Parent Handbook
Table of Contents
Introduction
Program Description
Structure
California Licensing
Hours of Operation
General Program Information
Birthdays
Clothing
Cubbies
Transition Times
Health, Safety and Nutrition
Illness & Medication
Vision & Hearing Screening
Allergies
Daily Sign In
Child Release
Emergency Procedures
Child Abuse
Nutrition
Enrollment Policies
Admission
Immunizations
Attendance
Late Pick Up
Discipline Policies
General
Biting
Parent Involvement
Communication
Special Programs
Parent Disputes
Parent Library
Introduction
Program Description
The Rosebud Preschool of the Presbyterian Church of the Roses welcomes all children regardless of race, creed or national origin. Our purpose is to
provide a caring, nurturing and safe place for children between the ages of two years until kindergarten. Our multi-age classroom provides your child with unique learning opportunities. Emphasis is on enjoying the environment, indoors and outdoors, by exploring a variety of activities within the limits established by the teaching staff. Planned experiences enable the children to grow emotionally, socially, intellectually, physically and spiritually using their natural abilities, interests and temperaments to develop positive feelings about themselves and their world.
Structure
We are a privately owned outreach program of the Presbyterian Church of the Roses (PCOR). The PCOR School Board oversees the operation of
Rosebud Preschool.
California Licensing
The preschool is licensed for children ages two years until kindergarten. Rosebud Preschool has been licensed by the State California since September 2004. We are in compliance with the Regulations of Title 22. Please feel free to contact Community Care Licensing, Social Services Dept., 101 Golf Course Drive, Suite A230, Rohnert Park, CA 94928-1718, (707) 588-5026, if you have any questions about our school.
Hours of Operation
The preschool is open year round, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
There are two program options. There is a morning enrichment program from 9:00 AM to 12 Noon with extended hours from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. In addition, there is a full day program from 8 AM until 4:30 PM.
General Program Information
Birthdays
These are special days at Rosebud. Parents may bring a special treat to celebrate the occasion. Please talk to a teacher in advance so we can give you an accurate child count for the day. We celebrate by reading a special Rosebud birthday card to the child and the whole class gathers together to
sing.
Clothing
We encourage you to send your child in sturdy, washable clothes because we will be painting, enjoying messy projects and playing hard outside.
Please label all clothes with your child’s name. Between the number of children
attending and similar looking clothing, it can be difficult to determine
ownership.
Cubbies
Your child will have a cubby to keep their belongings in during the day. They may share with another child. Please check the cubby at the end of each day. We use the cubbies as a means of communication with the families and you will find your statement, newsletters and other notes in the top portion of the cubby. A small plastic container is used to hold an extra change of clothes including socks, underwear, pants and a shirt. Please exchange these clothes as the weather changes and your child changes size. If your child is in diapers or toilet training, they will have an additional container in the bathroom to hold diapers and pull-ups.
Transition Times
Some children (and all children on some days) may feel insecure about coming to preschool. A positive, matter-of-fact attitude from the parents
can help ease fears. The teachers are available to help with the transition into the classroom. Please talk with one of them if you need assistance at any time or want to talk about a plan to help with your child’s transitions. We have a lot of experience and ideas about what might help.
At the end of the day, please allow your child a few minutes to finish what they are doing and separate from friends. Establishing a routine for
departure is as important as the morning routine.
Health, Safety and Nutrition
Illness and Medication
The staff will dispense medication only with written consent by the parent. All medications must be clearly labeled with the child’s name. This includes diaper cream. It is the parent’s responsibility to apply sunscreen.
Parents are responsible for keeping a child home when there is any doubt about a child’s health. A child that does not feel well enough to
participate comfortably in the day’s activities needs to remain at home. Please keep children at home if they have: a contagious infection, a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, heavy continuous nasal discharge or a constant cough. A child must be free from all symptoms for 24 hours before returning to the
program.
Every child will have a current Consent for Medical/Dental Treatment form (LIC 627) on file in the case of emergencies.
Vision and Hearing Screening
The Sonoma County Assistance League will come to the center and offer vision and hearing screenings to all four and five year olds and any three
year olds who are capable of participating in the screening.
Allergies
Please make sure that the staff knows of any allergies that your child may have including food, insect, medication and animal allergies. We
accommodate food allergies but may request that a family provide their child’s snack if we feel we cannot adequately protect the child.
Daily Sign in
Parents are required by law to sign their children in and out each day. The person will use a full legal signature when signing in/out and
will record the time of day. If a person from the authorization list picks up the child, photo identification may be required. If an alternate not on the
authorization list needs to pick up the child, written notice will be given to the center at drop off.
