ICOLPH PRESCHOOL HANDBOOK
Welcome to Immaculate Conception Our Lady of Perpetual Help Preschool Program.
Our preschool mission is to be committed to the physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and social development of each student in our program. To create a
learning environment that fosters creativity, develops self-esteem and self-reliance, builds relationships and provides opportunities to acquire the skills needed to enter Kindergarten. Each student is prepared for future school life socially, spiritually and academically.
This is an important beginning of your student’s school life. The coming year will
be filled with many changes for you and your student. You will watch your student grow and gain independence, make new friends and acquire new skills. Our goal is
to work in partnership with you to ensure that the experience is fun and
memorable while cherishing the individuality of your student.
You are the primary teacher for your student. We look forward to working with you
to ensure that your student will have a fun and rewarding beginning to their school career. Thank you for choosing Immaculate Conception Our Lady of Perpetual Help Preschool program and sharing your child with us.
Health & Wellness
Please follow the health and wellness policy in the “Family Handbook”. Children
who are ill must be kept at home until they have recovered sufficiently to return to the regular routine of school. Please do not send a child who is
not feeling well to school! If a child develops a fever at school, we will
notify the parent to pick up their child immediately. It is school policy to keep a student home for at least 24 hours after fever or flu symptoms
have subsided. We do not have the facilities to care for sick children. When a
child becomes ill or is injured at school, the parent will be notified by a school staff person. If a parent cannot be reached, the emergency numbers will be called.
Celebrations
Birthdays - We look forward to celebrating each student’s birthday as close to the actual day of their birthday as possible. You are welcome to send treats to help celebrate this special day! Some treat suggestions are rice crispy treats, cookies or fruit snacks. We will celebrate June, July, and August birthdays on their half birthday. Please remind the teacher a few days in advance. Please follow the school policies regarding birthdays, “Family Handbook”. Invitations to home
birthday parties are not to be passed out at school unless the student is inviting
every boy or every girl in the class. By remembering this policy you can help
create an environment in which all of the students feel a valued part of the group.
Snacks
Please send a small snack that is nutritious and easy for your child to eat. Some ideas for healthy snacks are: cheese sticks, crackers, apple slices, bananas, grapes, lunch meat, carrot sticks, granola bars, fruit bars and fruit snacks. We have a
water cooler in our preschool classroom; water will be served at snack time for
your child’s enjoyment. Please do not send a beverage with your child to preschool. If you ever forget a snack, we have extra snacks available. Please
let the students teacher know about any allergy information regarding
your student.DO NOT SEND CANDY, COOKIES OR DESSERT TYPE SNACKS.
Uniform Information
All preschool students are required to wear the school uniform. Basic uniform is a white collared shirt and navy blue pants, shorts, jumper or skort. Shoes should be closed toe and closed heel. Boots are not recommended. Sandals and high heels are not acceptable. Socks are required – white or blue, girls can
wear white or blue socks, tights or blue leggings with skirts. Shorts are required for girls wearing jumpers or skirts. School sweatshirt or sweater are optional for preschool students. Please mark your child’s coat and belongings with his/her name.
*Please place an extra set of clothing in a gallon zip lock bag and leave in your child’s backpack, just in case of accidents. We realize that this may
and can happen and is normal for preschool children. We suggest navy
blue bottoms and a white shirt. Please include underclothing and socks. Your child should be able to change their clothing independently.
Free Dress Policy: Non-uniform dress will be allowed on days designated as “free dress” on the school calendar or explained in a letter home from the principal. We follow the school policy for “free dress code”, in the family handbook.
Drop Off/Pickup’s
Please bring your child promptly at the designated start time and pick your child promptly at the designated departure time. Please make a note in the remarks column of the sign/sign out sheet and notify the teachers if there will be someone other than the parents picking your child up or if there are changes to their
standard routine. We will need to have the, "Parent Permission Form" on hand
before we can release your child to someone other than his/her parent/guardian.
The morning preschool classes will meet in designated morning carpool line and preschool staff will walk them to the classroom. The morning preschool classes
will be picked up at their designated classrooms at the designated time. The afternoon preschool students will be brought to their designated classroom by
their parent/guardian and the preschool staff will walk students to the carpool
area at their designated departure time.
Classroom News-Communication
A newsletter will be sent home periodically with information regarding the exciting things we have participated in and learned as well as upcoming information.
Please let the teacher know any information that is important to our child’s well being. All parent-teacher information is kept confidential. Please communicate any concerns immediately as they rise. Please refer to the “Family Handbook”.
Classroom Management
We strive to acknowledge positive behavior and provide gentle reminders to help promote appropriate behavior. Our classroom rules revolve around safety and
loving one another.
child to another activity. Sometimes gentle reminders are necessary. In some
cases, a child may need to take a moment at the carpet or appropriate place to
gain control of their emotions. Usually re-entry into the group is left up to child, example – “You may join us when your ready.”
