“Where learning and fun go hand in...

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“Where learning and fun go hand in hand.”

5100 Madison Street

Skokie, IL 60077

(847) 675-3048, ext. 1119

www.sd69.org/tops-pre-k/

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Table of Contents

Parent Coordinator Greetings, Madison School Staff, Contact

Information ……page 4

TOPS Preschool Staff, Parent Liaisons…..page 5

Mission Statements, Inclusion Statement……page 6

TOPS Philosophy & Curriculum……page 7

Assessment……page 8

TOPS Policies ……pages 9-13

Things to Wear in Snow……page 15

Staying Healthy in the Winter……page 16

Health Policy……page 17

Parent Involvement Opportunities ……pages 18-19

Important Information ……pages 19-21

Creating Healthy Goodbye Habits……page 21

Wellness Letter and Snack List……23 & 24

Parent Handbook Agreement……page 25 (sign and return)

Lending Library Agreement ……page 27 (fill out, sign, and return)

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Greetings

Dear Families,

Welcome to a brand new year at TOPS Pre-K! This school year will be filled with many

exciting experiences for your family. TOPS preschoolers spend the year making friends and

learning life skills. Math, science, social studies, reading, and writing are all introduced

through play and hands-on exploration. Your child will be having so much fun that he or she

might not realize learning is taking place. You will watch your child grow and develop in ways

you may never have imagined. You as a parent will also have the opportunity to try some new

things: attend family fun nights and parent workshops, check out books, games, and toys from

our lending library, and volunteer in your child’s classroom and during special events. Please

know that my door is always open. Call or stop by and visit any time. The TOPS teachers and I

are looking forward to a wonderful school year filled with learning and fun.

Sincerely,

Beth Grodzin

Preschool Parent Coordinator

Contact Information

TOPS Pre-K Office: 847-675-3048, ext. 1119 or [email protected]

TOPS Fax: 847-675-1691

TOPS Website: www.skokie69.net/tops

Madison School Office: 847-675-3048

District 69 Administrative Office: 847-675-7666

Madison School Staff

Madison School Office

Mrs. Kristen Ulery, Principal, Madison School

Mrs. Elisa Leporini, Assistant Principal, Madison School

Mrs. Heidi Tarzian, Madison School Secretary

Mrs. Ursula VanMersbergen, Madison School Secretary

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TOPS Staff

Our Illinois State Certified Teachers are highly qualified in early childhood education

and development. Through the cooperative effort of our entire staff we facilitate a

positive learning environment.

Mrs. Beth Grodzin, Parent Coordinator

Ms. Ashley Zolt, Special Education Teacher, Room 30

Ms. Angie Hembree, Teaching Assistant, Room 30

Mrs. Mary Walsh, General Education Teacher, Room 31

Ms. Sue Stolzer, Special Education Teacher, Room 31

Mrs. Ilene Stiernberg, Teaching Assistant, Room 31

Mrs. Rachelli Soffer, Special Education Teacher, Room 32

Mrs. Tanya Younan, Teaching Assistant, Room 32

TBD, Teaching Assistant, Room 32

Ms. Lauren Stovel, General Education Teacher, Room 33

Mrs. Margaret Nelson, Teaching Assistant, Room 33

Mrs. Francesca Ramirez, Speech/Language Pathologist

Mrs. Shruti Patel, Occupational Therapist

Mrs. Kelle Totsch, Behavior Specialist

Mrs. Sarah Kalinowski, Psychologist

Parent Liaisons

Parent Liaison’s are available to provide help for families that speak Urdu, Hindi,

Assyrian, Arabic, and Spanish. Please contact them if you need help.

Souzan Barkho; English, Assyrian, Arabic

847-763-9333; [email protected]

Sandra Herrarte; English, Spanish


Subia Javed; English, Urdu, Hindi


mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

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District 69 Mission Statement

The mission of District 69 is to challenge each student to achieve

educational excellence, engage his or her passions, and develop character.

