The Little Red Schoolhouse
Calendar 2011-2012*
413-253-5259
SEPTEMBER, 2011
Tues. 6 - Visiting morning
Weds. 7 - Day 1 for half of class
Thurs. 8 - Day 1 for 2nd half of class
Mon. 12 – Regular school week begins
Mon. 19 – Lunch bunch begins
OCTOBER 2011
Mon. 10 - No School – Columbus Day
Thurs. 13 – Parent Night
Mon. 31 – Trick-or-Treating on campus
NOVEMBER, 2011
Thurs. 10 – No School – Curriculum Day
Tues. 22 - Class Thanksgiving Celebration, 11:45 Dismissal for all
Weds. + Thurs. 23 + 24 - No School
DECEMBER, 2011
Weds. 21 - 11:45 - Dismissal for all
JANUARY, 2012
Tues. 3 - Return to School
Mon. 16 – No School – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Thurs. 26 – No School –Curriculum Day
FEBRUARY, 2012
Tues. 14 – Valentine’s Day Celebration
Thurs. 16 – 11:45 Dismissal for all
Mon. 20 – Fri. 24 VACATION
MARCH, 2012
Thurs. 15 – No School – Professional Day
APRIL, 2012
Thurs. 12 – 11:45 Dismissal for all
Mon. 16 – Fri. 20 - VACATION
MAY, 2012
Weds. 16 – Last Day of School*Calendar is subject to change
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students
The school admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The Little Red Schoolhouse does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, disability, political beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or religion in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, or other school administered programs. Toilet training status is not an eligibility requirement for enrollment.
Board of Trustees
The Little Red Schoolhouse is governed by a Board of Directors. Any of these volunteer members would be happy to talk with you. The Vice President addresses any issues that cannot be worked out with the Director or educators. The Department of Early Education and Care is our licensing authority.
Parents are welcome to attend our Board meetings. The Board meets three or four times each year and families will be notified of upcoming meetings. Copies of the minutes are available upon request. We appreciate help with social functions, t-shirt sales, class scrapbooks, and evaluations when needed.
Arrivals & Departures
Our day begins promptly at 8:45 and ends at 11:45, with lunch bunch from 11:45-12:45, Monday through Thursday. We ask you to be conscious of the fact that educators are meeting prior to the start of school at 8:45 and often have commitments after school at 12:45, so arrival and departure times are strictly adhered to.
Snacks
A nutritious snack is provided each day at Little Red. We offer crackers, cheese and fruit or vegetables each day. We usually have milk or water, with juice once a week. Snacks prepared by family volunteers are welcome. Please be aware that we usually have some students with allergies.
Birthdays
If your child’s birthday falls during the school year, we can celebrate it at school. Please feel free to send a special treat to school IF you wish. Half-birthdays can also be celebrated at school for those whose birthdays fall during the summer months. Please do not put invitations to birthday parties in the cubbies unless everyone is invited. If you wish to donate a children’s book (or small game or puzzle) to the school, it would be appreciated, but by no means required!
Toys from Home
It is best to have your child leave toys at home. However, we realize that bringing something familiar from home may make a child feel more secure, particularly in the beginning. We ask that the special object be left in the cubby. Each week we will have a “Sharing” time for talking about special events in their lives and/or for showing items they have made or found in nature, or in any other way might be important to them.
Outside Play
We will be going outside for part of each day, weather permitting. Please make sure that your child is always dressed to go out. We even go for walks in misty rain and snow. Snowpants and boots are always needed if there is snow. Please bring a complete change of clothes to be left at school. Put in a shoebox or ziplock bag, the clothes can be stored in the child’s cubby. Please mark clothing such as boots, raincoats, hats and mittens with your child’s name. When possible, attach mittens to cuffs. Also, make sure that boots are large enough.
Please send your child to school in washable clothes. Though we will be teaching care of self, there are times when freedom to be creative and expressive is limited by the fear of getting dirty.
