Below is some of the basic operational information about the program, especially relating to health and safety issues. One important issue to note is that the school is a peanut and hard nut free environment.
We are very interested in preventing the spread of infection and in insuring the health and welfare of each of the children and staff. Therefore, of your child has any of the following symptoms, please keep him or her at home:
- Fever within the last 24 hours
- Diarrhea and/or vomiting in the past 24 hours
- Thick mucous discharge from the nose
- Any contagious disease
- Any skin condition that has not been examined by a doctor
- Conjunctivitis that has not been treated
- Any physical or medical conditions that would interfere with your child’s normal and comfortable participation in school
- The first 24 hours of antibiotics treatment
- Severe coughing
- Rapid or difficult breathing
- Stiff neck
- Sore throat or difficulty swallowing
- Excess fatigue
- Evidence of head lice or other parasites that are untreated
- Excessive irritability which might be an indication of illness
If you know that your child will not be attending school, we would appreciate a call before 8:30 A.M. for those enrolled in morning, and before noon for those in the afternoon program. The information will help teachers make adjustments in the day’s classroom plan, and enables us to inform your child’s classmates, who may be concerned.
If your child becomes ill at school, you will be contacted by telephone as soon as possible. If your child’s teacher is unable to reach you, the person(s) designated by you as an “emergency contact” authorized to pick up your child will be contacted. In most cases, each child’s teacher will help a mildly sick child find a quiet and private corner of the classroom in which to rest and wait for your arrival. If it seems that a child should be isolated from others because of illness, a teacher will stay with the child in either our school library or in the office (whichever the child prefers).
Children may return to school when their health does not interfere with their daily routine, when they are no longer contagious, after they have been on a prescribed medication for at least 24 hours, and when it has been determined that the child no longer poses serious health risk to him or herself or to the other children.
Allergies are identified on the children’s health and history forms. Before the school year begins, each teacher examines these records to identify any child with allergies, and collect all necessary information. We ask that families give us permission to post allergy information in workspaces where snacks are prepared, as well as in the classroom.
Allergies can be very serious, and even life threatening. Our primary consideration is the health and safety of all enrolled children. If we have children enrolled who have severe allergies, we will set school snacks accordingly, and may ask all parents to refrain from sending in foods with problematic ingredients in lunchboxes or for snacks.
The school maintains a peanut and nut-free environment at all times.
Planning nutritious and varied snacks for the children at Learning Circle Preschool is an important component of the program. We try to serve foods from a variety of food groups, and try to plan menus that offer children opportunities to try new foods, help prepare foods, and represent foods from diverse cultures. We supply snacks, and will distribute monthly menus to parents. If the menu changes on a particular day, that information will be posted for you. Menus are also posted in the hallway. Following are some samples:
- Fresh fruits (apples, oranges, strawberries, bananas, melons, etc.)
- Breads or crackers spread with cream cheese or fruit spread
- Cheese slices or cubes
- Lightly steamed vegetables with dip
- Humus with pita bread
- Rice
- Yogurt
- Bagels and cream cheese
Each day we offer children a choice of fat-free milk or water. We may on occasion offer fruit juice (100 % juice, with no added sugars)
Please be aware that Learning Circle Preschool maintains a peanut and hard nut free food policy. Peanut allergies can be life threatening, and it is very difficult for children to assure that they are keeping their eating spaces clean and contained. Do not send any nut products with your child’s lunch, or in snack donations to the school!
If your child is celebrating a birthday or wants to bring snack for another special occasion, please be aware of the following policies that we must strictly enforce:
- No peanut or hard nut products
- No homemade foods that required home preparation (there might inadvertently be an exposure due to cross contamination
- No pre-cut foods that we would need to refrigerate (for example, whole fruits are fine, but a fruit salad cannot be served)
- No baked goods – packaged or homemade (we can’t be sure there is no cross contamination
Some ideas for possible food donations:
- Whole fruits (we are happy to prepare them here!)
- All fruit popsicles
- Prepackaged pudding or yogurt
- Foods for us to prepare (fancy cut cheese or cream cheese and jelly sandwiches, for example)
Please be aware that Learning Circle Preschool maintains a peanut and hard nut free food policy. Peanut allergies can be life threatening, and it is very difficult for children to assure that they are keeping their eating spaces clean and contained. Do not send any nut products with your child’s lunch, or in snack donations to the school!
If your child stays at school for lunch, we ask that you label your child’s lunchbox or bag, and any contents that might become separated, with your child’s name. No lunches can be shared. To assure that food is fresh, please use cold packs or ask a teacher to put your child’s lunch in our refrigerator.
We want to encourage you to think about packing healthy lunch choices for the children attending our Extended Day program or our summer programs. Try to include foods from a variety of food groups, taking advantage of seasonal fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Servings don’t necessarily need to be large. And remember that milk and water are good drinks to include.
Here are some suggestions for healthy lunch choices:
- Fresh fruits (apples, oranges, melons, strawberries, bananas, etc.)
- Whole wheat breads or crackers (a sandwich or half a slice of bread on the side is sufficient)
- Cheese cubes or slices
- Raw or lightly steamed vegetables (sliced cucumbers or carrots as a side dish, for example)
- Yogurt
- Sandwich meats
- Cooked pasta, noodles, or rice
- Low fat milk, water, or 100% juice to drink
And please remember: No sodas or candy – we will ask that your child save them for later!
It is very important for the school to have accurate records. If you change address or phone number, or if there are any changes in emergency contacts, please let us know immediately.
If you plan on asking someone to pick up your child who has not previously been designated as a person authorized to pick up your child from school, please put all pertinent information in writing (sending a note with your child for example) so that we can add this to your child’s record, and let us know if this authorization will extend to other days.
If you plan to authorize someone to pick up you child for one day only, please use the form posted in your child’s classroom, including all pertinent information about the pick-up plans, and assuring that you sign and date your request.
Parents arrange any car pools on their own, and are welcome to post their interest in carpools on the school bulletin boards. If you are participating in a car pool, please be sure to give a car pool schedule to your child’s teachers. Teachers need to be notified in writing of any changes in transportation. In no case will a child be released to an unauthorized driver, even if that person if known by the teachers.
In the interests of safety, please make sure children enter and exit cars away from the flow of traffic, and keep children at your side to discourage running without supervision. It is best to walk holding hands, taking all opportunities to talk with the children about safety for pedestrians.
The school entrance is kept locked while classes are in session. Each current family has an individual code for accessing the building. We ask that no one shares their code, so that good security can be maintained. There is a doorbell that can be used if you need access; someone will let you in as soon as possible.
In order for children to comfortably participate in the variety of activities available at school (many of which are sloppy) please dress your child casually.
Children go outside everyday except in the case of inclement weather or temperatures below 20 degrees. Please be sure your child is dressed for active outdoor play, including coats of appropriate weight, extra sweaters for layers of warmth, snow pants, boots for mud or snow, etc.
Each child should have a complete change of clothing to be kept at school in case of need. Please include a set of outerwear, underwear and socks, and a sweater. Please label each article with your child’s name, and keep a labeled bag in your child’s cubby.
A “Lost and Found” box will be kept in the entryway. Please check there for any items that have been misplaced.
We keep a small supply of extra clothes (indoor and outer wear) for those times when personal supplies are missing. If your child needs to borrow school clothes, we would appreciate it if you bring it back (laundered) on your child’s next school day. Someone will probably need it soon!