TOPS Pre-K Mission Statement

TOPS provides the building blocks necessary to nurture a young child’s

growth and development by:

Celebrating diversity

Building relationships with families and community

Providing a developmentally appropriate standards-based

curriculum

Individualizing instruction

Instilling a lifelong love of learning

Inclusion Statement

The Teaching Our Preschoolers (TOPS) program is committed to serving

students with special needs in the least restrictive environment. We

provide a full spectrum of supports so that children with special needs

can be included with their typically developing peers in our Preschool for

All classrooms as much as possible. Supports include occupational

therapy, speech/language therapy, physical therapy, assistive technology,

audiology services, social work services, and a wide range of other options

based on individual student needs.

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TOPS Pre-K Philosophy

The TOPS program supports the development of the whole child and

provides opportunities for learning which facilitate each child’s cognitive,

emotional, social, and motor development. We believe that children learn

best through hands-on play-based experiences and exploration. We

believe that a secure and nurturing classroom creates a positive learning

environment, which will stimulate each child’s growth and development.

Curriculum

The TOPS curriculum is aligned with Madison’s K-2 program to better

develop skills in reading, writing, science and mathematics. TOPS Pre-K

uses the Creative Curriculum, Get Set for School (which includes

Handwriting Without Tears), Second Step social/emotional curriculum,

and Jolly Phonics, which all follow the guidelines of the National

Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Illinois

Early Learning and Development Standards created by the Illinois State

Board of Education. Developmentally appropriate instruction promotes

cognitive, emotional, social, and motor skills growth. Children will engage

in hands-on experiences, which will enhance their joy of learning. Our

curriculum goals are met through:

-Learning centers which may include dramatic play, art, science,

math, literacy and writing, sensory, and technology.

-Group time activities, which may include music/movement, story

time, calendar, weather, show and tell, and literacy activities.

-Extra- curricular activities such as field trips, cultural events, and

community building events.

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Assessment

TOPS Pre-K screens all new students using the ASQ-3 and the ASQ: SE.

This screening covers communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem

solving, self-help, and social/emotional/behavioral skills. Students whose

family members speak a language other than English at home are also

screened with the Pre-IPT Oral English Language Proficiency Test to

assess English language proficiency. Those who are still learning English

receive extra assistance with English Language Learner (ELL) services.

Student skills are assessed on a regular basis throughout the school year

to ensure students are making progress in all areas of development.

Students who do not show progress in particular areas will be grouped

and will receive additional instruction in those areas. Children who

continue to have difficulty will receive more intensive services. This is

called MTSS or Multi-Tiered System of Support, and it ensures that all

students are making progress during the school year.

Finally, as the year progresses TOPS teachers collect work samples and

photographs to create a portfolio for each child. Our portfolio system

highlights your child’s accomplishments and growth based on the Illinois

Early Learning and Development Standards. We will meet twice a year at

parent/teacher conferences to share your child’s portfolio. It is yours to

keep and treasure at the end of the year.

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TOPS Policies

Classroom Placement

Due to the needs of your child, another child, or the program as a whole,

your child’s classroom or teacher placement can be changed at any time

during the school year.

Phone & Address Changes

Please notify the preschool office with any changes of information from

your original enrollment or medical forms. Maintaining current

information, such as your phone number, your address, names of people

authorized to pick up, and any medical concerns, is very important.

Keep Toys from Home at Home

In order to maintain a positive learning environment we ask that you keep

the following items at home:

- Toys - Food, candy, or drinks - Make-up, including lip gloss

- Money - Electronic toys, cell phones

Toilet Training

We realize that not all of our students are fully toilet trained before

coming to school, but we do ask that you send your child to school in

underpants if at all possible. If your child is still in the process of

learning how to use the toilet, please also send several extra changes of

clothing. Accidents are part of the learning process and we will work with

you to toilet train your child.

Birthdays

If you would like to celebrate your child’s birthday at school, please let

your child’s teacher know in advance. Sweets (cake, candy, cookies) are

not allowed in the classrooms. Please see the Wellness & Life Threatening

Food Allergies letter and snack list at the end of this handbook for more

information. Only healthy items will be accepted for a birthday

celebration. Plates and napkins are provided.

