2017-2018ParentHandbook
751 SW 121st Ave Davie, FL 33325 954.424.5070 (director) 954.424.5059 (preschool room) [email protected]
YoungAtArtMuseumPreschool2017-2018ParentHandbook
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TABLEOFCONTENTS
I.INTRODUCTION
A.ProgramOverview/Whatwebelieve• ArtInfluencesLearning• ArtandLiteracy• ArtistStudies• AuthenticArtandMusic
B.InvolvingFamilies
• IntheProcess• CultureandTraditions• ConsciousDiscipline
C.SchoolReadiness
• FloridaEarlyLearningDevelopmentStandards• BrowardCountyPublicSchoolKindergartenexpectations
D.MuseumPreschoolLearningEnvironment
• Days&HoursofOperation• DailySchedule
II.ADMISSIONSA.AgeRequirementB.HowtoRegisterC.AnnualTuitionIII.PROGRAMPOLICIESA.ChildDropoff&PickUpB.BirthdaysC.Uniforms/DresscodeD.OpenDoorPolicyE.SecurityF.ChildAbuseMandatoryReportingG.MedicalInformation
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I.Introduction
A.ProgramOverview
WelcometotheYoungatArtMuseumPreschool.TheMuseumPreschoolemploysanart&literacyfocused,museum-based,experiential,educationalpre-schoolprogramdesignedtopreparechildrenforkindergarten.
Whatwebelieve…
• ArtInfluencesLearning
Mostpeopleareawarethatartenhancesachild’screativity,imagination,andself-esteem,butdidyouknowthatartalsoinfluencesintellect,criticalthinking,andlearning?
Ourcurrenteducationsystemplacesgreatemphasisonacademicdevelopment;asaresult,artprogramsarereducedoreveneliminated.When,inreality,ifwearetotrulyimproveacademicachievementastrongerfocusonartisnecessary.Arteducatorsandchilddevelopmentspecialistsrecognizethattheartsarenota"frill"orenrichmentactivity;artisbasictothefoundationsoflearning.
Throughart,childrenlearncomplexthinkingskillsandmasterdevelopmentaltasks.Artengagesachild'ssenses&emotions,hisbodyandmind,todevelopcognitive,social,emotionalandsensory-motorskills.Artcanalsobeacooperativelearningexperiencethatprovidespleasure,challenge,andasenseofaccomplishment.
Artprovideschildrenopportunitiestopracticeskillswithinadevelopmentalstagewithalltheirsenses…learning,experimentingandeventuallymasteringtheskill,attheirownrate.
Artisanoutstandingtoolforteachingnotonlydevelopmentalskills,butalsoacademicsubjectssuchasmath,science,cultureandliteracy.Themosteffectivelearningtakesplacewhenchildrendosomethingrelatedtothetopictheyarelearning.Whenchildrenstudyanygivenconcept,theylearnitbetterandretainitlongeriftheydoartthatreinforcesthatlearning.ThisinformationhasbeenrecognizedbyteacherssincethetimeofConfucius,whenhesaid:
"IhearandIforget.IseeandIremember;IdoandIunderstand."
• Artpromotesliteracy
YAAisamuseumandpubliclibrary,fromthedesignofthebuildingtotheactivitywithinit;weunderstandtheprofoundeffectthatthemeldingofArt&Literacycanhaveonchildren&families.
Whenchildrenlistentostoriesandviewartisticillustrationstheydevelopexpressiveandreflectiveskillsthatenhancestorytellingandfuturecreativewriting,promoteprintawareness,spatialrelationskills,visualliteracy,andverbalcreativity.Arttoolssuchaspaintbrushes,claycuttingutensils,crayonsandmarkersintroducepre-writingexperiences,asearlylearnersgrasptoolsthatlaterhelpthemholdapencilforwriting.
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• ArtStudies&Shows
AttheMuseumPreschool,on-going,structuredartprojectsintroducechildrentofamousartists,arttechniquesandrealartmediums.Regularlyscheduledartexhibitsdisplaychildren’sworkintrueart-galleryformat!
