The of Early Childhood (Nursery, PK1 & PK2) Immaculate Conception School GUARDIAN ANGELS EARLY LEARNING CENTER Handbook 2020 – 2021 GUARDIAN ANGELS’ EARLY LEARNING CENTER Kim DiMarco - Principal Roxanne Rawle – Early Childhood Director Nursery Program Designee – Donna Reyer Nursery, PK-1 & PK-2 Staff Lead Teachers Teacher Assistants Nu A: Donna Reyer Vicki Devenney Nu B: Brittany Giambelluca Carey Lusk Nu A & B Assistant Jade Case PK-1A: Betty Billiot Karen McDuff PK-1B: Renee Lewis Germaine Simmons PK-1C: Elizabeth Martin Rungrudee Andrus PK2-A: Angelic Reynolds Kayla Camp PK2-B: Shelby Schmitt Becky Vallee PK2-C: Carrie Daigle Theresa Parfait CENTER HOURS Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Extended hours: Before Care 6:45 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. After Care 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Guardian Angels Early Learning Center is a program designed for infants and toddlers, ages 6 weeks to 3 years of age. This program provides a nurturing, family environment with a certified staff. The Guardian Angels Early Learning Center is licensed under a Type I classification and complies with all regulations required by the State of Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Education. The curriculum emphasizes spiritual, physical, social and intellectual development. These attributes are integrated into every phase of the program. Every effort is made to nurture each infant and toddler with personal and social development, motor skill activities, quiet and active play, and creative expression opportunities. The program strives to provide a positive, loving, open door atmosphere that will enhance all areas of your child's growth and development. 2 Absences Attendance is very important. It is highly recommended that your baby/toddler arrives on time daily. Arrival time is between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. School gates are closed at 8:20am. Consistent and punctual attendance helps to develop a sense of routine and security. If your infant/toddler will be absent, please call to notify the Staff between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. Cafeteria lunches are ordered at 8:45 a.m. Admission and Non-Discrimination Policy The following are the requirements for admission of a child into Immaculate Conception School GUARDIAN ANGELS EARLY LEARNING CENTER: - Minimum of 6 weeks of age, by September 30 of the respective year; - Basic overall motor skills and physical coordination readiness according to age; - Parental acceptance of school policies and a willingness to collaborate actively with the school during the child’s educational process; - Must be up to date on all required immunizations. - Preference is accorded to children who have siblings already attending Immaculate Conception School. All other applications are subject to place availability within the recommended class size limits. - All financial obligations due to an infant/toddler’s enrollment must be made current before enrollment will be accepted for the following school year. The Administration reserves the right to withhold admission from children who demonstrate lack of readiness to adjust to the group environment, to group interaction, or to any of the above-mentioned requirements, or to families who have shown a lack of cooperation with the policies and procedure stated in this handbook. Allergies It is very important that parents keep the Staff and office aware (in writing) of any allergy that a child may have. In particular, food and environmental allergies should be brought to the Director and the Center Staff’s attention. A note from your child’s physician must indicate the food or environmental allergy and kept on file with your child’s teacher and/or cafeteria manager. Arrival Infants and toddlers should arrive by 8:15 a.m. The Avenue C Guardian Angel gates will close daily at 8:20. The State mandates a parent to sign an infant/toddler upon arrival and departure each day an infant/toddler attends the program. 3 Birthdays We celebrate each child’s birthday in class during snack time. If you wish to send in something “special” for your child’s birthday, please speak with your child’s teacher about this before hand. Due to the significant increase in food allergies, please send in an ingredients list (either from the package or hand-written if the “special snack” has been home prepared) so that the teacher can keep all the children safe and healthy. Recommended health choices are listed below: *Pure fruit popsicles *Fruit with low fat yogurt (no sugar free) *Mini-Muffins *Cheese and crackers * Organic cookies Biting While not tolerated, biting occasionally happens in the early childhood classroom. Should this occur, the child who has been bitten will be cared for, and the child who has bitten will be appropriately disciplined. Both parents will be notified of the