Welcome to MES
Agenda
Welcome……………………………..……………………….....Mrs. Watts
State Requirements………………..…………………………...Mrs. Raines
Handbook……………………………………………………….. Mrs. Mizell
Schedule, Parties…………………………………………...….. Mrs. Clinger
Tea & Tissue…………………………………………………….Miss Carol
Questions/Concerns…………….…………………. VPK Team/ Mrs. Watts
Pre-Kindergarten
Program
2016-2017
Parent Handbook
Calendar of Events
Tavares, Florida
Lake County Schools
Dr. Susan Moxley, Superintendent
“Childhood should be a journey……..not a race.”
School Staff
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School: Minneola Elementary Charter School
Phone Number: (352) 394-2600
Principal: Sherry Watts
Assistant Principal: Kim Dison
Instructional Dean: Kelley Lozicki
School Nurse: Caroline Thompson
Guidance Counselor: Susan Salazar and
Jeanette Marino
VPK Staff
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Pre-K Teacher: Michelle Clinger
Pre-K Teacher: Janet Mizell
Pre-K Teacher: Ericka Raines
Pre-K Teacher Assistant: Sharon Gonzalez
Pre-K Teacher Assistant: Linda Bullen
Pre-K Teacher Assistant: Kalynn Horton
Pre-K School Hours: AM class: 8:30-11:30
Full Day class: 8:30-3:00
WELCOME to the Lake County Schools
Pre-Kindergarten Program
Dear Parents,
Congratulations! You are now a valued member of the Lake County Schools Pre-Kindergarten
team. We welcome you and your family and invite you to become an active participant in your child’s
educational development.
In the handbook, you will find information that describes what you can expect from the program,
as well as what the program will expect from you and your child.
As the parent, you are the child’s first and most important teacher. We need you to help us get
to know your child’s wonderful attributes. We need you to reinforce the learning that will take place in
the classroom at home. As you know, children do better in school when their parents take an active
role. Some ways to be involved are: making sure that you get your child to school on time,
communication with your child’s teacher, assisting in the classroom, getting to know the other parents
in the class and learning together through parent educational programs.
The Pre-Kindergarten Teachers and Teacher Assistants are specially trained to provide a
developmentally appropriate preschool curriculum for your child. In addition to this high quality
educational program, you and the teaching team have access to the Pre-Kindergarten support staff. At
the school, your child will have the services of the Principal, School Nurse, Guidance Counselor and
many more professionals to assist as needed.
During the year, your child will receive a vision, hearing and speech/language screening if
needed.
Please keep informed and stay involved. Let’s each look forward to this year and plan to work
together for your child’s future.
Sincerely,
Pre-Kindergarten Program Staff
What time is the classroom
open?
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School Classroom
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AM Class begings at:
8:30 am Ends at: 11:30 am
Full Day Class begings at: 8:30 am Ends at: 3:00 pm
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Your child must be in the classroom prior to the morning bell. If your child arrives
after this time, the child is tardy. If your child is tardy you must go to the school
office to sign your child in. Please take advantage of this year to get in the habit of
arriving at school on time. This helps to create good school habits.
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Your child must be picked up at the designated time. If you need to pick up your child
before this, you must go to the school office to sign them out.
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Conferences
Assessments will be administered 3 times a year and parent information letters will be
sent home.
Discipline Policy
• It is the goal of the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program that children
meet with success each day and that they attain the skills necessary
to be successful in Kindergarten.
• In order for your child to meet with success each day, classroom
rules will be established. Although the rules may differ from
classroom to classroom, they will be based on respect, courtesy,
and self-discipline. Student behavior will be managed through
positive reinforcement, redirection, and modeling. Positive discipline
techniques will be used to help students learn to make appropriate
decisions and choices regarding their behavior.
What if my child is sick?
• If your child must be absent you need
to call the school. Children who are sick
must stay home. If your child arrives at
school sick or becomes ill after he/she
arrives, you will be asked to take your
child home to rest and reduce the spread
of germs. It is your responsibility to make
arrangements for your child to be picked
up. Please keep your emergency
contact telephone numbers current.
Health Guidelines
• A child who is sick must be picked up as soon as
possible after the parents have been notified.
When a child is too sick to attend Pre-K, the
parents must call the school about the child’s
condition. If the child has been exposed to a
communicable disease, the parents must notify
the school.
Medication Guidelines
• Prescription medication can be given at the school if it is
in the original container with a pharmacy label that
includes the name of the doctor, child and directors for
administration. Parent must complete paperwork in the
school office. Do not send medication to school with
the child. This should be delivered by parent along
with proper paperwork.
Why is it important for my child
to come to school everyday?
• For your child to benefit from the Pre-K Program
he/she must come to school every day.
Consistency is a key ingredient to teaching
young children. Children who come to school
every day have the opportunity to achieve the
skills necessary to aid them throughout their
educational career.
• We keep a record of the days that your child is
absent and/or tardy. A note must accompany
your child after being absent from Pre-K. If your
child is frequently absent or tardy, the PreKindergarten Office will be notified for follow-up.
Transportation
1. Every Wednesday is early dismissal day.
School ends at 2 PM
2. Pre-Kindergarten program children are eligible
for Lake County School's or MECS's bus
transportation if they live within the school
zone.
3. Pre-Kindergarten children who walk to school
must be accompanied by an adult. Siblings
may not assume this responsibility.