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Play Dates

We are not allowed to give out phone numbers of other parents in the

program. If you would like to set up a play date between your child and a

friend, please write a note to the other family requesting a play date. We

will be happy to put the note in the other child’s backpack. Please keep in

mind that we cannot guarantee that the other family will respond and will

not be involved in any other way.

Attendance

If your child is going to be absent, please call the TOPS office at 847-

675-3048, ext. 1119 before the school day begins. Please keep sick

children at home to speed their recovery and prevent the illness from

spreading. Please notify us in advance if you need to pick up your child

early.

Regular attendance creates good school habits for your child’s growth.

You are responsible for your child’s transportation. Please arrange

several ways for your child to get to school so that his or her education

is not disrupted by unexpected problems (car breaking down, work

schedule changes, etc.). It is essential that you have one or more back-up

plans to get your child to school and home again every day.

It is also important for your child to be on time to school every day. The

first 10-15 minutes of each class period are spent saying hello to friends

and getting used to the classroom again so children are ready to learn. In

addition, your child may feel nervous, worried, or embarrassed when

walking into the classroom late. Let’s make sure all children have a

smooth, relaxing transition to each school day.

Extended Absence

If a Preschool for All student is out of school longer than 20 consecutive

school days, her spot is not guaranteed to be here when she return. Her

name may be added to the waiting list until a new spot opens. All families

will need to prove residency again when they return from an extended

absence. Please notify the TOPS office if your child will be going out of

town.

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Drop off

Morning Preschool Drop-Off 8:40-8:50 AM Afternoon Preschool Drop-Off 12:30-12:40 PM

Please come to the East door (closest to the playground) to drop off your

child. Please DO NOT park in the circle drive off Madison—it is for buses and emergency vehicles only.

At drop-off, you must walk students to the preschool doors and wait for a

teacher before going back to your car. You may not leave a

preschooler unattended.

Never leave younger siblings in the car—this is not safe. Please take all

children with you to the preschool doors.

Late Drop-Off Policy: If a student arrives at school after 8:50 AM (for morning

students) or 12:40 PM (for afternoon students), parents MUST bring their

child to the Main Office of Madison School and wait with the student until a

preschool staff member arrives to walk the child to his or her classroom.

For the safety of all of our students and staff, please help

us when you are late at drop-off and follow these safety rules:

* If the preschool doors are closed, please go to the main entrance of the school and

sign your child in at the main office.

* Please do not allow other parents in as you exit the building. Please do not ask

other parents to let you in as they exit the building.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

It’s The Law!

The Child Passenger Protection Act requires that all children up to their 8th birthday

must be secured in an appropriate child restraint system (a car seat or booster). Children

between 8 and 16 years old must be seated in a seatbelt. As these are primary moving

violations, you can be stopped and ticketed if a child is observed to be improperly

restrained in your vehicle.

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Pick Up

Morning Preschool Pick-Up Pick Up 11:10-11:20 AM

Afternoon Preschool Pick-Up Pick Up 3:00-3:10 PM

Only the persons listed on the pick-up permission form will be allowed to

pick up your child from preschool. Please notify the people on your child’s

list that they will need to have a driver’s license or picture ID to pick up

your child. Please notify the TOPS office if someone other than you will

be picking up your child. You may change your pick-up permission form at

any time. Please DO NOT park in the circle drive off Madison—it is for buses and emergency vehicles only.

Late Pick-Up Policy: Parents who do not arrive by 11:25 AM (for morning

students) or 3:15 PM (for afternoon students) for pick-up, will receive a phone

call indicating that their child is waiting to be picked up.

Please note that we track attendance carefully. Families

whose children are consistently absent, late for school,

or picked up from school late may receive a phone call

from our Madison School Principal or Assistance

Principal to discuss attendance issues. If the issues

continue after a phone call, parents may be asked to

come to the school for a meeting with the Principal or Assistant Principal.

