Welcome

We are delighted that you have taken the time to come along to our Preschool. This is the parent involvement we wish to encourage, in order to foster a true partnership between our families and our school community. In particular, we hope that this first year within our school community will be a happy and exciting experience for both you and your child.

Beginning Preschool is, as you know, an important step in your child’s life. Every child is different. Every child is special, with special needs, special interests and special characteristics. Your child is important to you, and important to us, and we need to work together to help them to grow, learn and develop, both as an individual and as a member of our school community.

We believe that parents are the primary educators of their children and it is our task to work in union with them to help our children to be nurtured and continue to develop to their full potential during their time with us.

I hope this handbook will help you and your child, to adjust readily and happily at this important time.

God bless

Laurence Hosking

Principal

Preschool Parent Handbook
CONTENTS

Welcome
Our Philosophy for Preschool
Our Goals for Preschool
Life At Preschool

How Children Learn from Various Activities
Information For Parents

Our Philosophy for Preschool!

• that children should be valued as individuals;
• that children need to feel safe, supported and happy all the time;
• that PLAYING and TALKING are the ways in which young children learn about themselves and the world around them;
• that all learning should be meaningful and fun;
• that children are actively involved in learning;
• that children learn through hands-on experiences;
• that children learn through taking risks, making mistakes and celebrating success;
• that what children CAN DO rather than what children cannot do are the starting points in their learning;
• that learning should cater for the needs and interests of individuals;
• that the process of learning is more important than the end product;
• that children develop their Spiritual, Social, Emotional, Physical and Cognitive skills at differing rates;
• all aspects of a child’s development are equally important and interwoven;
• that children need time and space to produce work of quality and depth;
• that children need to develop a sense of responsibility for their own learning;
• that children who are encouraged to think for themselves are more likely to act independently;
• that children learn from everything that happens to them and do not naturally separate their learning into subjects;
• that parents are the first educators of children and have a vital part to play in the establishment of their child’s learning environment.

• To foster the development of a healthy self-image which will assist the child to regard themselves as children of God, people who are important, good friends of classmates, good learners and eager participants in Preschool and whole school activities.

• To ensure that each child in our care fees safe, secure and loved.

• To develop in each child an active curiosity about the world and an enthusiasm for learning based on their own personal satisfaction and involvement.

• To provide opportunities for the children to build fundamental skills and acquire new information and knowledge.

• To provide opportunities to enable children to be expressive and creative through the use of language, physical activity, play materials, art and music.

• To develop the "whole child" socially, emotionally, spiritually, cognitively and physically.

• To ensure that parents and teachers work together in the interests of the individual child.

At St John’s Catholic Preschool, the staff see themselves as partners with parents in the faith education, as well as the general education of the child. Therefore, at St John’s we work together towards a P-3 concept and Early Childhood Education is seen as very important in the development of your child.

The Preschool program is planned to cater for each child’s interests and needs and to foster the development of certain abilities, attitudes and skills which will assist the child’s educational development.

At Preschool, children learn by participating in a great variety of activities both within and outside the Preschool grounds. The most natural way for a child of this age is to learn through play, by observation and by doing things themselves. This learning will be flexible in order to cater for the interests, needs and abilities of the children.

• express themselves and communicate with others;
• form basic concepts which help them understand their world;
• develop self-confidence;
• make friends;
• share and co-operate with others;
• develop physical skills and
• develop a positive attitude to learning.

Many people still remain unsure as to just what Preschool is all about. Preschool is not "child minding" – it is about the development of important skills – those which are needed in everyday living, in relationships with other people, and in being ready for school. We strive to have each child working to his or her full potential, in all areas, and to have them feel good about themselves, and the prospect of school.

A child’s play is his/her work. It is the one way he/she has of making sense of the world in which the child lives, and of developing the child’s skills – emotionally, socially, intellectually and physically. Due to the unique nature and capabilities of each child, we cannot expect them to have all reached the same level at the same time. What we can strive for though, is to capture the learning interests and curiosity of each child, through the educational experiences we offer, and through providing an environment in which the child feels free to explore and learn without fear of failure. Our staff are guided by the Preschool Curriculum Guidelines (1998).