Child Release
In addition to the normal sign in and out procedures, the director or staff member in charge may deny access to an adult whose behavior
presents a risk to the children present in the facility and may deny access to noncustodial parents or guardians if so requested by the responsible parent.
If the parent or person authorized by the parent appears to be physically and/or emotionally impaired to the extent that, in the judgment of the director and/or staff member, the child would be placed at risk of harm if released to such an individual, the center will ensure that:
- The child is not released to such an impaired individual;
- Staff members attempt to contact the child’s other parent or an alternative person authorized by the parent;
- Staff members offer alternatives that will ensure the child goes home safely;
- If alternative arrangements are not possible, a staff member will contact the police or other authorities to ensure the safety of the child staff and other persons involved.
Emergency Procedures
Rosebud has an emergency plan that will go into effect in the event of an emergency or disaster. Your child will be cared for until you are able to pick him/her up.
In the event that the building must be evacuated, you will be notified of the new location. The Church of the Roses main building and the Boys and Girls Club are our designated alternative sites.
Child Abuse
As early childhood professionals, we are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse.
Nutrition
The preschool and parents will provide mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks. Children who participate in the afternoon and full day programs
will bring lunches from home.
Enrollment Policies
Admission Policies
Students may enroll at any time through the year, provided space is available. When an opening becomes available, families on the wait list will be notified according to the date of application with priority given to current children and their siblings. We reserve the right to offer available spaces based on the needs of the school including morning only versus full day spots, balance between boys and girls, balance between older and younger children, and/or to maintain diversity in our classrooms.
Pre-Admission Requirements:
* Signed and dated copy of the Admissions Agreement
* Completed registration form
* Registration fee
* First month’s tuition payment
State forms:
* In addition, the following state licensing forms must be completed and on file:
* Notification of Parent’s Rights (LIC 995)
* Personal Rights (LIC 613A)
* Identification and Emergency Information (LIC 700)
* Consent for Emergency Medical Treatment (LIC 627)
* Child’s Preadmission Health History (LIC 702)
* Physician’s Report (LIC 701)
* Up to date immunization record
Immunizations
California School Immunization Law requires that children receive a series of immunizations before entry to schools, childcare centers, or family
childcare homes. The following immunizations are required for preschool age children:
3 Polio
4 DTaP
3 Hep B
1 MMR, on or after the first birthday
1 Hib, on or after the first birthday
1 Varicella (chickenpox)
The law no longer allows parents/guardians to choose exemptions from immunization requirements based on their personal beliefs unless the parents submitted a signed exemption prior to January 1, 2016.
Attendance
Children may attend only on those days and for those hours that they are enrolled. Rescheduling and exceptions may be arranged with the director
in advance.
Late Pick Up
The morning enrichment program ends promptly at 12:00 pm. The extended morning program ends promptly at 1:00PM. Children must be picked up by these times or a late fee will be charged. There is an additional late charge if pick up is more than 15 minutes beyond the scheduled time. Full day children need to be picked up promptly by 4:30 p.m. After 4:30, you will owe $1.00 per minute per child. You will be billed and the money will go directly to the closing staff. This policy must be enforced to allow the teachers to complete their closing responsibilities before they leave.
Discipline Policies
General Policies
Limits are established to assure the safety and well-being of all children and inappropriate behaviors are redirected in a positive way.
Disruptive behavior is normal at certain stages of development. Teachers understand this and will take responsibility for stopping unacceptable
behavior until children are able to do so for themselves.
It is clearly understood that corporal punishment is a violation of personal rights and will not be administered under any circumstances.
Biting Policy
We want to insure that each child is safe while in our care. While it is upsetting, biting is not unexpected when children are in groups. Toddlers, in particular, are prone to bite for many reasons. They may bite out of frustration, when they are teething or when they are not feeling well. Sometimes they bite when experiencing strong emotions – even happy ones. No one can predict which children will bite, but we are ready to help those who do
learn other behavior.
Rosebud’s biting policy addresses the way we work to prevent biting and how we respond to it when it does happen.
First, we try to offer a calm and cheerful environment that offers a variety of activities (both stimulating and soothing). We provide multiples of toys so that favorites are readily available. We model appropriate behavior and work with the children to teach them to use words to express their feelings. We foster conflict resolution skills and help the children learn to communicate their needs.
