The
Community
Preschool
at
SOU
Program Handbook
2020-2021
A community based preschool program
for children 3 to 5 years of age.
Located on the beautiful campus of Southern
Oregon University at the Education/Psychology
The
Community
Preschool
at
SOU
Important Contact Info
Phone: 541-552-6922 Web: inside.sou.edu/preschool Email: [email protected]
Philosophy
The Community Preschool at SOU provides a play-based environment where experiential learning is encouraged. Our play-based curriculum bridges theory into practice and is guided by our professional staff through careful observation and planning based on children’s strengths, interests and needs. We know that learning takes place through
relationships and an internal drive to explore which is essential for learning. We support the cycle of learning which begins with awareness and moves through a natural process achieving mastery over time. The environment is arranged with meaningful and relevant selections that support self-initiation and choice making. We highly regard children’s natural awe and wonder, curiosity, and drive to learn. We value the child’s individual process and timeline. Children are encouraged to appreciate their own and other’s abilities and ideas, to try new
experiences; all the while their own intellectual, social, emotional, and imaginative competencies are nurtured daily.
As a teaching community here at the University, our objective is to model best practices in early childhood education for children, parents, and University students in a welcoming and thoughtful preschool
Hours of Operation
The Preschool is open from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm Monday through Friday. Families will be kept updated on events and have a school calendar.New families may schedule a visit to the school through email [email protected] or by phone:
Tuition
Tuition is computed for the entire school year, not on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. There is a $100 non-refundable deposit to secure your child’s position, and cover some supply and materials fees.
Tuition is due on the first of the month, and a $10 late fee will be charged to any account not paid by the 5th, unless prior arrangements
have been made. Payments may be mailed or taken to the Service Center at the Susanne Homes Building or can be mailed to Business Services at Southern Oregon University, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland, OR 97520, Attention: Colleen Martin-Low. Per university policy
accounts past due will incur interest on any unpaid balances.
The Preschool is a self-support program. All of our expenses (teacher’s salaries, cooking and art supplies, enrichment programs, equipment, books, etc.) are covered by the tuition fees paid by families. We appreciate your timely payments.
Schedule Options:
2 days per week: Monday and Tuesday $260.00
3 days per week: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday $390.00 4 days per week: Monday through Thursday $520.00 5 days per week: Monday through Friday $650.00
2020-2021: Current COVID guidelines require children be in ‘stable’
groups. A stable group is not more than 20; not more than 16 children plus the adults scheduled on that day. We will be making adjustments as we go along and ask for your patience during this time.
Adding Days: To add or reduce days please notify the Director. Due
to COVID restrictions and the need to maintain stable groups we may not be able to provide your first choice of days. We appreciate your understanding. We will do all we can to accommodate your needs and still follow regulations.
To Withdraw: Occasionally it may be a family need to withdraw. If
this is the case please provide a written notice to the Director 30 days prior to the withdrawal. There is a $75.00 withdrawal fee along with any unpaid balances.
Trial Day: Families who wish to attend on a trial basis may schedule
an appropriate time with the Director. A parent or guardian must at-tend with the child. We ask that no other siblings unless in an infant carrier. The visit will last about 2 hours. Longer if you are not too weary, we anticipate the child will be fine!
For more information, or for an application visit: sou.edu/preschool
To schedule a visit, contact us at (541) 552-6922. or email Rebecca Tree, M. Ed., Director
Your Child’s Day
All learning is based on experience and relationships. The brain relies on the whole body to provide information through interactions with others with different life experiences, with well chosen materials to explore and real life events that encourage creativity and problem solving. Not enough can be said about play in the early years, even through the life span. Young children are especially wired to move and explore, to touch, run, yell and wonder. Simply, play in all its many forms-and there are many-provide needed opportunities to build a fully functioning, dynamic human being. Children are naturally inclined to play at the skills they see adults use everyday in addition to intently pursuing their own curiosity and interests. Ours is the responsibility to provide the large blocks of time, materials and support needed for such explorations. In all of this activity we expect children to get dirty, very dirty. We ask parents and loved ones to recall their own childhood play experiences and in spite of bumps, bruises and things you may never tell your own parents, you arrived at the doors of adulthood.
The Community Preschool at SOU is in session Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. Families receive a school-year calendar and updates.
The daily plan incorporates a variety of experiences for large and small groups, and individual pursuits. The day is balanced between teacher-initiated and child-initiated activities. The curricular day will include a combination of the following.
• Open ended art: (painting, drawing, cutting, gluing, molding with various clays and dough) • Exploring water or other sensory materials
• Pretending, which elevates children's social experiences, language, creative thinking, acceptance and problem solving
• Block building and other construction which build awareness how space can be used and how ideas take on physical form.
• Cooking (cutting, spreading, mixing, health and nutrition)
• Music/Movement: All language has its own rhythm and beat. Clapping, tapping, spinning, foot banging are essential for young children. Our balance centers and muscles are strengthened when we explore the relationship between our arms, legs and other body parts in
coordination to the whole body.