• AuthenticArtandMusic
TheMuseumPreschoolbelievestheenvironmentisthe“thirdteacher”intheroom.Childrenbenefitfromexposuretodisplaysofprofessionalartandbeautifulmusic.Solisten,youwillhearclassicalmusic,cultural/ethnicinternationalbeatsandlivelyrhythmstoaccompanythechildren’sday.Similarly,theartworkdisplayedaroundtheroomiseithertheworkofchildren,displayedinarespectfulartisticmanner,or“real”artbyrealartists.
Childrenloveartbecauseit'sfunandprovidesthemwithauthenticself-expression:Thefreedomofchoice,thought,andfeeling.AtYAAweunderstandthatartalsoteachesimportantskillsforlivinganddevelopsyoungminds…joinusastheart-venturebegins…
B.InvolvingFamilies
• It’stheProcess
TheYAAcurriculumincorporatesartacrossthecurriculumandalsoencouragesartasafamilyactivity&value.Parentsareencouragedtoenjoytheirchild'sartinvariousways-atshows,inclassroomdisplaysandinindividualartportfolios.Weoftenhearparentsgetexcitedabouttheirchild'sartandtalkabouthowsurprisinglybeautifulitis.Whileproductsareoftenstunning,wecallattentiontotheprocess.Itistheprocessofdoingartthatissoimportanttolearning.Weinviteeveryfamilytoexpandtheirvalueofartandtokeepartsuppliesathome,designateahouseholdareafor"messyart,"andbecomemoreinvolvedgenerallyinart.
• CultureandTraditions
AtYoungAtArtMuseumPreschoolwechoosetocelebrateallchildrenenrolledinourprogram,theirfamiliesandtheirbackgrounds.Inordertodothis,weinviteeachfamilytosharealittleaboutthemselvesthroughouttheyear(yourclassroomteacherwillsupplyasign-upcalendarforthispurpose).Thismightmeansharingaspecialfood,atraditionalethniccelebrationoraculturallysignificantartprojectwithchildren.Eachwayyouchoosetoshareaboutyourfamilywillhelpchildrenunderstandtheirfriendsandthusacceptdifferencesinallpeople.
• ConsciousDiscipline
TheMuseumPreschoolstrivestofosteranenvironmentoflove,trust,creativity,andrespect.Withthisinmind,weinviteparentstolearnwithusandtheirchildrenabouttheconceptsandprincipalsinherentintheConsciousDisciplinetechniqueofinteractingwitheachother.
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ConsciousDisciplineisacomprehensivepreschoolprogramthatintegratessocial-emotionallearninganddiscipline.ConsciousDisciplineempowersadultstoconsciouslyrespondtodailyconflict,transformingitintoanopportunitytoteachcriticallifeskillstochildren.ConsciousDisciplineisevidence-based,andwasnamedasanationalmodelforcharactereducationbytheFloridaStateLegislature.
• Parent/TeacherCommunication
Webelievethatgoodcommunicationbetweenparentsandteachersisessentialforthesuccessofourstudentsandourschool.Goodparent/teachercommunicationwillensurethatweareabletoidentifyandmeettheneedsofourstudentsandtheexpectationsoftheirparents.
Inadditiontotheongoingdialoguebetweenparentsandteachersregardingdailyschoolhappenings,wewillalsoutilizevariousotherformsofcommunicationtokeepparentsinformedaboutindividual,class,andschoolnews.Thefollowingaresomeofthewaysinwhichwewillcommunicateevents,progress,andgeneralnewsaboutourstudentsandourpreschool:
o Email:Teacherswilluseemailtorelayinformationtoparentsaboutissuessuchasschoolclosings,reminders,schoolnews,andannouncementsforspecialactivitiesatthepreschool.AllteachershaveYoungatArtMuseumemailaccounts,andparentsmayemailtheirchild’steachersatanytimewithquestionsorconcerns.
o Telephone:Allteachersandstaffareavailabletospeakwithparentsbytelephonewhenneeded.Parentswillbeprovidedwithallrelevantpreschoolphonenumbers.