Second, if a bite does occur, we help the child who was bitten. The wound is washed and ice is applied if the child agrees. We help the child calm down and reenter play when they are ready. If your child is bitten, you will receive an incident report and a teacher will talk with you when you come
to pick up your child. We also respond to the child who did the biting. We tell the children that biting is not acceptable. Our exact response will vary based on circumstances including the age of the child, but message will always be that biting is not okay. We help the child learn appropriate behaviors. The parents of the child that bit will also receive an incident report. Confidentiality of all children will be maintained. If your child is biting at home, please let us know so that we can be consistent in dealing with it.
Third, the teachers and director will look closely at the context of the biting incident for patterns to prevent further biting behavior. If the child bites again, the teachers will develop an action plan designed to address the possible causes. The plan will focus on keeping all the children safe. The
details of the plan will be shared with the parents of the child who is biting. The plan may include “shadowing” the child who is biting, creating smaller
groups to decrease noise or activity levels or having additional staff present during transition times.
We will make every effort to make the program work for the biting child. We will try to end the behavior quickly while balancing our commitment to
both family of the biting child and the other families. Toddler action plans will generally last longer than for preschool age children. If the action plan
does not resolve the problem, the parents will be asked to withdraw their child from the program.
Parent Involvement
Communication
We believe that a good working relationship between the teachers and parents is an important part of each child’s experience at Rosebud. Parents are
invited to visit the Center any time during its operation. Please let us know if you have questions about your child’s day or would like more information about what is happening in the classrooms. If it is during a transition time, we can give a short answer right then or schedule a time when we can sit down and talk in depth. A parent – teacher conference can be requested at any time during the year by the parent or teacher. Parents are encouraged to read the current newsletters (distributed at school and available on the Rosebud website) and the class bulletin boards. A Rosebud Today notice is posted each day with information about the day’s activities and snack. A parent bulletin board is available for parents to post information they want to share with other families.
Special Programs
We have two annual events. The Fall Festival is held the Saturday prior to Halloween and an Easter Egg Hunt the Saturday prior to Easter. These are open to family and friends. In addition, we hold other community building events throughout the year such as Dine and Donate nights, Parent Education nights, and Family Nights.
Parent Disputes
Resolution may be pursued first through the Director, the School Board, and finally, the Community Care Licensing Agency.
Parent Library
A selection of books is available for check out in the entrance area bookcase. The subjects range from child development and parenting to arts and
crafts.
To download a copy of the Parent Handbook
Introduction
Program Description
Structure
California Licensing
Hours of Operation
General Program Information
Birthdays
Clothing
Cubbies
Transition Times
Health, Safety and Nutrition
Illness & Medication
Vision & Hearing Screening
Allergies
Daily Sign In
Child Release
Emergency Procedures
Child Abuse
Nutrition
Enrollment Policies
Admission
Immunizations
Attendance
Late Pick Up
Discipline Policies
General
Biting
Parent Involvement
Communication
Special Programs
Parent Disputes
Parent Library
Introduction
Program Description
The Rosebud Preschool of the Presbyterian Church of the Roses welcomes all children regardless of race, creed or national origin. Our purpose is to
provide a caring, nurturing and safe place for children between the ages of two years until kindergarten. Our multi-age classroom provides your child with unique learning opportunities. Emphasis is on enjoying the environment, indoors and outdoors, by exploring a variety of activities within the limits established by the teaching staff. Planned experiences enable the children to grow emotionally, socially, intellectually, physically and spiritually using their natural abilities, interests and temperaments to develop positive feelings about themselves and their world.
Structure
We are a privately owned outreach program of the Presbyterian Church of the Roses (PCOR). The PCOR School Board oversees the operation of
Rosebud Preschool.
California Licensing
The preschool is licensed for children ages two years until kindergarten. Rosebud Preschool has been licensed by the State California since September 2004. We are in compliance with the Regulations of Title 22. Please feel free to contact Community Care Licensing, Social Services Dept., 101 Golf Course Drive, Suite A230, Rohnert Park, CA 94928-1718, (707) 588-5026, if you have any questions about our school.
Hours of Operation
The preschool is open year round, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
There are two program options. There is a morning enrichment program from 9:00 AM to 12 Noon with extended hours from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. In addition, there is a full day program from 8 AM until 4:30 PM.
General Program Information
Birthdays
These are special days at Rosebud. Parents may bring a special treat to celebrate the occasion. Please talk to a teacher in advance so we can give you an accurate child count for the day. We celebrate by reading a special Rosebud birthday card to the child and the whole class gathers together to
sing.
Clothing
We encourage you to send your child in sturdy, washable clothes because we will be painting, enjoying messy projects and playing hard outside.