Students in the Preschool for All program may be withdrawn from the program

if attendance issues continue.

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Appropriate Dress

Please choose clothing that increases your child’s independence and allows

him or her to enjoy playing in the classroom and outside. Here are some

examples of appropriate clothing:

Clothing for teaching independence:

Clothes your child can play in and get dirty

Pull on pants or shorts

The correct size clothing

Pull over shirts/tops without fasteners

Velcro or Slip-On Shoes

All children must wear underwear and socks every day.

Clothing to Avoid:

Nice clothing

Clothes that are too small or tight, or much too big

Overalls and jumpsuits

Zipper pants

Buttons, belts, and buckles on clothing

Shoes with shoelaces

Flip flop sandals, crocs, heels, and open toed shoes (children

cannot move around the classroom safely and cannot enjoy the

playground fully with these types of shoes)

Children go outside every day possible, even when it is cold outside. Be

sure to send appropriate outdoor attire every day. See the next two

pages for information on what children should wear in the snow and

staying healthy in cold weather.

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Things to Wear

in Snow:

Snow Pants:

Snow Boots:

Snow Mittens:

Warm Coat:

Warm Hat:

Winter Scarf:

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Cold Weather Does Not Cause a Cold!!!

You’ve probably have heard the old warning that going outside in chilly weather, and

staying there too long, can make you “catch” a cold. Not true, says D.J. Verret, MD, a

doctor in Dallas. “Going outside…is one of the best things you can do to prevent catching a cold. Actually, being outside in cold weather has nothing to do with your risk

of catching a cold. Colds are caused by viruses or bacteria which are more often spread

in the winter because of close contact from everyone being indoors.” That’s right,

spending time outdoors can make you less susceptible to those nasty germs and less likely to get sick.

Children of all ages enjoy and benefit from playing outdoors in all except the most extreme weather. Daily outdoor play is healthy and burns energy. It gives children an opportunity for a change of environment, a balance in play and routine, and large muscle activities (gross-motor development). Taking children outdoors daily, even in winter, can be a healthy part of their schedule, and is safe when clothing is appropriate.

Children will need to wear the appropriate clothing to play outdoors in cold weather: This includes:

Snow pants Snow boots A Hat Mittens A Scarf A Warm coat

Snow Rules at Madison School:

Throwing snow is NOT allowed. This includes throwing snowballs and loose

snow. Some great activities that are allowed include making a snow angle, a

snowman, or even a snow fort.

No snow boots, no snow pants, NO SNOW! If your child is not dressed

properly for the snow, he or she will not be allowed to play in it.

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Health Policy

All children must have up-to-date health examinations and immunizations.

Please keep your child at home if they have:

Fever of 99.6 or higher

Stomach Ache or Vomiting

Skin rash or sores

Excessive coughing

Pink Eye (redness, seeping of eyes)

Diarrhea

Severe Headache

Flushed face

Excessive sneezing

Parents must pick up sick children within 15-20 minutes after

notification. If you cannot pick up your child, you are responsible for

ensuring your child is picked up by someone else.

The school nurse will give out doctor prescribed and labeled medication

only with a doctor’s note and written parent authorization. You may

contact the school nurse if you have a concern about your child’s health.

* Your child must be symptom free (no fever, vomiting, diarrhea)

without medication for 24 hours before returning to school.*

If your child will be absent from school, please call the TOPS office at

847-675-3048, ext. 1119 and leave a message if the call is not

answered. Please tell us the date of absence and the reason your child

will be absent. Please do not call the main Madison School office or the

Madison School nurse regarding preschool absences.

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Parent Opportunities

Volunteering

Volunteering offers you the opportunity to get involved in the TOPS

community and your child’s education. You will receive a monthly e-mail

encouraging you to sign up for volunteer opportunities. As a classroom

volunteer you can:

Play with your child and his/her friends

Read a story to the class

Assist the teacher with material preparation

Lead a group activity (song, art project, dance, etc.)