o Conferences:Parentsmaysignupforone-on-oneconferenceswiththeirchild’steacherstodiscussdevelopmentalprogressandsetindividualgoals.Conferenceswillbeofferedtwiceayear.
o PreschoolEvents:Openhouses,familyactivities,andspecialeventswillalsoprovideparentswiththeopportunitytoengageinfurtherdialoguewiththeirchild’steachers.
o ParentQuestions,Suggestions,andConcerns:Weencourageparentstodiscussanyquestionsorconcernstheymayhavewiththeirchild’steachersandthepreschooldirector.Wedoaskparentstoreservediscussionofmoredetailedmattersforafterschoolhours,sothattheteachersmayensurethesafetyofthechildrenduringclasstimeandoffertheirfullattentiontoparentconcerns.Weencourageparentstoshareanyrelevantinformationconcerningtheirchildthatwillhelpteacherstobettermeetthatchild’sneeds,suchasmajorchangesinafamilysituationorrecentchangesinthechild’sbehaviorordisposition.
C.SchoolReadiness
• FloridaEarlyLearningandDevelopmentStandards
Whendevelopingcurriculum,lessonplansandactivitiesforchildrentheMuseumPreschooladherestotheFloridaEarlyLearningandDevelopmentStandards.TheStandardshelptoguideteachersastheyplanintentionalandappropriateexperiencesforyoungchildrenbasedonanunderstandingofeachchild’sdevelopmentalaccomplishmentsandanticipatednextsteps.Toviewthesestandardsgotohttp://www.floridaearlylearning.com/EarlyLearning/Documents/Policy-ProposedRules/Form_OEL-SR_30_Child_Peformance_Standards_(Workshop)_02-17-12.pdf
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Florida’sEarlyLearningandDevelopmentStandardsareorganizedintofivedomains,weaddressthesedomainsasweworkwithyoutomonitoryourchild’sgrowthanddevelopment.
o PhysicalDevelopmento ApproachestoLearningo SocialandEmotionalDevelopmento LanguageandCommunicationo CognitiveDevelopmento GeneralKnowledge
VPKchildrenwillbeassessedthreetimesayear:inthefall,winter,andspring.AllscoreswillbesubmittedtoELCBroward,aswellasaprintoutthatwillbegiventoyou.
• BrowardCountyPublicSchoolKindergartenexpectations
Wealsomonitoranddocumenteach4-year-oldchild’sprogresstowardtheBrowardCountyPublicSchoolschool-readinesscriterion.UponenteringKindergarten,teachersliketosee5-year-oldswhocan…
o Countoutloudto10o Recognizenumbers0-10o Recognizecapitalandlowercaselettersofthealphabeto Recognizethesoundthateachletterofthealphabetmakeso Recognizeanddrawthe4basicshapes–circle,square,triangle,rectangleo Recognizeandwritetheirfirstname(startingwithuppercase,followedbylowercase)o Button,zipandbegintotieo Colorwithcrayonsandcutwithscissorso Uselisteningskills:Payattentionandfollowdirectionso Understandsharingandtakingturns
D.MuseumPreschoolLearningEnvironment• DaysandHoursofoperation8:30–3:00Monday–Friday,everydaytheBrowardCountyPublicschoolsareopen
o VPKHours8:30-11:30am&12:30-3:30pm3:00–6:00Aftercareisofferedforanadditionalcost
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Daily Schedule Time Activity Description
8:30 – 9:00 Arrival/ Table Top Activities
Families drop off children, speak to teachers and say good-bye as children settle in to table top activities.
9:00 – 9:15
Circle Time / Music
Children will welcome each other, sing good morning songs, calendar activities, and bathroom time.
9:15 – 9:45
Museum Exploration
Each day the children will take a guided tour of a different area of the museum. The children will get hands-on experiences with art and expression.
9:45 – 10:00 Snack All food comes from home for healthy and happy nutritional experiences.
10:00 – 10:15 Circle Time A special time to share poems & songs, play rhythm instruments, read a story, and participate in movement games. Circle time provides a time for listening, developing attention span, promoting oral communication, and learning new concepts and skills such as letters, numbers, and words.
