PARENTHANDBOOK2017-2018

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TableofContentsLETTERFROMTHEDIRECTOROFCHILDREN’SMINISTRIES............................................................................3

LETTERFROMTHETEACHER.............................................................................................................................................4

NAME/SPONSORSHIP...............................................................................................................................................................5

PURPOSE/MISSIONSTATEMENT......................................................................................................................................5

SAFETY.............................................................................................................................................................................................5

GOALS................................................................................................................................................................................................5

ENROLLMENTPOLICY.............................................................................................................................................................5

REGISTRATIONFEE...................................................................................................................................................................6

REFUNDSANDWITHDRAWALS.........................................................................................................................................7

CURRICULUM................................................................................................................................................................................7

ARRIVAL..........................................................................................................................................................................................8

DISMISSAL......................................................................................................................................................................................8

OVERTIMECHARGES................................................................................................................................................................8

PICK-UPAUTHORIZATION....................................................................................................................................................9

FIELDTRIPS/FAMILYEVENTS............................................................................................................................................9

DISCIPLINE.....................................................................................................................................................................................9

NUTRITIONANDSNACKS.....................................................................................................................................................10

TOYSFROMHOME...................................................................................................................................................................10

SPECIALPERSONDAYS.........................................................................................................................................................10

SHARINGBOX.............................................................................................................................................................................10

HOLIDAYSANDSNOWDAYS..............................................................................................................................................11

WHATTOWEAR.......................................................................................................................................................................11

PARENT/TEACHERCONFERENCES................................................................................................................................11

WORSHIP......................................................................................................................................................................................11

WAYSWECANHELP...............................................................................................................................................................12

IMMUNIZATIONANDILLNESS..........................................................................................................................................12

MEDICALEMERGENCYRESPONSEPLAN.....................................................................................................................13

EMERGENCYRESPONSEPLAN...........................................................................................................................................13

COMMUNICATIONINTHEEVENTOFANEMERGENCY........................................................................................13

FIRERESPONSEPLAN............................................................................................................................................................14

EARTHQUAKERESPONSEPLAN.......................................................................................................................................14

INCLEMENTWEATHERPROCEDURES..........................................................................................................................14

INCLOSING...................................................................................................................................................................................15

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LETTERFROMTHEDIRECTOROFCHILDREN’SMINISTRIESDearParents,ThankyouforchoosingHarborCovenantPreschoolforyourchild’seducation.WeareaministryofHarborCovenantChurch.WearepleasedtoofferaqualityChristianpreschoolwherewewillintegratephysical,spiritual,intellectualandsocialfacetsofachild’sdevelopmentinanengagingandageappropriateway.Weareexcitedtonurtureandencourageyourchildren’snaturalcuriosityinanengaginganddevelopmentallystimulatingenvironment. Preschoolchildrenareataveryexcitingage.Theirlittlemindsaresponges,absorbingtheworldaroundthem.WewanttotakeadvantageofthisandteachthemsolidChristianvalueswhilenurturingtheirselfconfidenceandnaturalexuberance.WewantkidstobeexcitedaboutschoolandgraduatewiththeknowledgethatGodmadethem,GodlovesthemandJesuswantstobetheirfriend.WewelcomeyouandyourchildintothisprogramatHarborCovenantPreschool.Wearepleasedthatyouhaveentrustedyourchildtousforthecomingschoolyear.Wehopeyouwillfeelfreetobeanactivepartofyourchild’searlyeducationduringhis/hertimehere.Readthroughthishandbookaswellasallthesupplementalnotesthatwillbesenttoyouduringtheschoolyear.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,feelfreetocontactme.InHisService,JessicaBaumlDirectorofChildren’sMinistries