Emergency Kits
Each student will need to supply an emergency kit to be kept at school all year. In the case of an emergency, your child will remain at school until the parent or
guardian is able to safely pick up the child.
Emergency Phone Number
If you have an emergency and need to contact the school during the school day, please call the main school phone# 425-349-7777. They are more than happy to contact us if necessary.
Winter Weather Procedures
School closures due to inclement weather or any other emergency situation will be communicated through the school communications center as well as through the
radio and TV stations assigned to ICOLPH School. Refer to Family Handbook.
Tune in to the local news channels for updates and/or check the school website at www.ic-olph.org for updated information.
Parent Information/Preschool Web Page
There is a parent information board located in the hallway. This board will display current newsletters, informative handouts and developmental preschool information. There is a preschool web page that can be accessed through the school website; www.ic-olph.org, click classrooms, click preschool, this should bring you to the preschool web page. This page will be updated periodically and will contain information regarding upcoming activities, classroom news, curriculum information, and other information. Information may also be sent via email or hard copy in your students backpack.
Curriculum
Faith Development
We use the curriculum recommended by the Archdiocese, it is called “God Made the World”. In this curriculum, the student learns that God made living things,
including people, holy things, the earth, and other wonderful surprises. A unique aspect of God’s creation is the main focus of each chapter. Religion curriculum will also coincide with liturgical celebrations and will include bible stories as well as
hands on activities. A developmentally appropriate approach using a variety of methods and techniques ensures that the Good News is conveyed in ways suited to different learning styles. Periodically, we may visit Immaculate Conception Church
to pray and discuss the liturgical changes in church environment. Prayer will be included at circle time, especially to pray our special intentions. Students will learn the correct way to do the sign of the cross as well as become familiar with “The
Lord’s Prayer.”
Social and Emotional Development
A child-play centered environment encourages children to develop a strong positive self-concept, appropriate self-control and growth in their awareness of their responsibilities. Students learn social interaction while getting to know new friends as well as learning to share and take turns. Students learn to use their words to express themselves. Students learn tools to cope with frustration. Students are learning to recognize when their friends are
frustrated and how to understand and help their friends through their emotions.
Literacy
Our curriculum is grounded in the importance of literacy development. We offer materials, activities and interactions that nourish literacy. Students experience the
joy of a storybook, develop alphabet, phonetic awareness and participate in developmentally appropriate writing activities. Our preschool “Handwriting Without Tears” program focuses on how to hold a pencil correctly, writing letters from top to bottom and left to right, and using big/little lines and big/little curves to make
upper case letters. Students will learn to write their name beginning with a capital letter and the rest in lower case letters.
Mathematics
Students learn number sequence through play and song. The students learn mathematical concepts through singing and counting using hand motions. Students learn subtraction and addition concepts with interactive poems; they learn number recognition as well. Students learn about patterns and shape through group interaction as well as during free choice, literature and projects. Students are working on pattern sequence at small group time as well as addition and
subtraction concepts during story time.
Science
Students experience using various materials and textures in the sensory table on a daily basis. Student’s experience the effects of adding colors as well as shaving
crème to water and watching the effects. Students experience floating and sinking concepts. Students experience using various textures and materials to cut, glue
and create artwork. Students experience mixing various colors and using various textures while painting and creating artwork.
Large Motor Skills/Music & Motion
Large motor skill development is encouraged through daily inside or outside play. Students will explore music through language and literacy, large motor skills, as
well as musical instruments. Students will learn mathematical consepts and vocabulary through musical interaction.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences are available as needed at any time. There are formal parent-teacher conferences for the entire school in November as well as in March as needed by the teacher or parent/guardian. Parents/guardians will receive a
portfolio of their student’s progress three times a year. The first portfolio will be
give at the November conferences, the second will be given before the March conference time and the third at the end of the school year (PreK). Parents will receive a portfolio in November at their conference time (Pre 3's).
Parent Volunteer Information
Parents are welcome to attend classroom celebrations as well as field trips. All
parent volunteers are required to take “The Safe Environment Class”- this is
required by the Archdiocese of Seattle, information is on their website, www.seattlearch.org as well as a background check. The teacher will notify parents/guardians of volunteer opportunities as needed throughout the year.
Field Trips
The preschool program will be attending various field trips throughout the year.
We encourage parents to accompany their student on our field trips. All parents who would like to attend a field trip with their child need to complete the following: 1. Background check 2. Complete the “Call to Protect” class.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns at anytime, please contact us at Tina Sauer (Pre 3-Teacher) or Kari Hopper (PreK AM & PreK PM-Teacher) [email protected].
Welcome to Immaculate Conception Our Lady of Perpetual Help Preschool Program.
