Sunshine School - Policies

	Sunshine School in Oro Valley, Inc. A Not-For-Profit Preschool and Child Care Organization	9000 N Oracle Road Suite 204 Tucson, AZ 85704 520-742-6874

Policies
There are many different policies that govern the behavior of children, teachers, and parents at Sunshine School. For the sake of simplicity, we organized them into the following categories: Discipline Policy Peanut Policy Bullying Policy Operating Policies Resting Policy Accident and Medical Policies
Discipline Policy We have high expectations for our children. They may not hit, break toys, climb on furniture, and be loud or rude. Staffers speak to children with respect and model behavior that is friendly and courteous. We think the Golden Rule applies to all ages. When children misbehave, we speak to them about alternative behaviors and empathetic responses. Time out/away is used whenever necessary: the child is removed from the situation so that she/he may become calm. (If the child remains uncooperative and disruptive, we will call you to come take her/him home; we'll try again the next day.) When children have conflicts, we intervene with the approach recommended by the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation (they have also helped shape our curriculum). A synopsis of this approach follows: Approach calmly, stopping any harmful actions Acknowledge children's feelings Gather information Restate the problem Ask for ideas for solutions & choose one together Be prepared to give follow-up support Peanut Policy Because Sunshine accepts students with severe allergies, please be aware that we need the flexibility to alter food policies annually. As of January 1, 2010, children will be allowed to bring peanut butter sandwiches for the 2010-2011 school year. Bullying Policy Bullying will not be tolerated at Sunshine School. What is bullying? From The Bully-Free Classroom: "Bullying is when a stronger, more powerful person hurts or frightens a smaller or weaker person deliberately and repeatedly." When we see this happen or have reports of this happening, we will intervene. We'll work with the children who are involved so that the bullying will end. The parents will also be notified. If the situation cannot be resolved, the bullying child will be asked to leave Sunshine. Operating Policies Communication: Sunshine sends its newsletters, calendars, and announcements to our families via e-mail. (If you do not own a computer, we'll make arrangements to print your material.) This is one of Sunshine's endeavors to reduce, reuse, and recycle. FreeCycle Program: to help eliminate waste, we've begun to "FreeCycle." (You can find a world-wide website with the same name. We're copying the concept here.) Under the front ramada, you'll find a metal board. When you have good, usable, items to give away, write a simple note & clip it to the board. Someone, hopefully, will respond via a note on your attendance page. If it's convenient for you & Sunshine, you could drop off & pick up items when you bring your child to school - how helpful is that?! Other areas of importance under the front ramada: we have a large mailbox where parents return our children's library books. You'll see laminate display areas with children's art and/or articles for parents to read. We have a small, flip-top mail box to collect used eyeglasses and cell phones (they'll be donated and reused, gratefully.) When you see material in the magazine rack, take a free copy. Transportation: Sunshine offers no transportation to/from other destinations. We are, however, a regular bus stop for Harelson Elementary School (Amphitheater District), so if your child will attend Harelson, speak with us. Your daughter/son would be eligible to return to Sunshine in the afternoons (and we'd like that.) We do not take trips with the Sunshine kids. Sometimes, we go on supervised walks in the surrounding desert. Because the Health Dept. considers these excursions to be "field trips," teachers will ask you to complete a field trip consent form whenever the children walk off-site. You'll find triangular shelves behind the staff entrance door where you may store your child's car seat for the day. Label the seat. Attendance: if your child is ill or won't be attending, do call early in the a.m. - we worry. Do not bring a sick child to school; we'll send him / her right back home with you. If a child becomes ill during the day, he / she will be isolated & we'll call you ASAP. Use only the Main Gate to enter school at any time of day. If no one is in attendance at the gate, ring the door bell which is on the right side of the gate. Please be certain that the gate is securely closed after you enter and exit. Thanks. An adult signs a child in/out by writing the adult's name (not initials) & the time of admission/release on the proper attendance page. We also expect to see an "ETA" (Estimated Time of Arrival) and any other pertinent daily info (today's phone #, etc.) written on the right-hand column of the page. If necessary, sign your child onto the resting list. Take any information from the clear plastic pocket. Thanks. Sunshine assumes that parents give the staff permission to sign their children in and out of the program. THIS IS A GREAT BENEFIT TO YOU! For instance, if you're transporting a sleeping baby in addition to your Sunshiner, give us a call. We'll meet you at your vehicle; walk your preschooler into school; and sign the attendance book for you. (We use this same process on inclement days.) Make simple routines for leaving or picking up your child. Don't get drawn into "Just one more hug or kiss or snuggle or . . ." Be kind and firm and ask for our help, if necessary, and then walk out the door or gate. (In the beginning of the year, sometimes