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LETTERFROMTHETEACHERWelcome,IamsogladthatyouhavedecidedtojoinusatHarborCovenantPreschool!Ilookforwardtoservingyourfamilyandhaveagreatyearplannedforyourchild.Ihaveover20yearsofteachingyoungchildren.Ibeganteachingthe18-24monthclassthroughHighlineCollege,taughtatRainbow’sEndCooperativePreschoolandspentthelast12yearsatGigHarborCooperativePreschool.ThisismysecondyearatHarborCovenantChurch.I’vetaughtfrom18monthsuptofive-year-oldpre-Kstudents.Iloveworkingwithyoungchildrenandhelpingthemdiscoverthewaythattheynaturallylearnbest.Ifindthemtobecreative,inquisitiveandfun!ItisanexcitingtimeinthePeninsulaSchoolDistrictwitharenewedfocusandinterestinthedevelopmentandlearningthattakesplacefrombirthtoagefive.IcurrentlyserveonthePeninsulaEarlyLearningCoalition,acollaborativegroupofearlychildhoodeducators,administrators,kindergartenteachersandserviceprovidersworkingtogethertostrengthen,increaseawarenessof,andimprovetheoverallskillsetsofthechildrenwithinthecommunity.Agood,solidfoundationandbroadskillsetlearnedearlyon,withtimeinaclassroomtopractice,canmakeallthedifferenceforthosechildrenenteringKindergarten.Iamveryinvestedineachindividualchildanddelightinwatchingthemgrow,learnanddiscovertheworldaroundthem.IwasbornandraisedinNorthernCaliforniabuthavelovedlivinginthePacificNorthwestforover20yearsnow!Thereisalwayssomuchtoseeanddo.MyhusbandJim,andIhavesoenjoyedraisingourchildrenonFoxIsland.WehaveadaughterCourtneyandtwosons,JoshandDylan.JustasIencouragethemtoseeknewadventures,Ilookforwardwithfaith,tothisnewyearofadventures!Blessingstoyouall,TerrieDignamLeadTeacher

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NAME/SPONSORSHIP

ThenameofthisorganizationisHarborCovenantPreschool.Itisanon-profitorganizationthroughHarborCovenantChurch.Nopartofitsearningsbenefitanymemberorindividual.Allfundsearnedbytheschoolarereinvestedintheschool.TheschoolisunderthejurisdictionoftheHarborCovenantChurch,partoftheEvangelicalCovenantChurch.ThepreschoolisoverseenbyaministryteamofHarborCovenantandheadedbytheDirectorofChildren’sMinistries.

PURPOSE/MISSIONSTATEMENT

HarborCovenantPreschoolisanexciting,safe,engagingplacetolearnandmakefriendsinaChristiancontext.Childrenwillgrowsociallyandflourishinalearningenvironmentthatwillpreparethemfortheirelementaryeducation.

SAFETY

Ourtoppriorityisforkidstohaveasafeandsecurelearningenvironment.Weaccomplishthisbyprovidingadedicatedspaceforkids,electroniccheck-in/check-out,printednametags,andallstaffandvolunteersarebackground-checkedandtrainedinabuseprevention.Wefollowthetwopersonruleatalltimes;atnotimeisachildalonewithanadultinasecludedarea.

GOALS

Ourgoalistodevelopeachchildphysically,mentally,emotionally,sociallyandspirituallybyinstillinginthemavaluesystemconsistentwiththewordofGod.Westrivetohaveacaringandsafeenvironmentinwhicheachchildhasthefreedomtoexploreandgrowundertheencouragementandacceptanceofthestaff.Wewillworktogethertohelpthechildrenachievetheirbestbybuildingself-confidenceandtrustinGod.Weacknowledgethatallchildrenareuniqueandrealizethatwecanalllearnfromoneanother.Learningnewthingsisfunandexciting.Wearepleasedtoplayanimportantroleinyourchild’searlyeducation.Itisourhope,withChristasourguide,thatwecanmakeadifferenceforchildren,churchandcommunity.

ENROLLMENTPOLICY

• Achildmustbeatleast3years-oldbyAugust31oftheyeartheyareenrolledinthe3’s,3-daypreschoolclass.

• Achildmustbeatleast4years-oldbyAugust31oftheyeartheyareenrolledinthe4/5’s,4-daypreschoolclass.

YourchildmustbefullypottytrainedbeforetheycanstartschoolatHarborCovenantPreschool.

