag as we may miss seeing it. Do not pin the envelopes to the students. When sending money to school, please understand that the office does not keep change; therefore, please send the exact amount.  All checks should be made out to Paulina Elementary School.  If you are paying for multiple things (for example: lunch money and supply fee), please make separate payments.  The money is deposited in separate accounts. Also, if you have more than one child attending PES, please send money in an envelope only for your Pre-K child. . Below is an example of a labeled envelope.

 

Bobbie Smith Teacher’s Name $10.00 Zoo Field Trip Money

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supply Fee

 

The Paulina PTO has graciously donated the supply fee of $10.00 this school year. This fee is used to replenish arts and crafts items, purchase cooking supplies, etc.  We appreciate their generosity to assist parents.

 

Absences

 

Paulina Elementary School wants the students to form a good habit of faithful attendance at school.  Please know that it is important for your child to attend school everyday.  You can find absentee slips (also called the SJ2 form) in the back of the Paulina Elementary Policy and Procedures Handbook.  These slips should be filled out and sent back to school with your child if he/she is absent. If your child has visited a doctor, remember to ask for an excuse and send it to school in the communication folder.

 

Arrival

 

Car riders are not allowed on campus until 7:40 a.m. The bell to begin our school day will ring at 8:05 a.m.  Please note that this time is later than previous years. All car riders arriving after the bell rings must be accompanied by an adult to the office. Students are considered tardy after 8:10 a.m.

 

Dismissal

The dismissal bell will ring in the afternoon at 3:15 p.m.  Preschoolers are taken to the buses and loaded before the other students.  Parents are to pick up car riders by getting in the car line and driving up to the front of the cafeteria where their child will be waiting.  Duty teachers will be supervising your child during dismissal. Parents are not allowed to come inside the school to pick up a child during dismissal because it causes congestion and confusion for everyone. You may want to speak to teachers during dismissal, but this is not an ideal time. Please call to make an appointment for a less hectic time of day.

If you must pick up your child early, PLEASE send us a note that morning so we can have him/her ready to go. 

 

If for some reason your child needs to go home in a different manner than usual, please send a note. That note must be dated and signed. We must have a note! We will not take the word of your child.  All bus changes must be approved by personnel at Central Office and the principal. Please be warned that this approval may take more than one day to complete.

 

 

Student Folders

 

Your child will bring home a communication folder in his/her school bag daily.  Folders should be checked daily for conduct, homework, and important information. These folders should be replaced when they become torn or soiled. Replacement cost will be $5.

 

 

 

Conduct

 

In order to maintain a classroom that allows all children to learn, our school has developed a school-wide discipline plan. This plan involves rules, consequences, and rewards. Please read and discuss the following with your child. On page 12 of this booklet is a contract for you to sign stating that you will encourage your child to follow the school and classroom rules.

 

 

Classroom Rules

1. I will keep my hands, feet, and objects to myself.
2. I will respect students and adults.
3. I will respect the property of others.
4. I will follow all directions given.
5. I will be nice to everyone.

 

 

Rewards

Daily rewards consist of verbal praise, cheers, songs, dances, stickers, stamps, treats, etc.  All students who demonstrate good behavior will also receive a PBIS reward coupon every two weeks.

 

 

Consequences

Each student has a set of cards with colored dots on them. Students will begin each morning with a green dot.  When a student chooses not to follow the rules, their card will be flipped and consequences will be issued. At the end of the day, teachers will keep a record of the infractions. Preschool students will have the color of their card marked on their behavior calendar in the communication folder that is sent home everyday.

            Green (warning) – Verbal Reminder

            Yellow – Student will lose 5 minutes of their recess.

            Blue –  Student will lose their entire recess.

Orange – Teacher will contact parent (phone call/note home) and add a step to the discipline

                           ladder.

            Pink – Office Referral

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch and Breakfast

 

The St. James Parish School District will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of their income.  However, if your child will bring lunch to school, please make sure all foods and drinks are in sealed containers.  Soft drinks, candy and/or sugary snacks are not allowed in the cafeteria. If you send a lunch that needs to be assembled (Lunchables), please make sure your child can put the lunch together.

 

 

Daily Snacks

 

The St. James Parish School District will provide free snacks for all pre-k students.  The snacks will consist of a healthy mini-meal at no cost to parents.  For birthdays, students will be allowed to bring cupcakes/juice after making arrangements with the teacher.  Arrangements have to be made in case of multiple birthdays on the same day, special occasion, etc.