Our preschool mission is to be committed to the physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and social development of each student in our program. To create a
learning environment that fosters creativity, develops self-esteem and self-reliance, builds relationships and provides opportunities to acquire the skills needed to enter Kindergarten. Each student is prepared for future school life socially, spiritually and academically.
This is an important beginning of your student’s school life. The coming year will
be filled with many changes for you and your student. You will watch your student grow and gain independence, make new friends and acquire new skills. Our goal is
to work in partnership with you to ensure that the experience is fun and
memorable while cherishing the individuality of your student.
You are the primary teacher for your student. We look forward to working with you
to ensure that your student will have a fun and rewarding beginning to their school career. Thank you for choosing Immaculate Conception Our Lady of Perpetual Help Preschool program and sharing your child with us.
Health & Wellness
Please follow the health and wellness policy in the “Family Handbook”. Children
who are ill must be kept at home until they have recovered sufficiently to return to the regular routine of school. Please do not send a child who is
not feeling well to school! If a child develops a fever at school, we will
notify the parent to pick up their child immediately. It is school policy to keep a student home for at least 24 hours after fever or flu symptoms
have subsided. We do not have the facilities to care for sick children. When a
child becomes ill or is injured at school, the parent will be notified by a school staff person. If a parent cannot be reached, the emergency numbers will be called.
Celebrations
Birthdays - We look forward to celebrating each student’s birthday as close to the actual day of their birthday as possible. You are welcome to send treats to help celebrate this special day! Some treat suggestions are rice crispy treats, cookies or fruit snacks. We will celebrate June, July, and August birthdays on their half birthday. Please remind the teacher a few days in advance. Please follow the school policies regarding birthdays, “Family Handbook”. Invitations to home
birthday parties are not to be passed out at school unless the student is inviting
every boy or every girl in the class. By remembering this policy you can help
create an environment in which all of the students feel a valued part of the group.
Snacks
Please send a small snack that is nutritious and easy for your child to eat. Some ideas for healthy snacks are: cheese sticks, crackers, apple slices, bananas, grapes, lunch meat, carrot sticks, granola bars, fruit bars and fruit snacks. We have a
water cooler in our preschool classroom; water will be served at snack time for
your child’s enjoyment. Please do not send a beverage with your child to preschool. If you ever forget a snack, we have extra snacks available. Please
let the students teacher know about any allergy information regarding
your student.DO NOT SEND CANDY, COOKIES OR DESSERT TYPE SNACKS.
Uniform Information
All preschool students are required to wear the school uniform. Basic uniform is a white collared shirt and navy blue pants, shorts, jumper or skort. Shoes should be closed toe and closed heel. Boots are not recommended. Sandals and high heels are not acceptable. Socks are required – white or blue, girls can
wear white or blue socks, tights or blue leggings with skirts. Shorts are required for girls wearing jumpers or skirts. School sweatshirt or sweater are optional for preschool students. Please mark your child’s coat and belongings with his/her name.
*Please place an extra set of clothing in a gallon zip lock bag and leave in your child’s backpack, just in case of accidents. We realize that this may
and can happen and is normal for preschool children. We suggest navy
blue bottoms and a white shirt. Please include underclothing and socks. Your child should be able to change their clothing independently.
Free Dress Policy: Non-uniform dress will be allowed on days designated as “free dress” on the school calendar or explained in a letter home from the principal. We follow the school policy for “free dress code”, in the family handbook.
Drop Off/Pickup’s
Please bring your child promptly at the designated start time and pick your child promptly at the designated departure time. Please make a note in the remarks column of the sign/sign out sheet and notify the teachers if there will be someone other than the parents picking your child up or if there are changes to their
standard routine. We will need to have the, "Parent Permission Form" on hand
before we can release your child to someone other than his/her parent/guardian.
The morning preschool classes will meet in designated morning carpool line and preschool staff will walk them to the classroom. The morning preschool classes
will be picked up at their designated classrooms at the designated time. The afternoon preschool students will be brought to their designated classroom by
their parent/guardian and the preschool staff will walk students to the carpool
area at their designated departure time.
Classroom News-Communication
A newsletter will be sent home periodically with information regarding the exciting things we have participated in and learned as well as upcoming information.
Please let the teacher know any information that is important to our child’s well being. All parent-teacher information is kept confidential. Please communicate any concerns immediately as they rise. Please refer to the “Family Handbook”.
Classroom Management
We strive to acknowledge positive behavior and provide gentle reminders to help promote appropriate behavior. Our classroom rules revolve around safety and
loving one another.
- Hands and feet are kept to each individual
- Listen to teacher and one another
- Use inside voices in the classroom
- Walk in the classroom
- Be helpful and caring to your classmate
child to another activity. Sometimes gentle reminders are necessary. In some
cases, a child may need to take a moment at the carpet or appropriate place to
gain control of their emotions. Usually re-entry into the group is left up to child, example – “You may join us when your ready.”
