Program Day The Kindergarten and Transition hours are 9:00 a.m.-16:00 p.m. with the option to arrive at 7:45 (an assistant will be there to welcome the children) and leave at 15:30 pm. Please ensure that your child is picked up not later than 16:00 as teachers and assistants use this time for planning.

Transportation/Pick-up/Drop-off We expect parents to bring all children directly to the building in the morning for drop-off and return in the afternoon for pick-up. We will not release the children to anyone other than a parent without proper release. Teachers will provice a release form which parents must complete and give to the teacher and the office if a driver, care giver, home employee, or other family member will be picking up the child on a regular basis. It is critical that parents be on time to pick-up their children. A meeting with the class teacher, parents, and administrators will be called if there are persistent issues with late pick-up.

Change of Clothes Each child should also bring a seasonally appropriate change of clothes (in case of accidents or mess) to keep at school for the entire year.

Discipline Procedures The early years program firmly believes that active and involved learners are too busy to, “get into trouble”. We believe an engaging and age-appropriate environment will keep children busy and happily occupied. However, we recognize there are certain situations that may require disciplinary action. The faculty and staff try to stop most unacceptable behaviours before they start. We help direct children with problem-solving strategies (using words, body control, and social cueing) or guide them to a more appropriate activity/place. If a particular behaviour persists, we take the child aside and talk about why the behaviour is not acceptable and explain (or mime, given language limits) acceptable alternatives. If we see the alternative behaviour, we reward and praise with hugs and affirmative language. We want the children to develop an intrinsic reward system for pro-social behaviour, so we try not to “over-reward”. We also may place the child in a two-minute time out if unacceptable behaviours continue. A time-out is removal from the area where the behaviour occurred, and quiet sitting in another area is requested. Some behaviours will require a conference with parents. Examples of these behaviours might include biting, repeated aggression toward peers, and/or consistent and deliberate destruction of school material.

Absences/Tardiness Consistent attendance and respect for routines is a very important part of an early education program; however, we recognize and respect that each child’s development and/or familial circumstances may impact attendance. School Policy requires faculty to record absences and tardy behaviour and to mark this on each child’s report card. This information remains in the child’s permanent school file. After a five day absence period you must present a medical certificate in order for your child to attend school. If delays and/or issues beyond the norm are noted because of irregular attendance or excessive absences, a conference with an administrator and the parents will be called. Please let us know in advance of any extended absences, so we can support your child during this time.

Pre-Arranged Absences Please inform the administration office (to cancel hot lunch), and the teacher if your child will have an extended absence.

Materials from Home In the Early Years and Pre-Kindergarten classrooms, materials are selected on the basis of educational appropriateness for different age groups. Please assist us in limiting toys from home. Children may bring toys from home for specific events when asked for by their teachers. Aggressive war toys are never admitted. The School is not responsible for the safekeeping of items brought from home.

Lost and Found Habits and skills such as responsibility for personal belongings develop with practice and repetition. We encourage our children to take care of their personal items. Families are asked to label all their child’s items such as clothing, knapsacks, and lunch boxes. Personal belongings not claimed are kept in Lost and Found in the entrance hall. At the end of the year, all unclaimed items are donated to a charity

School Communication – Home school Communication Diaries
Your child will have a folder in which any necessary communication will be sent home. Please check the folder each night as we will also use this process for sending homework and samples of work. Home school communication diaries provide an opportunity for teachers and parents to share progress and key information.

Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) The PTA is an active group of parents who wish to help teachers, the Administration, and the family community in many ways to improve our school. The room parents for each class are the liaison between the school staff, the PTA, and the school community. PTA Room Parents are asked to assist in the organization of classroom activities and should communicate often with the classroom teacher. Room parents have an important role and we encourage you to volunteer to be the Room Parent for your child’s class.

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION
Assessment in the Early Years Department
In the Early Years Department documentation includes:
· booklets about activities undertaken by children
· wall displays which show work in progress?
· presentations of children’s portfolios based on specific activities or areas of the curriculum
· observations of children working or examples of children’s work sampled over time
· anecdotal records
· documentation of children’s comments and conversation
· checklists and other documents.
Reporting to parents includes the following:
· parent/teacher conferences
· Report Card: received by every child at the end of the school year
· regular informal progress discussions.

The Rector, Vice Rector and teachers will receive parents by appointment and at  parent-teachers meetings.  You could also talk to your child’s teacher at pick-up time.