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Everychildisenrolledonatrialbasisfortwomonths.Afterthistime,ifdeterminedbytheteacherthattheschoolisnotmeetingtheeducationalneedsofthechildand/orthechildisdisruptingtheeducationalprogram,theHarborCovenantPreschoolMinistryTeammayvotetoterminateenrollmentortransfertoanappropriateclass.*Ifachildiswithdrawnundertheseconditionswithinthefirstmonth,tuitionmayberefunded.HarborCovenantPreschooldoesnotdiscriminateagainstrace,color,religion,sexorethnicandnationalorigin.InaccordancewiththeWashingtonStateLaw,theOmnibusAIDSAct,HarborCovenantPreschoolwillnotdenyadmissiontoanypartofitsprogramtoHIV-infectedorAIDSdiagnosedchildren.Wewillalsonever,inaccordancewiththesameWashingtonStateLaw,revealthenameofanychildwhoisenrolledinourprogramandisinfectedwiththeHIVvirusordiagnosedwithAIDSwithoutthewrittenconsentofthatchild’sparentsorguardian.TUITION

Tuitioncostsarebasedona36-weekpreschoolyear.Tuitioncanbepaidin10monthlyinstallments(dueAugust-May)orbepaidinfullatthebeginningoftheschoolyear.Tuitionforthe:

3’sclassis$240permonth.4/5’sclassis$300permonth.

TuitionisdueonorbeforethefirstdayofschooleachmonthunlesspriorarrangementshavebeenmadewiththeDirector.A$25.00latefeemaybeaddediftuitionisnotpaidbythe15thofthemonth.Ifyouhavemorethanonechildenrolledatthesametime,thefirstchildwillbechargedthefulltuitionanda10%discountwillbeappliedtothetuitionofanyadditionalsiblingsenrolled.

REGISTRATIONFEE

The$100enrollmentfeeisnon-refundableanddueinfullwhenyouregisteryourchildintoourprogram.

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REFUNDSANDWITHDRAWALS

Becauseourtuitionisbasedonactualoperatingexpenses,weareunabletopro-ratemonthlytuitionbecauseofschoolholidays,snowdays,familyvacationsetc.Considerationwillbegiventothosestudentswhoareabsentbecauseoflengthyillnesses.Eachchildisenrolledfortheentireschoolyear,orforthebalanceoftheschoolyearifenrollingmid-year.Withdrawalsfromtheschoolmustbemadeinwriting(signedbytheparents/guardian)andsubmittedtotheDirector.Thewrittennoticeshouldincludethedateandreasonforwithdrawal.Studentsattendinganydayofthemonthwillowethefullmonth’stuition.Astudentmaybeautomaticallywithdrawniftheirbillbecomes30dayspastdueandotherarrangementshavenotbeenmade.

CURRICULUM

Ourprogramfeaturesacurriculumrichinhands-onexperiences,pre-academicpracticeandclassroomroutinesthatwillexciteyourlittleonetolearnandgrowbothspirituallyandeducationally.Theywillbepreparedfortheirjourneyintotheelementaryyearsbyhavingspenttimegettingfamiliarwithclassroomstructure,dailyexpectationsandindividualinstructionalattention.Thecurriculumfeaturesopportunityforbothlargegroupandsmallergroupgatherings,aswellasabalanceofteacherdirectedandindependentlearningactivities.Everyaspectofourprogramwillallowyourchildvariedmeanstoachievesuccess,fromtheinstruction,totheclassroomsetup,tothepositivecharacterbuilding,creatingaloveoflearning.Thereisno“onerightwaytolearn,”andourprogramwillreflectmulti-sensoryopportunitiesforyourchildtofindthewaythattheylearnbest.Ourclassroomwillhaveamonthlythemethatwillbereflectedintheactivities,books,materialsandcenterspresented.Therewillbeacolorandshapeofthemonthaswellaslettersoftheweekwovenintointroduce,highlightandfeaturedirectedlearning.Changingtheenvironmentandmaterialsusedeachmonthgeneratesnewfoundinterestsandreducesbehaviorissues.Curriculumactivitiesaresourcedfromavarietyofresourcesgatheredover20yearsofworkingwithyoungchildrenandwillinclude:HandwritingWithoutTears–DesignedbyanOccupationalTherapistandEarlyChildhoodSpecialisttousechildren’snaturalfinemotordevelopmentforoptimalsuccess.ItisusedbythePeninsulaSchoolDistrict(PSD)soyourchildwillbefamiliarwithitwhentheyentertheschoolsystem.SecondSteps–Asocial/emotionalprogramdesignedtobuildchildren’sskillstosuccessfullynavigatechildhoodsocialencounters.AlsousedinPSD.