Provide outdoor supervision

Assist with a center or activity

IMPORTANT:

1) Parents may not bring younger siblings of any age to the classroom

during volunteer time.

2) Remember to say goodbye when your half hour time slot has ended.

Thank you in advance for adhering to the volunteering schedule.

3) Some children need more time to adjust to school than others. If

your child is not ready for you to volunteer in the classroom, we will

let you know. We appreciate your patience while your child adjusts

to the program.

PTO

The District 69 PTO offers many opportunities for parents to get

involved in the school community. Be sure to join the PTO in the fall and

get involved in Madison School.

Family Education and Parent Workshops

Throughout the year a variety of family education and parent workshops

are offered at our school. Parents have the opportunity to visit with

other parents, discuss parenting and child development topics, ask

questions, and receive information about what the community and school

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have to offer. Some activities are held during the day while your child is

in class, and some are held at night.

Lending Library

As part of our mission to make school/home connections stronger, we

have a lending library that consists of many learning tools for parents and

children. Parents must sign and return the agreement form on page 27 of

this handbook to use the library. If an item you have checked out is lost

or destroyed, we ask that you please replace it with something similar.

Some items that are available include: Leap Pads, children’s books,

puzzles, parenting books, theme boxes, educational toys, and DVDs.

Important Information

School Closings

TOPS preschool follows the calendar of School District 69. All families

can access the District 69 calendar online and are provided a TOPS

calendar to refer to, and should make note of days off. Whenever it

becomes necessary to close the schools, the announcement will be made

as early as possible on the radio, emergencyclosings.com,

weatherclosings.com, the District 69 website, television stations, and

through an automated telephone message sent out by the district office.

If school is closed during inclement weather, most often it will be

because the buses are not operating. When school is open during

inclement weather, the final decision as to whether a child attends school

on a particular day rests with the parent. As always, please call us if you

will be keeping your child home from school.

Schedule

Morning Session 8:40am-11:20am

Afternoon Session 12:30pm-3:10pm

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Early Release Days

On Madison School Early Release days, afternoon preschool classes will

run from 12:30-3:10 pm as usual. There is no schedule change for

preschool on these days.

Snack

TOPS provides a healthy snack and water, milk, or juice to drink every

day. Although most of our items are kosher, please note that the cheese

we serve is not. Parents are welcome to bring alternate snacks for

children with food allergies or dietary restrictions. Please speak with

your child’s teacher if you will need to provide alternate snacks. All

alternate items must follow the guidelines of the District Wellness policy

provided at the back of this handbook. TOPS Pre-K does not serve snacks

that contain meat or gelatin.

Staying Informed

The majority of TOPS communication will be through e-mail. Please

check your e-mail on a daily basis for the latest news from TOPS. If you

do not have an e-mail account, information will be sent home to you in

your child’s folder. All parents should check their child’s folder on a

daily basis to take out artwork and flyers.

English Language Learners

We would like our families who are learning English to know about this

wonderful resource. The Niles Township ELL Parent Center is located at

9440 Kenton Ave., Skokie, IL 60076. You can contact the center at (847)

568-7611.

If you think a translator would be helpful for a Parent Teacher

Conferences or any other meeting, please let us know ahead of time.

TOPS Website

TOPS’ website is updated weekly with calendars, classroom newsletters,

fun photos, and information about upcoming events. To visit the website,

go to www.skokie69.net/tops.

http://www.skokie69.net/tops

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Homeless Student Services

If you are homeless or become homeless during the school year, your

child and family may qualify for additional services. Please contact our

District 69 Homeless Liaison, Mrs. Kristine Joaquin Schubert, at 847-

675-7666, Ext. 1012.

Creating Healthy Habits for Saying Goodbye

Begin with simple departure rituals that are meaningful in

your family. Your child may want a hug and a reminder that

you will be back when school is over. Or s/he might want

some other interaction with you—sharing a joke or deciding

together which activity s/he will try first, for example.