 

 

Bookworm Logs

 

Bookworm logs are sent home to promote reading at home.  Studies indicate that reading to a child at an early age is an important factor in a child’s academic success; therefore, we encourage all children to participate.

 

A “BOOKWORM” log will be sent home in the communication folder.  (See page 11 for an example of the bookworm log.) There are 10 blank lines on this sheet for you to list books that you have read aloud to your child.  When the sheet is completely filled, return it to school in the communication folder.  Your child will receive a sticker on his/her reading incentive card in the classroom to show that 10 books have been read. When a child returns a completed Bookworm log, he/she will receive a new sheet. This process will continue until May.

 

The top students from each class who have read the most books will receive a certificate and be recognized at the preschool program in May.  We view this as a stepping-stone toward the Accelerated Reader Program that is used to enhance reading skills in grades upper grades.  We encourage you to help your child become an active reader by reading to your child daily while he/she is still in the formative years.

 

 

 

 

Field Trips

Field trips are an integral part of the preschool learning experience.  These trips are planned to enhance the learning process and build a foundation for future learning.  We strive to make these trips as enjoyable and safe as possible so that each child can reap all the benefits of each experience.  To ensure the safety of all the preschoolers and to make the field trips an enjoyable experience for everyone, we ask that parents and chaperones follow a few basic rules.

 

1. Please read and return ALL forms and money in a timely manner.  Pay attention to due dates on forms.  In some instances we may need a chaperone count (and sometimes payment for each adult) in order to make reservations for our class to attend an event.  Some places require a chaperone count weeks in advance so please be diligent when looking at your child’s notices.  If you do not respond by the due date, you will not be in our chaperone count for the trip and will not be able to attend the trip. There will be NO exceptions.
2. All chaperones must have their driver’s license scanned at the front office before going on their first field trip.
3. Adults not on the approved chaperone list will not be able to attend a preschool field trip.
4. NO siblings/non-Paulina preschool children are allowed on field trips.  We have many preschool children to monitor, and we need chaperones to be focused on the students without any added distractions. (This includes infants.) Parents in violation will not be allowed to attend future trips.
5. Chaperones will not ride the bus for field trips.  Parents must follow the bus in their own vehicles.  Carpooling is encouraged.
6. If you sign up to be a chaperone, you may be asked to help watch other children besides your own.  If you feel this will be an imposition, please refrain from volunteering to be a chaperone.
7. The same rules that the students must follow at school must also be followed on field trips.
8. No food or drinks can be consumed on the bus.  Do not send snacks on a field trip.
9. Visiting the souvenir shops are prohibited while students are present.
10. Parents are asked to dress appropriately for field trips.  A good option would be to purchase the pre-k field trip shirt.
11. Students must wear either field trip shirts or school uniform shirts.  Uniform bottoms must be worn.
12. Appropriate chaperone behavior is expected, which includes refraining from smoking and cursing, and using a cell phone excessively. Parents in violation will not be allowed to attend future trips.

 

Please understand that these rules are to ensure the safety of your child. Keeping your child free from harm is a serious matter, and we hope you will work with us to make these field trips as safe as possible.

 

FIELD TRIPS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE!

 

 

 

Additional Reminders

 

• All preschool students must wear the required uniform everyday unless it is a designated dress down day.  If your child is not properly dressed, you will be notified. (See handbook for uniform violations and consequences).  Please note the proper shoe wear for students. 
• Girls are to wear shorts or bloomers under their dress/skirts.
• Shirts are to be tucked in at all times, and shoes are to be tied before coming to school.
• Make-up, lip gloss or play “dress-up” accessories are prohibited.
• Have your child visit the bathroom before coming to school.
• Toys are also prohibited at school.  Watches are considered toys. However, there may be special days when a child can bring a special toy to school.  A note will be sent home on these days.
• Keep all expensive jewelry at home.  If your child wears earrings, please speak to them about keeping them on their ears. We will not be responsible for lost jewelry.
• If birthday invitations are sent to school, there must be an invitation for all students.
• Medicine is not to be sent to school with your child.  All medication needs to be accompanied with a doctor’s order and brought to the office by an adult. 

 

 

 

 

We hope this gives you an idea of what will be expected of you and your child during this year. Thank you for your cooperation in making this a wonderful year!