• Outdoor: The most primary of needs for young children. We do not want this generation to become detached to the outdoors and what it provides.
Story in all its facets; oral story telling, telling your own story, singing stories, shadow stories, picture books.
Gathering Time
At the end of the day we gather to share ideas, wish well those who could not attend, discuss the days events-the good, the bad and the ugly-problem solve when necessary, sing, dance, and enjoy stories and one another as a community.
Due to COVID, adjustments have been made to ensure safe interactions, stable groups, and sanitizing practices, yet hold onto the child's heart and well-being. We are committed to provide a vibrant experience for your child amid this
This schedule may change due the
8:30-8:45: Arrival/Health
Check
Requirements for health checks will be fol-lowed. Children will first deposit their belongs, go to the bathroom to wash hands/ toilet if needed. Then go outdoors.
8:45-9:45: Outdoor
class-room experiences.
The patio will be set up as we would the class-room; construction, art/drawing, housekeeping, books, as well as access to the playground.
9:45-10:00: Transition for
snack
Picnic Style!
Children can save any work they wish to return to. Wash hands and find a cozy outdoor area. Towels will be provided for sitting. We will dis-tance the children in such a way that still main-tains connections.
10:15-10:30: Read and Sing As long as we are sitting why not sing a little
and read a story.
10:30-12:00: Continue
ex-plorations. Children will tidy up their snack and return to their activities.
12:00-12:15: Tidy up and
prepare for lunch Everyone puts on their detective eyes to find lost toys. Lost toys get sad when left behind.
12:15: Wash and prepare for
lunch. Picnic style.
12:15-12:45: Lunch When children are finished they can select
among some specially chosen activities.
12:45-1:15: Gathering We will gather together to explore an idea
pre-pared by teaching staff. Example: washing
hands, safety walks, art activity, movement, etc.
1:15-1:30: Community
meeting We will wish well anyone who could not make it, say a special goodbye to one another and greet our loved ones.
The Community Preschool at SOU Daily Routine
Please see Opening Preschool under COVID for additionalinfor-mation in your packet and on the website.
Birthdays
Birthdays are special, and we observe your child’s birthday at school by lighting a candle to celebrate each year of your child’s life. We love to have one or both parents join us for this occasion, share a story and/or photograph of your child’s baby days and younger years. The All About Me form is a great tool that we will have on hand.
Other Stuff
Snacks and Lunch
Each child will bring a nutritious snack and lunch from home. Please label the foods and show them to your child so they know which is for snack and which for lunch. We will provide water. We will not have the ability to leave the children to warm up a lunch.
If there are known allergies we will let you know. Some allergies are very serious. In this case we will ask that particular foods not come to the school.
Sometimes we will need items for cooking projects. You will receive more details on snack at the beginning of the year. During COVID we will eliminate this project.
We encourage that your child bring a water bottle labelled with their name. Thank you for your kind attention.
Also, please send an extra set of clothing (tops, bottoms, under-wear, and socks) with your child to be kept at school. This can be stored in a shoe box or plastic bag labeled with your child's first and last name.
Toys from home
We ask that children leave their personal toys or special things at home, so that items do not get lost or broken at school.
School Attire
We wouldn't wear formal attire to do yard work or clean house. Play, when done right is messy, very messy. Children should not be burdened with the worry of ruined clothing. Although we do provide paint shirts and aprons, we cannot totally protect clothing from dirt and stains. There are those children who do not want to wear these. In addition, we do not want to make clothing more important than what the child does or who the child is.
Safety
Your child’s safety is of the utmost importance to us and we have fair-ly strict rules to ensure this safety.
• We must have a current list of those persons allowed to pick up your child. If there is anyone not allowed to have contact with your child please add this information to the enrollment form.
• We will not relinquish your child to someone whose name is not on the list. A personal note from the parent is required if exceptions are nec-essary. A phone call is acceptable only in emergency situations. If you will be traveling for any extended periods of time and leaving your child in the care of others we will need this information as this will now be your child's temporary and authorized care givers.
• During COVID designated drop off will be at the front door. Please see the document addressing this.
Please communicate any changes to the staff so we may ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Illness
Health and safety is of the utmost importance to us, and to
ensure this, we require that children be kept home in these
circumstances:
•
Has a temperature of 100 degrees or more
•Has nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
•
Has excessive mucus through the nose, or a productive
cough.
•
Has any other COVID symptoms.
•
Has a contagious illness requiring antibiotics. Infections
being treated with antibiotics require a child stay home for
one full day or more, before returning to school.
If any of these symptoms arise during the school day, you will
be asked to pick up your child from school in order to protect
the health of the children and staff at school.
We stress the importance of handwashing and healthy hygiene.
Parking
When bringing or picking up children, adults may park for 10
minutes in the green zone at the Mountain Ave entrance. For
longer stays, you may purchase a temporary parking permit
from the Administrative Services office in Britt Hall or park on
the streets around the University.
Notes:
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Important Contact Info
Phone: 541-552-6922 Web: inside.sou.edu/preschool
Email: [email protected] Director: Rebecca Tree M. Ed