Emergency Kits
Each student will need to supply an emergency kit to be kept at school all year. In the case of an emergency, your child will remain at school until the parent or
guardian is able to safely pick up the child.
Emergency Phone Number
If you have an emergency and need to contact the school during the school day, please call the main school phone# 425-349-7777. They are more than happy to contact us if necessary.
Winter Weather Procedures
School closures due to inclement weather or any other emergency situation will be communicated through the school communications center as well as through the
radio and TV stations assigned to ICOLPH School. Refer to Family Handbook.
Tune in to the local news channels for updates and/or check the school website at www.ic-olph.org for updated information.
Parent Information/Preschool Web Page
There is a parent information board located in the hallway. This board will display current newsletters, informative handouts and developmental preschool information. There is a preschool web page that can be accessed through the school website; www.ic-olph.org, click classrooms, click preschool, this should bring you to the preschool web page. This page will be updated periodically and will contain information regarding upcoming activities, classroom news, curriculum information, and other information. Information may also be sent via email or hard copy in your students backpack.
Curriculum
Faith Development
We use the curriculum recommended by the Archdiocese, it is called “God Made the World”. In this curriculum, the student learns that God made living things,
including people, holy things, the earth, and other wonderful surprises. A unique aspect of God’s creation is the main focus of each chapter. Religion curriculum will also coincide with liturgical celebrations and will include bible stories as well as
hands on activities. A developmentally appropriate approach using a variety of methods and techniques ensures that the Good News is conveyed in ways suited to different learning styles. Periodically, we may visit Immaculate Conception Church
to pray and discuss the liturgical changes in church environment. Prayer will be included at circle time, especially to pray our special intentions. Students will learn the correct way to do the sign of the cross as well as become familiar with “The
Lord’s Prayer.”
Social and Emotional Development
A child-play centered environment encourages children to develop a strong positive self-concept, appropriate self-control and growth in their awareness of their responsibilities. Students learn social interaction while getting to know new friends as well as learning to share and take turns. Students learn to use their words to express themselves. Students learn tools to cope with frustration. Students are learning to recognize when their friends are
frustrated and how to understand and help their friends through their emotions.
Literacy
Our curriculum is grounded in the importance of literacy development. We offer materials, activities and interactions that nourish literacy. Students experience the
joy of a storybook, develop alphabet, phonetic awareness and participate in developmentally appropriate writing activities. Our preschool “Handwriting Without Tears” program focuses on how to hold a pencil correctly, writing letters from top to bottom and left to right, and using big/little lines and big/little curves to make
upper case letters. Students will learn to write their name beginning with a capital letter and the rest in lower case letters.
Mathematics
Students learn number sequence through play and song. The students learn mathematical concepts through singing and counting using hand motions. Students learn subtraction and addition concepts with interactive poems; they learn number recognition as well. Students learn about patterns and shape through group interaction as well as during free choice, literature and projects. Students are working on pattern sequence at small group time as well as addition and
subtraction concepts during story time.
Science
Students experience using various materials and textures in the sensory table on a daily basis. Student’s experience the effects of adding colors as well as shaving
crème to water and watching the effects. Students experience floating and sinking concepts. Students experience using various textures and materials to cut, glue
and create artwork. Students experience mixing various colors and using various textures while painting and creating artwork.
Large Motor Skills/Music & Motion
Large motor skill development is encouraged through daily inside or outside play. Students will explore music through language and literacy, large motor skills, as
well as musical instruments. Students will learn mathematical consepts and vocabulary through musical interaction.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences are available as needed at any time. There are formal parent-teacher conferences for the entire school in November as well as in March as needed by the teacher or parent/guardian. Parents/guardians will receive a
portfolio of their student’s progress three times a year. The first portfolio will be
give at the November conferences, the second will be given before the March conference time and the third at the end of the school year (PreK). Parents will receive a portfolio in November at their conference time (Pre 3's).
Parent Volunteer Information
Parents are welcome to attend classroom celebrations as well as field trips. All
parent volunteers are required to take “The Safe Environment Class”- this is
required by the Archdiocese of Seattle, information is on their website, www.seattlearch.org as well as a background check. The teacher will notify parents/guardians of volunteer opportunities as needed throughout the year.
Field Trips
The preschool program will be attending various field trips throughout the year.
We encourage parents to accompany their student on our field trips. All parents who would like to attend a field trip with their child need to complete the following: 1. Background check 2. Complete the “Call to Protect” class.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns at anytime, please contact us at Tina Sauer (Pre 3-Teacher) or Kari Hopper (PreK AM & PreK PM-Teacher) [email protected].