10:15 – 11:15 Learning Centers
Small group and individual choice throughout the classroom: language, dramatic play, science/discovery, math/manipulative, art, computers, blocks.
11:15 – 11:30 Story Time &
Literacy Learning
Using various verbal and printed strategies, teachers help children discuss and write about their daily adventures and learning experiences. This time serves as a review and reinforcement for learning as well as practice in language development, prewriting and emergent reading skills.
11:30 – 12:00 Playground Time to exercise muscles and expend energy! (Physical Motor Development)
12:00 – 12:30 Lunch
Lunch is an aesthetic, social, language development & learning experience. Teachers eat with children and engage in casual discussions about nutrition and etiquette.
12:30 - 1:30 Relaxation Time
Quiet time for relaxation. Children are encouraged to choose quiet activities to do on their mats. Relaxation music is played while children look at books, rest, or sleep.
PRESCHOOL Art Institute Time Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
1:30-2:30 Library Art Cooking/Nutrition Science Technology 2:30-3:00 Playground
Time / Goodbye
Our school day ends on the outdoor playground. Families will pick up by 3:00 pm, but are welcome to stay longer to play under parental supervision.
3:00 – 6:00 Aftercare Aftercare is available for an additional cost for any families who may need care until 6:00 pm.
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II.Admissions
A.AgeRequirement
Childrenmustattaintheageof3bySeptember1,2014,andbefullytoilettrainedinordertobeaccepted
intoourprogram.Childrenmustattaintheageof4bySeptember1,2013tobeeligibleforVPK.
B.HowtoRegister• FillinChildEnrollmentForm• Submitregistrationfee• Fillinandsubmitall11formslistedonthe“Child’sFileChecklist”• Request“Blue&Yellow”formsfromyourchild’spediatricianandsubmitthemBEFOREyourchild’s
firstdayofattendance.• ReceiveParentHandbookandsubmitlastpage,signed.• ForVPK,obtainaVPKvoucherfromELCBrowardandsubmitwithenrollmentpaperwork
C.Tuition
• A$150registrationfeeisduewithChildEnrollmentForm• A$500depositisduebyJuly1st,2017.Thiswillbeappliedtothefirstmonth’stuition.• YAApreschooltuitionisbasedonannualenrollment.Pleaseseeregistrationformforpayment
options.• Cancellationsmade30dayspriortofirstdayofschoolyearwillreceivearefund(lessa$100
administrationfee)intheformofaYAAGiftCard.Registrationfeesarenon-refundable• Therearenorefunds,transfersormake-upsforabsence,withdrawals,no-shows,ordismissals.
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III.PROGRAMPOLICIES
A.ChildDropoff&PickUp
• 8:30amInordertoeasethedailytransitionfromhometoschool,theMuseumPreschoolrequiresfamiliestoparkandcomeintothebuildingtodropchildrenoff;signthemin,haveinformaldiscussionswithteachersandsaygoodbyeinanunrushedatmosphere.Allchildrenmustbeintheclassroompriorto9am.
• 3:00pmAttheendoftheday,again,familiesshouldparkandcomeintothebuildingtosignchildrenout.Onlythoseauthorized,inwriting,willbeallowedtopickchildrenup.Preschoolerswhoarepickedafter3:00pmwillbeautomaticallychargedalatefeeof$5.00plus$1.00perminute.
• SecurityPassword:Youwillbeaskedtosupplyasecuritycode,awordorshortphase,onyourregistrationform.Ifyoucalltoaddsomeonetoyourauthorizedpick-uplistwewillaskyouyoursecuritycodetoverifyyouridentity.
B.Birthdays
Birthdaysareacknowledgedasspecialdaysforindividualchildren.Duetoallergies,dietaryconcernsandtimelimitationspartiesarenotcelebratedinclass.
Ifyousendbirthdaypartyinvitationstobedistributedatschool,theremustbeoneforeverychildintheclass.