4. Car riders will be picked up and dropped off at
the back car rider location.
Our Curriculum
• Our curriculum is an active learning approach to Early Childhood
Education, which is based on the interests and the needs of young
children. They are developmentally appropriate curriculums, which
means that regardless of your child’s skill level, the curriculums
meet his/her needs. Children learn problem-solving skills, how to
make decisions, how to be self-directed and self-expressive. In a
literacy rich environment, children are provided opportunities to
explore developmentally appropriate reading and writing materials.
A developmentally appropriate curriculum considers all areas of a
child's social, physical, emotional and intellectual development.
Children create concepts about themselves others, and their
environment by observing, interacting with people and objects, and
by finding ways to solve real problems. The Pre-Kindergarten
curriculum is designed to meet children's needs.
Our Curriculum
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Our curriculum includes…
Active Learning
Key Experiences/Expectations
Room Arrangement
Daily Routine
Assessment
Our Pre-K children need to:
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Feel loved
Feel safe and secure
Feel good about themselves
Learn to get along with others
Practice good health, nutrition and safety
Have consistency in their lives
Be engaged in learning through play
Be actively involved in their learning
Attendance Policy
• The Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program will be in operation from
August 10, 2016 through May 24, 2017. The student holidays for the
school year are included by the month in this handbook. The
instructional period consists of 180 days. Attendance during the
scheduled instructional days is of utmost importance to remain in the
VPK program. Funding is linked to your child’s attendance, but also
the issue of success upon entrance to kindergarten is a critical
factor. If your child is not in regular attendance, both funding
and success are affected.
• Tardiness
• Absence
• Verification. The VPK will ask you to sign a verification form. The
purpose of this is to verify our records and the reporting of your
child’s attendance for payment. We will have a Signature Day
each month to meet this requirement and make payment for our
wrap around classes.
What Do We Do All Day?
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Large Group (Circle) Time
Sometimes the entire class will gather for group activities that encourage relationship building,
turn taking, music, storytelling and other activities.
Learning Centers
Each classroom will have areas set up where children can go individually or in small groups to
read books, build things, play house, count, draw, write, listen to music and explore new
materials. Children are encouraged to make choices, play together, solve problems, practice small
and large muscle skills and learn new words and ideas.
Outdoor Play
Children will play outside for a minimum of thirty (30) minutes each day. Teachers and children
interact to learn how to get along with others, increase large muscle skills and learn the language
of outdoor fun.
Small Group Time
Children will spend time with an adult and a few other students listening to stories and learning
new skills.
Clothing
Please dress your child in play clothes so that he/she may participate in Pre-K activities such as
painting, outdoor play, sand and water activities and cooking. Send in an extra set of clothes in
case of an accident.
Daily Routine
The teacher will provide a daily schedule of activities. This will help children learn time concepts
and skills for planning and predicting.
Toileting
Each classroom has a restroom. Children may use the restroom as needed during the day.
Snack
Children bring their snack each day. Please let us know of any food allergies.
August, 2016
Dear Parents,
It is with pleasure that I welcome your child to class. We can all look forward to a very
exciting and rewarding school year. In order to provide your students with the excellent
educational atmosphere they deserve, I have developed the following Classroom Discipline
Plan.
Class Expectations:
*Criss Cross applesauce, Hands in Your Lap
*Eyes on the teacher & Lips zipped
*Listening ears turned on
*Always remember to WALK in the building and sidewalks
*Be a Good Friend
Each day you will see your child’s behavior marked in their folder. Students’ behavior will be
identified by colors. All students will start the day on green. Please check the
Behavior/Communication Chart daily and sign it at the end of the month.
Pre-K School Wide Behavior Colors
PINK/GOLD- SUPER STUDENT
PURPLE- Great Day
BLUE- Good Choices
GREEN- Ready To Learn
YELLOW- Stop and Think!
ORANGE- Loss of Free Choice Time
RED- Parent Contact
Students whose color is changed have the opportunity to earn it back by displaying good
behavior for the rest of the day.
It is in your child’s best interest that we work together with regard to his or her education.
We will talk about this Behavior Plan in school, but would appreciate it if you would review it
with him/her before signing and returning the form below.
Thank you for your support,
VPK Teachers
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Pre-K Behavior Plan
Please tear top portion off and keep in a safe place.
I have read the classroom Behavior Plan and discussed it with my child.
Parent Signature___________________________________________
Date_________________________
August 2016
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AM Drop Off
• will be under the pavilion each morning
from 8:10 am until 8:25 am to greet your
child. You will need to initial the “sign in”
sheet each morning when you arrive.
• If you arrive later than 8:25 am, you will
need to go to the office to sign in your
child.
AM Pick Up
• Dismissal time is 11:30 AM.
• You will wait at the 1st gate for your child.
You will need to initial the “sign in” sheet when your child
is returned to you. Your signature will be needed on the
last day of each week indicating that your agree with the
attendance for the week. We ask that you remain in your
car as Miss Sharon and Miss Carol help your child get
into the car.
PM Pick Up
• Dismissal time is 3:00 (2:00 on
Wednesdays). Your child will be loaded in
the vehicle at the gates by the pavilion or
in the front of the school depending on
siblings. PLEASE do not get out of your
car.
Pre-K Parents
You are invited to join Miss Carol
for
“Tea & Tissues”
Wednesday, August 10th
8:30 – 9:30
Cafeteria