parents cry when they leave their sweeties. We kindly ask that you walk around the corner where your child cannot see you. Call us later for updates.) We do not accept phone calls from parents in which verbal authorization is given for a child to go home with another person WHO IS NOT LISTED ON YOUR CHILD'S REGISTRATION FORM. So think ahead: we must have written permission from you & we will insist on photo I.D. from your designated person. (We do accept your faxed and signed permission note.) Parents may fill out a green permission slip to allow another person one-time access to your child (to take her/him home or bring him/her to school.) The blank forms are in the front pockets of each attendance book. Children - and you - say goodbye to one another outside the gate. While parents are certainly welcome at Sunshine, it is important training for both of you to learn to part, and our gate is just the spot for that sweet sorrow. (After about 8 weeks, you'll wonder why this was ever a big deal. One dad used to wave to his daughters as they bounced happily into Sunshine, pleading "Miss me. . ." Kids walk all their own gear into and out of the building. It's their stuff and they should carry it. When it's time to leave us in the afternoon, insist that your child tidy up his projects before she/he leaves with you. It's the right thing to do. Food: Parents provide nutritious snacks & lunches & beverages for their children. Sunshine will always provide drinking water. In August of each year, Sunshine will be happy to give every child an insulated lunch sack which is color-coordinated to her/his class. (If the bag is lost, a replacement will cost $10.) We want to see fresh, minimally-processed foods for lunch and snack items, not candy and high-fat/highly processed convenience food. You'll also send a nutritious drink and include a frozen ice pack to keep the lunch bog cold. The bags will stay in kids' cubbies. If you ever forget to send a lunch, we'll furnish a light but nutritious lunch for $5.00. This is only for emergencies. Eating together is an important part of our teaching program. This is the time to find solutions to real-life dilemmas: What do you do if your friend has peanut allergies - and you have a peanut butter sandwich? Can you eat food that has fallen on the floor? Should you leave the table before others are finished eating? Lots of education takes place during meal and snack times. We also love to have guests, so join us whenever you're in the neighborhood. Because of allergies, children never share their food with others, and we do not allow purchased or home-baked treats for the children as part of birthday or other celebrations. However, we adults adore your home-made goodies! Please know that we'll always offer you hugs and smiles when you deliver homemade treats to us (and we'll never share with the children.) Class registration & placement: Sunshine's upcoming school-year class lists are usually filled by December of the previous year. We urge you to visit 3 or 4 other programs in addition to Sunshine; then, ask us many questions to be certain that we're the right place for your family. Unfortunately, because it's difficult to accept new children into Sunshine once the academic year has begun, we rarely have mid-year additions to our classes. (We will, however, register your baby for a Sunshine placement in the year 2013!) We place children in classes by their dates of birth AND by the parents' preferences for the number of days each week that the child can attend school (a 3-day, 4-day, 5-day, or pre-K program). Parents cannot select a particular teacher. Sunshine reserves the right to remove a child from school when the health, emotions, &/or safety of that child, the staff, or other children are in danger. We will document the activities that concern us, meet with the family and child, propose alternatives and solutions, and refer to other professionals. When either the parent or Sunshine decides the child is not progressing, dis-enrollment will occur. For families of children with special needs, please speak with the Director. We'll discuss your goals & our abilities as teachers. Together, we'll determine if & how best we can care for your child. We encourage your child's therapist, doctor, or evaluator to come to Sunshine to see how your child functions here. Please call the Director to make arrangements. Volunteering: If you're able and inclined to do so, volunteers are always welcome. The State Department of Health will allow parents 2 visits per academic year. If you wish to participate more often, speak with the Director about our Volunteer Program. While attaining the requirements to volunteer can seem daunting, the rewards are priceless. Charity work is meant to involve the children. Children and parents and school join together to furnish a lesson in compassionate activism in helping alleviate the needs of others. Families bring us used cell phones; we give them to the Brewster Center. We also collect no-longer-needed eyeglasses for Dr. Amy Davis; she dispenses them to villagers in Mexico. Books: August - May, you'll be able to go online and order Scholastic books for your children - good books, reasonably priced, and Sunshine earns credit toward free books for our children's library. Often, we collaborate with a representative of Barefoot Books, too, and you'll find their unique books at www.tucsonbarefootkids.com. We have many books for YOU in our Parents' Library. Ask us for help. We happily accept donations of good children's books for the Children's Library. Thank you. Clothing: All clothing needs to be easy-on & easy-off. Have you seen how far it is from the swings to the bathroom? Wet or soiled clothing will be bagged, labeled, and