Please label all clothes with your child’s name. Between the number of children
attending and similar looking clothing, it can be difficult to determine
ownership.
Cubbies
Your child will have a cubby to keep their belongings in during the day. They may share with another child. Please check the cubby at the end of each day. We use the cubbies as a means of communication with the families and you will find your statement, newsletters and other notes in the top portion of the cubby. A small plastic container is used to hold an extra change of clothes including socks, underwear, pants and a shirt. Please exchange these clothes as the weather changes and your child changes size. If your child is in diapers or toilet training, they will have an additional container in the bathroom to hold diapers and pull-ups.
Transition Times
Some children (and all children on some days) may feel insecure about coming to preschool. A positive, matter-of-fact attitude from the parents
can help ease fears. The teachers are available to help with the transition into the classroom. Please talk with one of them if you need assistance at any time or want to talk about a plan to help with your child’s transitions. We have a lot of experience and ideas about what might help.
At the end of the day, please allow your child a few minutes to finish what they are doing and separate from friends. Establishing a routine for
departure is as important as the morning routine.
Health, Safety and Nutrition
Illness and Medication
The staff will dispense medication only with written consent by the parent. All medications must be clearly labeled with the child’s name. This includes diaper cream. It is the parent’s responsibility to apply sunscreen.
Parents are responsible for keeping a child home when there is any doubt about a child’s health. A child that does not feel well enough to
participate comfortably in the day’s activities needs to remain at home. Please keep children at home if they have: a contagious infection, a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, heavy continuous nasal discharge or a constant cough. A child must be free from all symptoms for 24 hours before returning to the
program.
Every child will have a current Consent for Medical/Dental Treatment form (LIC 627) on file in the case of emergencies.
Vision and Hearing Screening
The Sonoma County Assistance League will come to the center and offer vision and hearing screenings to all four and five year olds and any three
year olds who are capable of participating in the screening.
Allergies
Please make sure that the staff knows of any allergies that your child may have including food, insect, medication and animal allergies. We
accommodate food allergies but may request that a family provide their child’s snack if we feel we cannot adequately protect the child.
Daily Sign in
Parents are required by law to sign their children in and out each day. The person will use a full legal signature when signing in/out and
will record the time of day. If a person from the authorization list picks up the child, photo identification may be required. If an alternate not on the
authorization list needs to pick up the child, written notice will be given to the center at drop off.
Child Release
In addition to the normal sign in and out procedures, the director or staff member in charge may deny access to an adult whose behavior
presents a risk to the children present in the facility and may deny access to noncustodial parents or guardians if so requested by the responsible parent.
If the parent or person authorized by the parent appears to be physically and/or emotionally impaired to the extent that, in the judgment of the director and/or staff member, the child would be placed at risk of harm if released to such an individual, the center will ensure that:
- The child is not released to such an impaired individual;
- Staff members attempt to contact the child’s other parent or an alternative person authorized by the parent;
- Staff members offer alternatives that will ensure the child goes home safely;
- If alternative arrangements are not possible, a staff member will contact the police or other authorities to ensure the safety of the child staff and other persons involved.
Emergency Procedures
Rosebud has an emergency plan that will go into effect in the event of an emergency or disaster. Your child will be cared for until you are able to pick him/her up.
In the event that the building must be evacuated, you will be notified of the new location. The Church of the Roses main building and the Boys and Girls Club are our designated alternative sites.
Child Abuse
As early childhood professionals, we are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse.
Nutrition
The preschool and parents will provide mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks. Children who participate in the afternoon and full day programs
will bring lunches from home.
Enrollment Policies
Admission Policies
Students may enroll at any time through the year, provided space is available. When an opening becomes available, families on the wait list will be notified according to the date of application with priority given to current children and their siblings. We reserve the right to offer available spaces based on the needs of the school including morning only versus full day spots, balance between boys and girls, balance between older and younger children, and/or to maintain diversity in our classrooms.
Pre-Admission Requirements:
* Signed and dated copy of the Admissions Agreement
* Completed registration form
* Registration fee
* First month’s tuition payment
State forms:
* In addition, the following state licensing forms must be completed and on file:
* Notification of Parent’s Rights (LIC 995)
* Personal Rights (LIC 613A)
* Identification and Emergency Information (LIC 700)
* Consent for Emergency Medical Treatment (LIC 627)
* Child’s Preadmission Health History (LIC 702)
* Physician’s Report (LIC 701)
* Up to date immunization record
Immunizations
California School Immunization Law requires that children receive a series of immunizations before entry to schools, childcare centers, or family
childcare homes. The following immunizations are required for preschool age children:
3 Polio
4 DTaP
3 Hep B
1 MMR, on or after the first birthday
1 Hib, on or after the first birthday
1 Varicella (chickenpox)
The law no longer allows parents/guardians to choose exemptions from immunization requirements based on their personal beliefs unless the parents submitted a signed exemption prior to January 1, 2016.