Health
If your child does not appear to be feeling well in the morning, please keep him or her at home. We are also quick to call you when your child seems to be “coming down with something”. This is done in the belief that home and family are a child’s first choice when they are not feeling well.
Parking
Amherst College Campus Police will ticket anyone who parks in spaces other than those facing Coolidge dorm. Please be sure to fill in a license plate form to receive the required parking pass.
Snow Closings
We follow the Amherst Public School System decision regarding snow days. Please listen to WHMP radio or check Channel 22 or 40 for cancellations. We delay school’s opening only 1 hour – when Amherst schools delay 1 or 2 hours. We are closed when Amherst Schools are closed. The Amherst School’s snowline number is: 362-1898.
Children with Disabilities: Acceptance and Social Service Referral Plan
Acceptance
The Little Red Schoolhouse will accept applications for any child with a disability and will determine whether to accept or service a child with a disability according to 102 CMR 7.07(7).
The Director will meet with the parents of a child with a disability, who is requesting admission to The Little Red Schoolhouse. The Director will, upon request, provide the parents with our written statements, services, and referral policy. The Director will obtain written consent from the parents to request information related to a child’s participation in the school’s program from a Local Education Agency, Early Intervention Program or other health or service providers.
Based upon available information, The Little Red Schoolhouse (the Director), with the parents input, will identify the specific accommodations, if any, required to meet the needs of the child at our School.
If the Director, educators, and/or Board of Directors feel that enrolling a particular child with disabilities would cause an undue burden on our School, the parents will be notified in writing within thirty days of receipt of authorized, requested information and the reasons for the decision. (The parents will also be informed that they can contact the Department of Early Education and Care for a review of our decision. A copy of this notification will be kept in our School files.)
The Director will be the liaison for each child with a disability. The Director will be responsible for coordination care in the program and with service providers and communicating with the child’s parents, service providers and educators.
Child Guidance Plan
Guidance Plan- Behavior Management
· Educators encourage appropriate behavior by providing children with a role model through their own appropriate actions.
· Educators will ensure that their interactions reflect qualities of consistency, fairness, warmth and sensitivity.
· Educators are not to show favoritism or bias.
· Children are given positive guidance. This means that encouragement and appreciation are given as recognition of appropriate behavior.
· Educators solve problems with a child by establishing eye-contact in a non-threatening way and speaking firmly but not in a threatening way.
· Children are not subject to, or threatened with, any form of corporal punishment or any humiliating or frightening techniques. Physical, verbal and emotional punishment is regarded as unacceptable and will not be permitted or justified as a behavior management technique.
· Educators provide choices to help the child be a part of the decision-making process.
· Educators help children to solve any problems verbally. This verbal skill will empower the child and help the child to cope with difficult situations that require negotiation and problem-solving, both as a child and an adult.
· The child should never be accused of being unacceptable. Rather the behavior of the child is deemed acceptable or unacceptable. That is, educators distinguish the action from the child - the child is always respected.
· Educators acknowledge and accept a child's feelings of anger, frustration or jealousy. The feelings are distinguished from what the child does about the feelings. The educators talk about feelings and encourage the child to talk about them.
· Educators encourage children to understand that there is nothing wrong with feeling angry - it is the reaction to the anger, such as hitting, that is not acceptable.
· Children are encouraged to become aware of their own physiological signs that tell them about their feelings as an indicator of what may be the right action to take in various situations, for example, conflict situations.
· Educators should comfort the child who hurt as well as the child who has been hurt.
The 'time out' method is used marginally. This means that the disruptive child is excluded from an activity for a short period of time. However, children are not kept apart from other children for more than a few minutes. After this period of time, educators then ask the child to play appropriately and help them reintegrate into the group and rejoin the activity.
When a child’s behavior is physically hurtful to her/himself or to others, the parent may be called to pick up the child early. The child may be suspended from School for the remainder of that day. The child will be given an opportunity to change his/her hurtful behavior before the educator will resort to having the child picked up early by the parent.