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GetSetforSchool–ExpandedsecondStepsprogramthatfocusesontransitiontoKindergartenskillsets(in4/5’sclassonly).GrowingUpWild–Anationallyrecognizednatureappreciationprogramforusewithyoungchildren,drivenbythebook,“LastChildinTheWoods.”OurprogramwilloperateunderthestandardsforinstructionandlearningoftheNationalAssociationfortheEducationofYoungChildren.Ourprojectsandinstructionwillbedevelopmentallyage-appropriateforthechildrenweserve.Wewillofferfieldtripstoenhanceourlessonsandsenseofcommunity.

ARRIVAL

Werequestthatyoudonotbringyourchildtoschoolmorethan10minutespriortostartingtime.Earlyarrivalsdonotallowstaffadequatetimetoprepareandpraytogetheratthestartofeachday.Beconsiderateandtimeyourarrivalsappropriately.Ateacherwillplacetheschoolflagoutsidethemainentrance(EntranceB)whenclassisreadytostart.Theflagwillremaininplacewhileclassisinsession.YouarewelcometowaitintheGatheringPlace/Caféifyou’vearrivedbeforetheschoolflagisputout.

DISMISSAL

Beontimetopickupyourchildfromschool.Ifyouknowthatyouaregoingtobeafewminuteslatebecauseofanunforeseencircumstance,notifytheschoolimmediatelysothatwecanreassureyourchildthatyouareonyourway.Ifyouareplanningtopickupyourchildearly,informtheteacheratthebeginningofclassthatday.Thiswillhelpensurethatyourchildwillnotmissoutonsomethingimportantandthatyoureceiveanyimportantmessagesfortheday.

OVERTIMECHARGES

Whileweunderstandtherearetimesyoumaybelatepickingupyourchild,youwillbechargedanovertimechargeof$1perminuteifitbecomesachronicissue.Beconsiderateandarriveontimetopickupyourchild.Latepick-upsleaveteacherswithoutadequatepreparation,lunchandclean-uptime.

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PICK-UPAUTHORIZATION

Nochildwillbereleasedtoapersonorpersonsnotauthorizedbyaparentpriortobeingpickedup.Inthecaseofsingle/divorcedparents:Ifthecustodialparentwishestoprohibittheotherparentfrompickingupthechildfromschoolwemusthaveacopyofacourtorderstatingthis.

FIELDTRIPS/FAMILYEVENTS

Typically,eachclasstakes2-3offsitefieldtripsperschoolyear.Weaskthateachparentarrangetransportationfortheirownchildtoandfromalloffsitefieldtrips.Fieldtripsareforourstudentsonly.Wearenotabletoaccommodateyoungeroroldersiblings.Ifyouareunabletoprovidetransportationforyourchild,letusknow.Wewilldoourbesttofindasolution.HarborCovenantPreschoolwillhostacoupleofFamilyEventsduringtheyear.Theseeventsareforthewholefamilytoattend.