tossed into the stainless steel hamper near the staff entrance to school. We'll stamp your attendance page with a reminder to go fetch the bag. Please do so, promptly. You are to provide an extra change of clothing for your child. It will be kept in a private, labeled box. Refill as necessary. Odds & Ends: the children practice a fire drill every month @ Sunshine; you should have a monthly drill at your house, too. Backpacks aren't allowed @ Sunshine. They are often BIGGER than the child, and they don't easily fit into our little cubbies. Backpacks are great for going off to kindergarten. Your child's toys, games, dolls, jewelry, etc., stay home. Label everything that does come into school (homework, clothing, resting blankets, etc.) We have a Lost & Found basket near classroom #4; check it whenever something is missing. Sunshine is a "War Toys Free Zone." No weapons of any type come to school. See the Director if you wish to bring a live animal to school for "Show & Tell." We may have allergic children. Thanks for understanding. We know accidents happen, but if your child intentionally breaks our equipment, he/you will pay for the damage. Resting Policy Beginning January 1, 2010, all children who stay with us after 1 p.m. will lie down on our mats and rest until about 1:20 p.m. Some children will fall asleep and others just won't. We'll let the sleeping children continue to snooze until 2 p.m.; the other little ones will have quiet activities until that same time. (If you want your child to sleep past 2 p.m., let us know.) Accident and Medical Policies Emergency medical procedures for parents, quoted from the 1/13/95 Newsletter We had a real scare Tuesday when little Kimberly fell while running and gashed her forehead on the water fountain. Kimberly will be fine, but this accident gave us (children and staff) an opportunity to discuss what happens in an emergency. Probably 1/3 of the Tuesday Sunshine kids said they have had "stitches." We talked about all the blood and tears and being afraid - and about going to the hospital. In our staff meeting, we focused on keeping Sunshine as safe as possible. We also reviewed our First Aid procedures. We absolutely need your help! PLEASE: KEEP YOUR FILE UP-TO-DATE. MAKE CERTAIN WE HAVE A ROLODEX CARD WITH YOUR CURRENT PHONE NUMBERS. Minutes count when blood is flowing! It's your job to keep our information correct. Please ask for your file; change names, addresses, phone #s, doctors as needed. (In an emergency, I call your designated 1st & 2nd numbers listed on the registration form; then home &/or office numbers. Depending on the severity of the situation, I may call the relatives and friends listed on the back of your registration form.) When you are away from your usual phone number, let us know how we can reach you. We call 911 when we think the situation is critical. We will also call 911 after we use the Heimlich Maneuver on a child. We will make every attempt to call you firs if we can. We'll pad the edge of the water fountain. But I can't pad the world and accidents will happen. I hope you are reassured by the fact that nearly 90% of our staff are trained in both CPR & First Aid. Our facility is regularly inspected (& approved) by the State for safety and cleanliness. BUT, if you have a concern about Sunshine's safety, please speak with me - I'll listen. If I call you with an emergency, I'll suggest you grab a friend to help you (you can't drive and hold your injured child). Please be assured that a Sunshine staff will accompany you to whichever medical facility you select. (We just can't stay for an extended period of time.) So I guess the end of all this is: imagine an emergency at Sunshine. Your child is injured - and it's more than a Band-Aid can cover. Does your registration form give me current and correct information? Please come check your Sunshine file today. Be certain we know where you are and what you want done in an emergency. Speak with your children to reassure them that you (and the teachers) will always take good care of them. When accidents happen, everyone needs to be as calm and helpful and prepared as possible. Additional Medical Notes When a doctor prescribes antibiotics, a child may not return until 24 hours after the medication was begun. Also: a child may not return to Sunshine until 24 hours after his/her fever has reached its highest point ("spiked"). Even if a child is on antibiotics, he/she may not return until the fever (100o or more) is absent for at least 24 hours. If your child needs to take medication (OTC or prescribed), it must be brought to us in its original container, labeled with the child's full name. Beverly will have you complete a medication permit and we'll administer the meds as you have directed. The remainder will be returned to you at the end of the day. While sunscreen is no longer considered medication, we continue our policy of not dispensing sunscreen at school. Head Lice Policy, added to this section in March of 2007 >> The Sunshine staff will be vigilant to the outbreak of head lice in the community or within the Sunshine >> We will pay particular attention to children and adults who repeatedly scratch their heads throughout the day. >> We'll take these individuals aside to search for head lice. >> If lice are found, the child/adult will be isolated & sent home. Parents will be given instructions on how to treat (and possibly retreat) the infestation. >> A child may return to Sunshine after treatment & nit eradication. >> The child will be checked by a staffer as s/he reenters Sunshine. >> If the child is deemed safe, he may return to school. S/he will be closely observed for itching during the day(s). >> The child's parents will be called if reinfestation is suspected.