Termination & Suspension Plan
Any educator or parent who feels a particular child has a social, mental or physical disability should contact the Director. This includes behavioral problems as well.
The Little Red Schoolhouse will make every effort to work with families to avoid suspension or termination, where appropriate. When a child is terminated from Little Red, whether at the initiative of The Little Red Schoolhouse or the parents, Little Red will make every effort to prepare the child for departure in a manner that is developmentally appropriate.
A child may be suspended or terminated from The Little Red Schoolhouse for several different reasons. Failure by parents to cooperate with our policies and requirements is grounds for termination. A child may be terminated if the parent or guardian fails to pay tuition.
If a parent or guardian does not abide by the Department of Early Education and Care requirements and fails to have their child properly immunized, screened for lead poisoning, or fails to bring their child to the doctor for an annual physical exam, the child may be suspended until such requirement is fulfilled. A child may be suspended after two notices of delinquency in keeping their child’s health records up to date. If a child has not had a physical exam in over a year, the Director will notify the parent in writing. If the parent fails to schedule an appointment with the child’s doctor, a second notice will be sent. If the parent fails to respond to the second notice, the Director may choose to suspend the child until the physical exam is completed and the record is brought to The Little Red Schoolhouse office. The same policy applies for certain delinquent immunization and lead screenings. The Health Care Consultant may recommend that the Director suspend a child immediately in cases where the child may pose a health or safety risk to others or to him or herself by being around other children while improperly immunized.
Any child who bites another child may be terminated. The Little Red Schoolhouse reserves the right to terminate and the Director has sole discretion in this matter in order to protect the children’s health and safety.
A child may also be terminated when The Little Red Schoolhouse is unable to safely meet the needs of the child and/or the parent. All efforts will be made to avoid suspension and/or termination of children whenever possible. To avoid suspension and termination of children due to challenging behavior, the Director and the child’s teacher will meet with the parent(s) or guardian(s) to try to identify and resolve the problem(s) and to discuss options other than suspension or termination. Any of the following may take place:
a) Notify parents verbally and in writing of concern.
b) Give parents a copy of written observations.
c) Meet with parents to assist in planning.
d) Contact outside resource person to observe if necessary. *
e) Meet with outside resource person for suggestions
The educators may develop a behavioral intervention plan to be implemented at home and at Little Red. Referrals for further evaluation, diagnostic, and/or therapeutic services may be provided by the Director. If the parent does not follow through on the referral or if the problems continue to disrupt the child’s class, termination may be necessary. A date and time will be arranged for a second parent conference to review the progress. The Little Red Schoolhouse, in partnership with the family, will pursue consultation and training for the educators. Every effort will be made by the educators to accommodate the families needs and to prevent termination. Decisions to terminate will be at the sole discretion of the Director.
The Director will inform the parent of the availability of information and referral for other child care services.
* A parent must give written consent for an outside resource person to observe their child.
If, after the above procedures, the educators and Board of Directors determine that continued enrollment of a particular child is a threat to the safety and well being of others, said child will be terminated from the program. A child will also be terminated if the School determines that continued service to this child would cause an undue burden to The Little Red Schoolhouse. Parents of the child will be given written notification of termination and written reasons for the termination. The educators will make every effort to prepare the child for leaving the School in a manner consistent with his/her ability to understand. Parents will be informed of any referral information that we have available.
A child may also be terminated from the School if:
The health and safety of the child at the School cannot be assured.
The child’s developmental needs are not being met at the School.
Tuition has not been paid for more than 2 months.*
Any inappropriate parental action or use of language interrupts the normal running of the program.
* THE BOARD ASSUMES THAT YOUR CHILD WILL ATTEND LITTLE RED FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR. IF YOUR CHILD MUST WITHDRAW, YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT MONTH’S TUITION PAYMENT. IF, AT ANY TIME, YOU ARE ONE MONTH IN ARREARS IN TUITION PAYMENTS YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO CONTINUE IN THE PROGRAM UNTIL YOU ARE UP TO DATE, UNLESS SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE SCHOOL BEFOREHAND.