DISCIPLINE

Werecognizethateachchild’sfeelingsarehonest,realandimportant.Ourdisciplinepolicywillbetohandleeachsituationwithloveandunderstanding.Wewillhelpeachchilddeveloptheinnercontrolneededastheylearnappropriatebehaviors.Oneofthemethodswewillusetoteachself-controlwillbetodiscussthesituationwiththechild.Wewillremovethechildfromthegroupandtalkwithhim/her.Atthetime,wewillaidthechildinrecognizingandnamingtheirfeelingsandofferalternatechoices,guidingthemtowardamorepositiveresponse.Anothermethodofredirectingwillbeaquiettime.Thiswillgivethechildtheopportunitytocalmdown,allowingthemtimetogaininnercontrol.Quiettimewillalwaysbeinthepresenceoftheteacherorassistantandbeinaquietatmosphere.Wewillstrivetoprotectyourchild’sfeelingsatalltimes.Yourchildwillneverbeusedasanexampleofunfavorablebehavior.Wewillnotembarrassthem,treatthemunfairly,orusecruelordisproportionatepunishment.*Ifachildisaggressivetowardanother(pushing,shoving,hitting,spitting,biting),theaggressorwillberemovedfromthegroupandplacedinasupervisedquiettime.*Abehaviormaywarrantcallingaparentduringthedaytospeakwiththeirchildortotaketheirchildhomefortheday.*Shouldtheseeffortsfailtoproducethedesiredbehaviorinthechild,parentswillbecalledtomeetwiththeteacher/directortodevelopasuitablestrategyforcorrectingthechild’sinappropriatebehavior.*Iftheabovestepsdonotproducethedesiredbehaviorinthechild,thechildwillbewithdrawnfromschool.*Nospankingoranykindofcorporalpunishmentisallowed.

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NUTRITIONANDSNACKS

HarborCovenantPreschoolwillprovideahealthysnackforeachchildeachdayduringclass.Ifyourchildhasanyfoodallergy,sensitivityand/orisonaspecialdiet;notifyusandbringasupplyofsuitablesnacksforthem.Itisimportantthatweunderstandtheseverityofyourchild’sallergyaswellashowtheallergypresentsitself.Keepusinformedsothatwecanhelpyourchildstaysafeandhealthy!Wewouldliketopromotetheprinciplesofgoodnutrition,whichwillaidinthegoodphysicaldevelopmentofyourchild.Therefore,wewouldencouragesnackstobenutritiousinnature.Examplesincludefruits,veggiesticks,cheese/crackers,raisins,trailmix,healthymuffins,popcorn,yogurtetc.

TOYSFROMHOME

Weaskthatyouleaveyourchild’stoysathome.Wedonotwantthemtogetlostorbroken.Helpyourchildtounderstandthisrule.ChildrenwillhaveanopportunityforShowandTellandtheSharingBoxontheirspecialpersonday.

SPECIALPERSONDAYS

Eachchildwillbeassigneda“SpecialDay”throughouttheyear.Thiswillbeasharingexperiencethatwillfocusoneachchildandtheirfamily.Notallchildrenhaveabirthdaythatfallsduringtheschoolyearsowesetasidethesetimestomakeyourchildthe“star”oftheday.Ontheirassigneddaytheywillgettobringaspecialtoyoritemfromhometoshare,ashortbooktheywanttoreadtotheclass,andafavoritesong(withchildappropriatelyrics)iftheydesire.Theywillalsobringaposterinthe3’sclassandabookforthe4/5’sclass(pagesprovidedbyteacher).Parentsarewelcometocomeandtakepicturesduringtheirsharingtime.Nosiblingsareallowedasthisisduringclass.Youwillbegivenspecificinstructionsduringthemonththatyourchild’sdayisassigned.

SHARINGBOX

Throughouttheyearwewillbeutilizingasharingboxforshowandtell.Thisexperienceisagreatwaytoencouragechildrentospeakinfrontofagroup.Theboxwillrotatethroughtheclasseswitheachchildatleasttwiceduringtheyear.Yourchildwillbringtheboxhomewithanoteregardingwhattypeofthingtoreturnintheboxtosharethatwillsupportourcurriculum,andlearningthemes.Forexample,theymightbeaskedbringsomethingthatstartswiththeletterB,orthatisred,orthatistriangleshape.Theyreturntheboxontheirdayassigned,givetheclasscluestoguesstheitemandthenafteritisrevealedtheitemwillbeputaway(notplayedwithinclass).

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HOLIDAYSANDSNOWDAYS

SchoolwillbeclosedonnationalholidaysandbreaksfollowingthePeninsulaSchoolDistrictcalendar.Writtennoticeofsuchclosingwillbemadeviathepreschoolnewsletterandsocialmedia.HarborCovenantPreschoolwillalsocloseduetosnowandhazardousconditionsanytimethePeninsulaSchoolDistrictisclosed.(SeeInclementWeatherSectionformoredetails.)However,schoolclosuresduetobadweatherwillnotbemadeup.Feelfreetocontactuswithanyquestions.