As we are working towards developing all these skills in your child, we run a program around what is known as the "process-centred" approach – that is – what is extremely important is the process by which the child discovers and learns. If we can instil good ways of learning things now, it will certainly help them in their efforts at school, and all through life.

• provide an environment which is Christ centred and based on the gospel values;
• lead the children to a deep respect for their school and an understanding of their school motto, "True Before God, True Before All".
• provide a PLAY BASED learning environment, which encourages children to participate in concrete activities through active learning experiences and based on their interest and curiosity.
• create a learning environment which is welcoming, safe, fun and caters for the needs and interests of individuals;
• plan meaningful experiences which are based on our observation of individual children’s learning;
• support parents;
• be happy, smile a lot and celebrate all learning experiences – (no matter how big or how small);
• provide an environment where the children are able to think for themselves and learn with, and from one another;
• provide a program which is based on Developmentally Appropriate Early Childhood Teaching Practice and
• be in touch with and open to current Early Childhood trends and research.

When you visit your child’s Preschool, you will see a room full of children learning through play. We have prepared below an activities chart. On the left side we’ve listed typical things children do when they play in each area of the Preschool. On the right side we’ve listed the concepts and skills children actually develop from this play.

If you are going on holidays, or your child is ill, please contact the school and let us know. An unexplained absence of two weeks may mean that your child’s position is given to another child on our waiting list.

The school provides the opportunity for students to open and maintain accounts with the Commonwealth Bank. Tuesday is Banking Day. For every deposit made, St John’s receives a commission!

On this special occasion, you might like to send along a simply iced cake or small patty cakes so your child can share his/her birthday with friends. You are most welcome to stay with us for your child’s special day.

Please dress your child in clothing that is easily washed so that they may really enjoy the activities provided. Since these activities include clay, painting, sand and water play, do not ask your child to "stay clean" as this will inhibit participation. A spare set of clothes may be sent for emergencies. A St John’s Preschool t-shirt may be purchased through the Uniform shop – please enquire at the office.

A wide brimmed hat is an essential part of your child’s attire. Sun visors and caps are not suitable because of their limited protection. Think about purchasing a school hat from the Uniform Shop.

Suitable footwear is recommended. No thongs please.

CHILDREN’S REQUIREMENTS

• One small port or bag
• A plastic cup with a handle
• Lunches (healthy please. NO SWEETS/CHIPS)
• One library bag with drawstring top (40 cm x 40 cm) labelled with name
• A shady hat (with wide brim and elastic)
• A box of tissues (to be put out during the year and shared with the group)
• A spare set of clothes – named!
• Sheet set. Two sheets to fit mattress. Our mattresses measure

120 cm x 70 cm. One with elastic sewn across corners. To be kept in a drawstring sheet bag.

EXCURSIONS

Throughout the year small excursions will be organised for the children’s educational interests. Permission slips are a part of the enrolment form and so permission is not sought separately, however letters informing parents of the excursion are always sent home. Parents are advised well in advance of any planned excursions and always have the right to veto their child going on an excursion. Parent assistance for supervision may be necessary for the safety of the children and parents will be notified prior to the event.

Children with infectious disease must be excluded from Preschool for specified times. (Consult your child’s teacher if you need assistance here). If your child contracts German measles (Rubella) please inform the teacher immediately. The school policy follows the directions of the Qld Education Department concerning infectious diseases. Some procedures for parents include the following (an updated list is sent home each year):

• HIV/AIDS – all spilt blood to be effectively and appropriately cleaned up and the area to be disinfected.
• Impetigo (School Sores) – child to be kept home unless the sores have been treated by prescription. Sore must be covered by a watertight dressing.
• Measles and German Measles – child to be excluded for seven days after beginning of the rash.
• Mumps and Chicken Pox – child may return to school when he/she is feeling well again and the swelling or spots have gone.
• Pediculosis (Head Lice) – child to be excluded until effectively treated.
• Ringworm – child to be kept home until a medical certificate is received stating that the child is being treated.
• Whooping Cough – child to be excluded for four weeks.