PARENT INFORMATION, RIGHTS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Chapter 28, Section 10 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mandates to the Department of Early Education and Care that legal responsibility of promulgating rules and regulations governing the operation of day care centers (including nursery schools).
The licensee is required to inform all parents of specific information about their rights and responsibilities at the time of admission of their child to the center. Section 7.04 of 102 CMR 7.00, the regulations that govern day care centers, contains more information.
PARENTS’ RIGHTS
Right to Visit
You have a right to make unannounced visits to your child’s room while your child is present.
Parent Input
The program must have a procedure for allowing your input in the development of School policy and procedure. The program must allow you to make suggestions, but it is up to the program to decide whether or not they will be implemented.
Conferences
You have the right to request an individual conference with the program’s educators. The licensee has the responsibility to make the educators available.
Meeting prior to Admittance
The licensee shall assure that the Director or her designee meets with you prior to admitting your child to the center.
You should also be given the opportunity to visit the classroom either at the time of the meeting or prior to the enrollment of your child.
Progress Reports
At least every six (6) months, you should either meet with the School’s educators to discuss your child’s progress, or receive a written progress report of your child’s activities and participation in the center. This report must become part of your child’s center record. If yours is a child with disabilities, you can receive written progress reports every three (3) months. The School must bring any special problems or significant developments to your attention as soon as they arise.
Your Child’s Records
Information contained in your child’s record is privileged and confidential. The school’s educators may not distribute or release information in your child’s record to anyone not directly related to implementing the program plan for your child without your written consent. You must be notified if your child’s record is subpoenaed.
Access to the Record
You should be able to have access to your child’s records. The school must provide access within two business days, unless they have your permission to take longer. You must be allowed to view your child’s entire record, even if it is located in more than one location. The school must have procedures regarding access, duplication, and dissemination of children’s records. They must maintain a written log that identifies anyone who has had access or has received any information out of the record. This log is available only to you and the people responsible for maintaining the School’s records.
Amending the Record
You have the right to add information, comments on data or any other relevant materials to your child’s record: you also have the right to request deletion or amendments of any information contained in your child’s record. Such requests shall be made in accordance with the procedures described below:
1. If you are of the opinion that adding information is not sufficient to explain, clarify or correct objectionable material in your child’s record, you have the right to have a conference with the licensee to make your objections known;
2. The licensee shall, within one (1) week after the conference, give you a decision in writing stating the reason or reasons for the decision. If her decision is in your favor, she shall immediately take steps as may be necessary to put the decision into effect.
Charge for Copies
The licensee shall charge a reasonable fee for copies of any information contained in your child’s record.
Transfer of the Record
Upon your written request, when your child is no longer in care, the licensee can give you your child’s records or transfer them to any other person that you identify. The center should ask you to sign a form verifying that you have received the record.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROGRAM
Providing Information to the Department of Early Education and Care
The licensee must make available to the Department of Early Education and Care any information required to be kept and maintained under these regulations and any other information reasonably related to the requirements of these regulations. This includes information in your child’s records. Authorized employees of the Department are not to remove identifying case materials from the center premises and are required to maintain confidentiality of individual records.
Reporting Abuse or Neglect
All educators are mandated reporters. They are required by law to report suspected abuse and neglect to either the Department of Social Services or the licensee’s program administrator. The licensee must have written policies and procedures for reporting and must provide the written policy to you upon your enrollment.
Notification of Injury
The licensee must notify you immediately of any injury that requires emergency care. They must also notify you, in writing, within 24 hours, if any first aid is administered to your child.
Availability of Regulations
The school must have a copy of CMR 102 7.00, Standards for the Licensure or Approval of Group Day care/preschool and School Age Child Care Programs, on the premises, available to any person upon request. If you have any questions about any of the regulations, ask your school to show them to you.