Attendance
Children may attend only on those days and for those hours that they are enrolled. Rescheduling and exceptions may be arranged with the director
in advance.
Late Pick Up
The morning enrichment program ends promptly at 12:00 pm. The extended morning program ends promptly at 1:00PM. Children must be picked up by these times or a late fee will be charged. There is an additional late charge if pick up is more than 15 minutes beyond the scheduled time. Full day children need to be picked up promptly by 4:30 p.m. After 4:30, you will owe $1.00 per minute per child. You will be billed and the money will go directly to the closing staff. This policy must be enforced to allow the teachers to complete their closing responsibilities before they leave.
Discipline Policies
General Policies
Limits are established to assure the safety and well-being of all children and inappropriate behaviors are redirected in a positive way.
Disruptive behavior is normal at certain stages of development. Teachers understand this and will take responsibility for stopping unacceptable
behavior until children are able to do so for themselves.
It is clearly understood that corporal punishment is a violation of personal rights and will not be administered under any circumstances.
Biting Policy
We want to insure that each child is safe while in our care. While it is upsetting, biting is not unexpected when children are in groups. Toddlers, in particular, are prone to bite for many reasons. They may bite out of frustration, when they are teething or when they are not feeling well. Sometimes they bite when experiencing strong emotions – even happy ones. No one can predict which children will bite, but we are ready to help those who do
learn other behavior.
Rosebud’s biting policy addresses the way we work to prevent biting and how we respond to it when it does happen.
First, we try to offer a calm and cheerful environment that offers a variety of activities (both stimulating and soothing). We provide multiples of toys so that favorites are readily available. We model appropriate behavior and work with the children to teach them to use words to express their feelings. We foster conflict resolution skills and help the children learn to communicate their needs.
Second, if a bite does occur, we help the child who was bitten. The wound is washed and ice is applied if the child agrees. We help the child calm down and reenter play when they are ready. If your child is bitten, you will receive an incident report and a teacher will talk with you when you come
to pick up your child. We also respond to the child who did the biting. We tell the children that biting is not acceptable. Our exact response will vary based on circumstances including the age of the child, but message will always be that biting is not okay. We help the child learn appropriate behaviors. The parents of the child that bit will also receive an incident report. Confidentiality of all children will be maintained. If your child is biting at home, please let us know so that we can be consistent in dealing with it.
Third, the teachers and director will look closely at the context of the biting incident for patterns to prevent further biting behavior. If the child bites again, the teachers will develop an action plan designed to address the possible causes. The plan will focus on keeping all the children safe. The
details of the plan will be shared with the parents of the child who is biting. The plan may include “shadowing” the child who is biting, creating smaller
groups to decrease noise or activity levels or having additional staff present during transition times.
We will make every effort to make the program work for the biting child. We will try to end the behavior quickly while balancing our commitment to
both family of the biting child and the other families. Toddler action plans will generally last longer than for preschool age children. If the action plan
does not resolve the problem, the parents will be asked to withdraw their child from the program.
Parent Involvement
Communication
We believe that a good working relationship between the teachers and parents is an important part of each child’s experience at Rosebud. Parents are
invited to visit the Center any time during its operation. Please let us know if you have questions about your child’s day or would like more information about what is happening in the classrooms. If it is during a transition time, we can give a short answer right then or schedule a time when we can sit down and talk in depth. A parent – teacher conference can be requested at any time during the year by the parent or teacher. Parents are encouraged to read the current newsletters (distributed at school and available on the Rosebud website) and the class bulletin boards. A Rosebud Today notice is posted each day with information about the day’s activities and snack. A parent bulletin board is available for parents to post information they want to share with other families.
Special Programs
We have two annual events. The Fall Festival is held the Saturday prior to Halloween and an Easter Egg Hunt the Saturday prior to Easter. These are open to family and friends. In addition, we hold other community building events throughout the year such as Dine and Donate nights, Parent Education nights, and Family Nights.
Parent Disputes
Resolution may be pursued first through the Director, the School Board, and finally, the Community Care Licensing Agency.
Parent Library
A selection of books is available for check out in the entrance area bookcase. The subjects range from child development and parenting to arts and
crafts.
To download a copy of the Parent Handbook
| 2013_handbook.docx |