WHATTOWEAR

Sendyourchildtoschoolincomfortableclothingthatcangetsoiled.Sometimeswedomessythingsinclassandit’shardtoensurethatyourchildwillstayclean.Provideajacketorsweaterevenonsunnydays.OurNorthwestweathercanbeunpredictableandwewilltakethechildrenoutsideasoftenastheweatherallows.Also,whileitisrequiredyourchildbepottytrained,wedorealizeaccidentscanhappen.Itmaybeagoodideatohaveanextrasetofpantsandunderwearkepthereatschoollabeledwithyourchild’sname.Closedtoedshoesarebestbutnotrequired.

PARENT/TEACHERCONFERENCES

Thoughitistemptingtostayandchatwithyourchild’steacherduringpick-upanddrop-off,weaskthatyoulimityourconversation.Ifyouhaveconcernsorsomethingyouwishtotalkabout,contactyourchild’steacheroutsideofschoolhoursviae-mail.Thatwaytheteachercanaddressyourconcernswithoutcompromisingherattentionwiththechildrenorotherdemands.OnceayeartherewillbeaParentTeacherConferenceoffered,inJanuaryforthe4/5’sclass,andinMarchforthe3’s.Itwillbeaformaltimetositdownandshareaboutyourchild’sdevelopmentalprogressandsetgoals.Onconferencedaytherewillbenoclassheld,theteacherwillmeetparentsatapre-assignedtime.

WORSHIP

Childrenareeagerlearnerswhowanttoknowallabouttheworldaroundthem.ThisistheperfectwaytointroducethemtotheloveofJesus.OurdesireistomaintainaChristianatmosphereintheclassroombyprovidingprayerbeforesnack,monthlybibleverse,dailyworshipsongsandtoteachthecoreprincipleoflivingalifeofcompassion,mercyandjustice.

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WAYSWECANHELP

Whenyouenrollyourchildinourschool,weassumetheresponsibilityofassistingyouwithspecialneedsinrelationtoyourchild’sadjustment,growthanddevelopment.Wewilllookaftertheirhealthandsafetywhileinourcare.Wewouldappreciateifyouwouldtrytokeepusfullyinformedofanychangesthatoccurinyourchild’shomesituationduringtheschoolyear,e.g.thebirthofababy,anaccident,adeathinthefamily,aseparation,adivorceoratraumaticexperience.Ifwearekeptfullyinformedofanysuchsituations,wewillbebetterabletounderstandandsupportyourchildshouldanychangesoccurintheirbehaviorduringclass.

IMMUNIZATIONANDILLNESS

Yourchild’shealthisamatterofgreatimportancetous,alongwiththehealthofotherstudents.Parentsarerequiredtonotifytheschoolwhenevertheirchildhasbeenexposedtoorcontractsacontagiousdisease.Headlicecanshowupinyourchildquiteunexpectedly.Ifthishappens,theyaretobekepthomeuntilallsignsofliceandeggsaregone.Ifwenoticeitatschool,yourchildwillbeimmediatelyisolatedfromtheotherchildrenandyouwillbenotified.Yourchildwillbesenthomeifhe/sheappearstohavesymptomsofillnessduringclasstime.Insuchcaseshe/shewillbeimmediatelyisolatedfromtheotherchildrenandtheparentwillbecontacted.Usecommonsensewhendecidingifyourchildiswellenoughtoattendschool.Lettingasickchildattendclassonlyexposestheentireclassandwemustbeconsiderateofothers.Schoolpolicyforkeepingyourchildhome:

• Anyinfectione.g.strepthroat,conjunctivitis(pinkeye),earinfection,(musthavebeentakinganantibioticforatleast24hourspriortoreturningtoschool)

• Feverinthepast24hoursof100degreesFahrenheitormore• Vomitinginthepast24hours• Diarrheainthepast24hours• Chillsorsorethroat• Badcold,withaveryrunnynoseorbadcough