LUNCH
Lunch is often a very social time for children at school. For some children this means more talking that eating. The following are a few ideas you might consider when planning your child’s lunch:
Several small things to eat rather than large items works better for most children.
Crunchy foods, like green/red peppers, apple slices, carrots, or crackers with something to dip in are liked by most children. Most children this age cannot manage to eat an entire apple or pear; slices or cut halves work better.
If your child doesn’t eat much for lunch please save desserts for quieter moments at home.
We will encourage that desserts be eaten last, but let us know if you want your child to be able to make that choice her/himself.
Please provide a healthy beverage in an easy to open container.
Please do not send in fruit roll-ups or gummy bears.
Lunch ends promptly at 12:45. As educators often have other obligations when school is over, we ask that you be prompt each day at pick-up.
Parents who arrive late for the 12:45 pick-up 3 times will forfeit the lunch spot. Please understand that our concern is for the young children, most of whom are exhausted by 12:45.
In emergency situations, parents who will be late should call the school as soon as possible: 253-5259. The educator will then assess whether she and the child will stay to await the parent or make other arrangements.
The School reserves the right to limit a child’s access to the lunch program if the educators feel that said child’s presence will not prove successful for the child or her/his peers.
Transportation Plan
Parents are responsible for seeing that their child is transported to and from The Little Red Schoolhouse. We will also be having some field trips for which we will need parent drivers. In addition, Amherst College offers several interesting places to go within walking distance. Parents are encouraged to offer suggestions for trips.
The following is required by the Department of Early Education and Care, when transporting nursery school children in personal cars:
You must have a seat belt for each person that you transport. The law of the Commonwealth now states that children under 5 years old and less than 40 pounds must ride in child safety seats.
You must also have the following liability insurance: (a) injury per person, $100,000; (b) injury per accident, $300, 000; (c) property damage, $5,000.
PEDICULOSIS (HEAD LICE)
POLICY:
When head lice or nits (eggs) are found, the student will be excluded from school until the infection is treated.
Because head lice has become epidemic among young children, we will also make periodic checks of the entire class in mid-September, after vacations, and if anyone reports that their child has gotten head lice. Educators and parents familiar with recognizing head lice or nits will be doing the checking. Questions or concerns should be discussed with the Director.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Head lice are very contagious and quickly spread unless treated. Children’s heads should be checked regularly, especially if an itchy scalp is noted. Eggs are most commonly found in the hair around the ears, the back of the neck and at the crown of the head.
In the event that head lice or nits are found, the student will be excluded from school until the infection is treated. All family members and close contacts should be examined and any infected persons should be treated according to the following directions:
TREATMENT:
1. Apply lice shampoo according to directions.
2. Rinse hair well and towel dry.
3. Comb hair with a fine-toothed comb.
4. Repeat treatment according to package directions.
5. Wash all clothing and bedding in hot water and dried in an automatic dryer using the hottest setting.
6. Brushes and combs can be boiled for one minute.
7. Rugs, furniture, pillows and mattresses should be vacuumed or dry-cleaned if possible.
The child may return to school only after ALL NITS have been removed and must be checked by a educators member or parent before returning to school.
INCUBATION:
Eggs of lice hatch in one week and sexual maturity is reached in 3 to 14 days.
CLINICAL FEATURES:
A. Itching is the most common symptom.
B. Nymhal (maturing stage) or adult lice (1-2 mm long) are not commonly seen.
C. Nits (louse eggs) are the most visible sign and
1. When found attached to hair shaft within ½” of scalp indicates active infestation.
2. When found attached to hair shaft more than ½” from scalp, “nits” are usually hatched or are infertile and will not hatch.
The Department of Early Education and Care requires that we give parents this partial copy of our Health Policy. The entire policy is posted over the desk in our office. Personal copies are available upon request.