incident. If a child is bitten and the skin is not broken, ice will be applied and the child will be consoled. If the skin is broken, the school nurse will be notified and first aid will be applied. If the child continues the biting, he/she will be mirrored with a Staff member for a week. If the child continues to bite, the parents will be called in to meet with the teacher and the director to determine a developmentally appropriate course of action. If the first course of action was not effective, a second parent-teacher conference will be scheduled. If the second intervention fails, the child may have to be excluded from the other children in the room or from the program for a specific period of time. If all interventions fail, the child may be asked to leave the program. It is the parent’s responsibility to work with the staff in discouraging this behavior. Books Make books accessible for your child – in the car, bathroom, and every room in the house! And, please, please, please READ to your child(ren). This is one of the greatest gifts a parent or family member can give to a child: it fosters literacy and social/emotional well-being. Breakfast For a young child to concentrate and be settled throughout the day, a good breakfast is essential. It helps give your child the energy and capacity for learning. Please make sure your infant/toddler has a good breakfast each morning before coming to school if your child arrives between 7:30 and 8:15. Only infants/toddlers in Before Care (arriving between 6:45 – 7:30 a.m.) will be served breakfast by the Staff. Nursery Babies are served breakfast daily. 4 & Calendar A specific Guardian Angels Early Learning Center calendar will be distributed to all parents. Child's Record After an infant/toddler has been accepted to the Early Learning Guardian Angel’s Program, a copy of the following paperwork must be completed and turned in to the office: • Birth Certificate • Baptism Certificate (if Catholic) • Social Security Card • Updated Immunization Record • Registration & Completed Application Forms • Tuition Option Contract Christian-Environment Our Catholic-Christian faith affects all our choices and the entire atmosphere of our school. Christian/Catholic values are presented to the children on a developmentally-appropriate level. Our program and school is based on the Philosophy of St. Don Bosco’s Preventive System of Reason, Religion and Loving Kindness. It is important to work together as parents and staff to teach and model appropriate behavior. This helps children to develop social behaviors according to Christian values. Choices Making good choices is one phrase that is heard throughout the day. Clothing Nursery All-in-ones with snaps, elastic waistband shorts/pants with snaps for easy diaper changing Nursery babies must wear disposable diapers only. Velcro shoes with rubber soles when the child begins walking 5 A diaper bag purchased from Skobel’s to transport bottles, sippy cups, diapers, clothing, baby food and communicator folder. PK-1 All clothes should be loose enough to allow play, movement and easy access for diaper changing. (No belts please) Velcro shoes with rubber soles for easy walking A diaper bag purchased from Skobel’s to transport sippy cups, disposable diapers, clothing and communicator folder PK-2 Required to wear the PK-2 uniform and appropriate school socks. Uniforms are available at Skobel’s, 1742 Stump Blvd. in Gretna. Girls: Light blue and white cord smock dress with matching bloomers. Dresses should not be shortened above the length of the bloomers. Only regulation school embroidered sweater and fleece-lined jacket may be worn in cold weather. Girls may not wear the school sweatshirt over the uniform dress. (The school sweatshirt may be worn over the PE shirt on dress-down and PE days.) Boys: Khaki pull-on long or short pants with navy embroidered jersey shirt. Only the regulation embroidered sweatshirt and fleece-lined jacket may be worn in cold weather. Shoes: Girls wear solid blue or black Mary Jane style shoes. Must have velcro strap. Keds blue tennis shoe with velcro strap and white sole is also acceptable and preferred. Boys wear solid black soft sole tennis shoes with velcro fastener. Lace up shoes may not be worn. P. E. uniform is worn to school every Friday Nursery, PK-1 and PK-2 2 sets of clothing including socks must be kept at school at all times. Please check for size and weather conditions periodically. Please label everything. Socks (PK2): All PK-2 students must wear white quarter socks with the ICS logo purchased from Skobel’s. Hair (Girls in PK-1 & PK-2): Hair must be away from face. (Not colored, tinted, highlighted or worn in an extreme hair style.) Only navy, white, gold, Khaki or black headbands, ribbons or barrettes are permitted for PK-2 girls. Hair (Boys in PK-1 & PK-2): Hair must be worn above the collar and top of the ear and top of the eyebrow.