C.Dress
Forsecuritypurposesandtoeasefamilymorningroutines,theYoungatArtMuseumPreschoolhasauniformpolicyofaYAApoloshirtandKhakibottoms.UniformshirtsareforsaleintheYAAShop;khakishorts,pantsorskortsareacceptableandreadilyavailableinanydepartmentoruniformstore.
Whileweoffersmocks,pleaseremember,inanart-basedcurriculumthelikelihoodforpaint,clayandothermaterialsstainingclothingisalwaysapossibility.
D.OpenDoorPolicy
AnyBrowardCountychildcarefacilitymustprovideparentaccess,inpersonandbytelephone,tothechildcarefacilityduringthefacility'snormalhoursofoperation.Ourfacilityisopentoyouandourclassroomphonenumberis954-424-5059.
E.Security
Themuseumpreschooltakesyourchild’ssecurityseriouslyandemploysseveralsecuritymeasurestoensuretheirsafetyatalltimes.
• Onlyyouorthoseauthorizedbyyouinwriting,willbeallowedtosignyourchildoutofschool;untilwegettoknowyou,youwillbeaskedforidentificationeachtimeyoupickupyourchild.
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• Themuseumhouses50securitycamerasmonitoredbyalivesecurityguardfrom8amto6pmdailyandrecordupto30daysofvideo.• Thepreschoolroom,theplaygroundandallparkingareasareunderconstantcamerasurveillance.• Alivesecurityguardisondutyallhoursthepreschoolisopen.• Thepreschoolroomhasasecuritycodekey-padsothatonlythoseauthorizedcangainentrytotheroom.• Preschoolchildrenwillonlyenterpublicspaceswhenthemuseumisnotopentothepublic(before10am).• Allpreschoolstaffhavebeenthoroughlybackground-screenedbyBrowardCountyChildCareLicensingandEnforcement.
F.ChildAbuseMandatoryReporting
Teachersaremandatoryreportersofsuspectedchildabuse.Ourstaffistrainedtodetectsignsofabuseinchildren.Ifwesuspectabuseorneglectinthehome,wemust,bylaw,notifytheFloridaAbuseHotline.
G.MedicalProcedures
• MedicalEmergencyIntheeventofanextrememedicalemergency,YoungatArtMuseumstaffwillcontactemergencymedicalpersonnelandwillthencontactthechild’sparentorguardian.Basedonmedicalpersonnel’sassessment,yourchildmaybetransportedtoalocalhospitaltoreceivefurthermedicalattention.EmergencyMedicalpersonnelwillnothonorrequeststobringchildrentospecifichospitals,doctorsormedicalestablishments.• MedicalInformationParentsarerequiredtonotifyYAAMuseumPreschoolofspecificmedicalconditions,chronicbehavioralproblemsandallergiesattimeofenrollment.• MedicationIfyourchildmusttakemedicationduringschoolhours,themedicationmustbepackedinasealedcontainer,clearlylabeledwithyourchild’sname,age,medication,dosageandtime.Medicationwillbestoredinalockedcabinetinthepreschoolroom.Onestaffmemberisassignedtoadministermedication.H.Extremebehavior(i.e.hittingorbiting)
Wemustconsiderthesafetyandsecurityofallchildrenandstaff.Ifyourchildhasextremebehaviorissues,includinganyactionthatcouldordoesresultininjurytothemselves,otherchildren,volunteersorstaffwewill:
1stoffense– Sendhomeanincidentreportwithawritten“1stoffensewarning”.2ndoffense– Callateacher/parent/directorconferencewithawritten“2ndoffensewarning”.3rdoffense– Writtennoticethatifthereisonemoreoffensechildwillbeaskedtoleaveschool.4thoffense– Immediateremoval*fromYoungatArtMuseumPrograms
*Norefundsaregivenifchildisdismissedduetobehaviorissues.
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ReceiptofYoungatArtMuseumPreschoolParentHandbook
__________________________________________Date
ThisistoverifythatI,____________________________________________,havereadandagreetoabidebytheYoungatArtMuseumPreschoolParentHandbook.
__________________________________________Child’sName
__________________________________________Parent’sSignature