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MEDICALEMERGENCYRESPONSEPLAN

*IfyourchildrequiresanEPIpenorinhaler,youmustprovideonetokeeponthepremiseslabeledclearlyalongwiththemedicalauthorization.AllstaffaretrainedinadministeringanEPIpenorassistingwithaninhaler.MinorInjury

Intheeventofaminorinjury,firstaidwillbeadministeredandaninjuryreportwillbefilledoutandsenthomewiththechild.Parentswillbecontactedifnecessary.SeriousInjury

Intheeventofaseriousinjury,911willbecontactedimmediately.Otherchildrenintheclasswillbemovedintoanotherroomwithanassistantsothattheteachercanattendtotheinjuredchild.Wewillattempttonotifytheparentsandiftheyarenotavailable,wewillcalltheemergencycontact.AllofourteachersandstaffaretrainedinCPRandfirstaid.

EMERGENCYRESPONSEPLAN

HarborCovenantPreschoolhasdevelopedandimplementedacomprehensiveplanforrespondingtoavarietyofnaturaldisastersandhazardoussituationsincludingfireandearthquake.Staffandstudentswillpracticeappropriateresponsesincludingevacuation.Oursystemformanagingschoolemergencysituationsprovidesstudents,staffandparentswithaplanandsenseofsecurity.Studentsafetyisourfocusandguidesourdecisions.Staffmembershavebeentrainedtorespondtoavarietyofemergencysituations.

COMMUNICATIONINTHEEVENTOFANEMERGENCY

• Bepatient.Wewillcommunicatewithyouasquicklyaspossible.• Don’tcallthechurch/schooloffice.Itjamsthephonelineswhenwemay

needthemtocontactemergencypersonnel.• Remember-Yourchild’ssafetyisourfirstpriority!

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FIRERESPONSEPLAN

Intheeventofafirealarm,classeswillimmediatelyandcalmlyevacuatethebuilding,followingthesafestpossibleroute.EmergencyServices(911)willbenotifiedofthesituation.Teacherswillaccountforallstudentsandwillhavetheiremergencycontactcardswiththem.Parentswillbenotifiedassoonaspossible.Firedrillswillbeperformedatleasttwiceperyear,andteacherswillinstructstudentsonfiresafetyprocedures.

EARTHQUAKERESPONSEPLAN

Studentsandstaffpractice“Drop,CoverandHold”asaresponsetoearthquake.Whatdoesitmean?Drop-Undersomethingsturdyandtallerthanyouare.Cover-Thebackofyourheadandneckwithonearm.HoldOn-Incasethethingyou’reundermoves.Aftertheshakingstops,studentswillbeevacuatedfromthebuildingandgodirectlytotheoutdoormeetingspace.Thebuildingstructurewillbecheckedandassessedforcrackedceilings,brokenwindowsandotherdamage.Ifthebuildingseemssound,thenstudentswillreturntothebuilding.Ifthebuildingdoesnotappeartobesound,thefiredepartmentwillbenotifiedandparentswillbecalledtopickuptheirchildren.

INCLEMENTWEATHERPROCEDURES

Wintermaybringweatherconditionsthatrequireschoolscheduledelaysorclosure.Safetyforyourchildisourprimaryconcern.

• Normalschooloperationswillprevailunlessachangeofscheduleisannounced

• WefollowPeninsulaSchoolDistrict’sweatherclosures.

Iftheannouncementis:

• Closed-thentherewillbenomorningorafternoonclasses• 2hourlatestart-thentherewillbenomorningclasses.Afternoonclasses

willoperateasusual.

Ourgoalistomakeinformationavailabletofamiliesaboutschoolclosureorchangesintheschoolscheduleby5:00a.m.DetailswillbeannouncedintheWelcomePacket.

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INCLOSING

We’dliketothankyouforallowingustopartnerwithyouineducatingyourchild.Ifyoueverhaveanyquestionsorconcerns,ourdoorisalwaysopentoyou.WearelookingforwardtoanamazingyearatHarborCovenantPreschool,andwearesogladyouhavechosentojoinus!