PRE-SCHOOL/GROUP DAY CARE HEALTHCARE POLICY
Emergency Telephone Numbers
Health Care Consultant –
Fire Department – 911
Police Department – 911
Ambulance/Rescue – 911
Massachusetts Poison Information Center- 1-800-682-9211
Emergency Health Care- Amherst Medical, 256-8561
University Health Services, 577-5000
Hospital- Cooley Dickinson, 582-2000
Procedures for Emergencies and Illness
If needed, an ambulance will be called and then Amherst College Police will be called.
An educator will accompany the child in the ambulance.
Parents will be notified at home or work before transportation of their child to a medical facility if possible. Otherwise parents will be called as soon as possible after the emergency needs of their child have been met.
When parents cannot be reached, the alternate people listed in the child’s records will be called.
In the event of an emergency during a field trip, 911 will be called as soon as an educator or responsible adult can reach a telephone. Educators will administer any necessary first aid until a Rescue Squad arrives.
Plan for meeting the individual needs of mildly ill children while in care
(7.07(19) and (21))
Mildly ill children are put on a nap-mat in the office. Toys, books, liquids, and food are brought to the child as requested until someone arrives to take the child home. An educator will stay with the child.
Plan for administering medication – prescription (7.07 (22))
Educators of Little Red will administer emergency medication only: epi-pen. Little Red educators do not administer non-prescription drugs.
Child Abuse and Neglect Policy at The Little Red Schoolhouse
Workers at The Little Red Schoolhouse have the responsibility (and are required by Massachusetts’ law) to immediately report all suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect to the Program Director (hereinafter referred to as the “Director”) and the Department of Social Services (hereinafter referred to as “DSS”).
Abuse means the non-accidental commission of any act by a caretaker, which causes or creates a substantial risk of harm or threat of harm to a child’s well being.
Neglect means failure by a caretaker, either deliberately or through negligence, to take ‘those actions necessary to provide a child with minimally adequate food, clothing, shelter medical care, supervision or other essential care.
PROCEDURE: Any person who suspects child abuse or neglect immediately reports this to the Director and to DSS (phone 586-8480). The Director and educators will then follow a course of action outlined by DSS. The Director or educator suspected of child abuse or neglect is removed from interaction with children until an investigation is completed by DSS. Normal pay will continue for 4 weeks while the investigation is taking place, unless the suspected personnel is found guilty before that time. In that case, pay will stop immediately. The child might also be removed from the program for his or her protection, in consultation with DSS, the Director, The Vice-President of the Board of Directors, and the alleged victim’s parents/legal guardians. The Vice-President will make the final decision.
In addition, the Director will notify the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care immediately after filing a 51A report, or learning that a 51A report has been filed, alleging abuse or neglect of a child while in the care of the preschool program or during a related activity.
The Little Red Schoolhouse will make every effort to cooperate with DSS and EEC in any investigation of suspected child abuse or neglect.
If the allegation is proven, the educator or the Director in question will be dismissed.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Plan and Training
Our School has developed a disaster preparedness plan/policy in conjunction with Amherst College. Our plan includes responses to the different disasters our site is vulnerable to, as well as procedures for on- and off-site evacuation and shelter-in-place. Evacuation routes are through the nearest door in each classroom. Our disaster preparedness plan/policy is located in the office.
Educators are oriented to our disaster policy annually and when any changes are made. Parents/guardians have access to this plan upon request.
If there is enough time, we would prefer to call parents and get children home. However, if this is not possible, then we will move to the basement of Stone Dormitory or Davis Dorm. (A sign will be posted on the school door telling parents where we are). If our phones are not working we will have access to teacher cell phones and emergency phones for the College.
Supplies
Our center has a supply of food and water for children and educators for at least 24 hours, in case parents/guardians are unable to pick up children at usual time. Therese Ross is responsible for stocking supplies. Expiration dates of food, water, and supplies are checked every six months and supplies are rotated accordingly. Essential medications and medical supplies are also kept on hand for individuals needing them.
Drills
Fire drills are conducted and documented each month.