In cases of minor ailments, parents are asked to use their own judgement about whether a child is fit to attend. If parents think a sickness is likely to worsen the child should be kept at home.

A child who becomes ill during a session will be removed from the group to rest in a quiet place – a parent or other contact as listed on the records will then be notified. However, the child will not be released to anyone other than the parent, except with the direct permission, either written or telephoned, of the parent.

The School Nurse will visit the Preschool during the year. The present policy is to screen the children for general health problems. School Health is an advisory service and no treatment is undertaken. After screening, some parents are interviewed to discuss any problems detected and/or advised to seek appropriate medical attention. The School Dental Van also visits the school and will carry out dental work on the children at your request.

Many important skills are developed by the children’s use of junk materials, and thus we need a constant supply of all sorts of junk;

The Preschool children will borrow from the school library each week for the purposes of establishing good library habits. The children will be required to bring their library bag for the events and your assistance will be required to bring their library bag for this event and your assistance will be required in the care and maintenance of our precious library books. If a book is damaged please DO NOT mend if yourself with sticky tape. We have special tape in the library for this purpose. Please advise us of any damage found in a book.

We love to have Parents at our Preschool as Parents play an important role in the Preschool program. Each parent has a unique set of talents and interests so don’t be shy about offering your assistance. (Be the kind of person you want your child to be!)

There are a number of ways you can assist us in providing your child with the best possible education at Preschool.

• Supporting and encouraging your child to develop a positive sense of self-worth
• Discussing any problems or worries directly with the teacher
• Visiting the Preschool and joining in the program
• Support the Parents and Friends Association
• Reading the newsletters and notice boards
• Collecting junk materials for use in collage and carpentry
• Offering to share any hobbies, interests or expertise you may have with the children (eg playing an instrument, pottery, cooking etc)
• Assisting with maintenance and beautification of the school grounds

Our Preschool aims to provide a program and environment that will assist the children begin to make a smooth transition from the naturalistic learning environment of the home to the more formal learning environment of the later years of primary school.

Parents are encouraged to participate in their child’s learning at the Preschool. To do this effectively it is important that the parents understand the educational objectives being pursued for their children.

PHONE CALLS

Contact with the Preschool is through the school office, which can connect you to the Preschool. The Principal has ultimate authority over our Preschool and most important inquiries must go through the office. The Preschool can be contacted through the school office at the school phone number (4978 1799). The office is open from 8.15 am – 3.30 pm.

Please feel free to phone the Preschool during lunch breaks if you have any concerns regarding your child. (First Break is usually from 10.40 am – 11.25 am and Second Break is from 1.25 pm – 1.45 pm). Feel sure that we will call you if we feel there is a need. (We are here to help you adjust to Preschool too!!)

The Preschool child must be brought to and collected from the Preschool by a responsible adult (normally the parent). The attendance register must be signed "in" and "out" each day.

If at any time you arrange for someone else to collect your child from Preschool, please inform the teacher of these arrangements before they occur.

We ask your complete co-operation on these matters for the sake of the children’s safety.

As part of our school family we welcome you and invite you to share any family news with us – happy or sad. The sharing of information helps to create community and an increased understanding of the behaviour patterns of the children. Additional excitement or stress can markedly affect children’s behaviour. It may help if we are informed. Any information of a confidential nature will be treated as such.

While we do not wish to dampen your child’s enthusiasm we would appreciate it if TOYS brought from home were limited to those received on SPECIAL OCCASIONS eg birthdays. Treasures can be lost and broken – please have your child leave them at home.

Your child is encouraged however to bring to Preschool any type of INTERESTING SPECIMEN/OBJECT eg rocks, shells, flowers, insects or animals to enrich the Science program or for Show and Tell.

Tame, friendly pets would be welcome on pre-arranged days or Show and Tell days.

Plants, shrubs or trees, potted or for outside would also be gratefully received.

Preschool classes commence at 8.45 am and finish promptly at 2.45 pm for all Preschool groups.

PUNCTUALITY in collecting your child is very important as your child worries if he/she is left behind