If your child feels distressed when you leave, say that you

understand s/he might miss you while at school, but you

know things will feel better once s/he starts to play. Talk

about how much fun it will be at school and give

reassurance that s/he is okay.

Always be honest about the fact that you are leaving

the building and will be back for pick-up at the right time.

Never leave without letting your child know you are

going, even if you know that s/he will be upset. Slipping out

of the room unnoticed is not okay. Let our teachers know

when you are leaving--they will provide comfort and get

your child involved in an activity.

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Wellness & Life Threatening Food Allergies

We hope this letter finds you ‘well’! In an effort to maintain the goals set forth in District 69’s Wellness Policy (6:50), please follow the attached snack list for student consumption in our learning environments (beginning with the 2012-2013 school year). This list of snacks promotes a healthy lifestyle and is beneficial to the physical and cognitive development of our students. In past years the snack and treat choices have been unregulated; however we remain committed to students’ health and well being.

Please note that this snack list also complies with the district’s newly adopted Guidelines for Managing Life Threatening Food Allergies. The snacks on this list are safe to bring into our classrooms and learning environments and promote safety to reduce allergic reactions while the students are in school. Food allergies present an increasing challenge for schools. Because of the life-threatening nature of these allergies and their increasing prevalence, we must be prepared to provide treatment to food allergic students, reduce the risk of a food-allergic reaction and to accommodate students with food allergies. The guidelines seek to protect the safety and health of the majority of our students with life-threatening food allergies (including peanut and/or tree nut allergies). In addition to our commitment to maintaining a healthy and safe learning environment, the district will also designate one lunchroom table for students with life threatening food allergies.

Some Helpful Tips…

1) Check the labels and avoid snacks that contain peanuts, peanut flour, peanut oil, or peanut butter or other nuts. This includes snacks with almonds, coconuts, filberts, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nut, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts.

2) Read labels carefully to make sure the products are nut-free. This includes labels that read “May contain traces of peanuts/nuts” or “Processed in a facility that processes products that contain peanuts/nuts.” Food labels and ingredients change over time, so always read the label each time before purchasing snacks.

3) Include the packaging of your treat when you send it to the classroom so that the label may be rechecked if there are any questions.

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Snack List:

Fresh Fruit Fresh Vegetables Fruit cups or canned fruit in natural or light juices Raisins or other dried fruit Veggie dips Yogurt (moderate sugar) Hard or soft cheese Whole grain crackers:

Nabisco – Wheat Thins, Toasted Chips and Whole Wheat Ritz Rold Gold – Honey Wheat Braided Twist Pretzels Keebler - Club Multi-Grain Pepperidge Farm – Whole Wheat Goldfish

Baked chips Any Frito Lay baked chip

Water Unsweetened fruit or vegetable juices Low-fat milk, flavored or unflavored

Healthy School Celebrations/Rewards:

From celebrations to rewards, children in the classroom need not involve candy and other foods that can undermine children’s diets and health and reinforce unhealthful eating habits. A wide variety of alternative celebrations and rewards can be used to provide positive reinforcement for children’s behavior and academic performance. District 69 is committed to healthier ways of celebrating and rewarding students in the learning environment. Please visit www.skokie69.net/foodservice for more information and ideas.

http://www.skokie69.net/foodservice

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Parent Handbook Agreement

I have read through this entire parent handbook and understand the

policies and guidelines for the TOPS Pre-K program.

_______________________________

Parent Signature

_______________________________

Child’s Name

_____________

Date

***Please fill out and return this page to your child’s teacher or the

TOPS office.

Thank you,

TOPS Staff

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TOPS Lending Library Membership

*A Family Resource provided by District 69’s Teaching Our Preschoolers Program*

Lending Library Parent Agreement

Child’s Name: _______________________________________________________

Parent(s) Name(s): _____________________________________________________

Lending Library materials can be checked out for a one-week loan period. If your child is absent the

day your materials are due, please return the materials the day your child returns to school. All

materials are to be returned and are expected to be intact. Please keep track of small items that come

with your materials. Families are responsible for any missing or broken pieces and will be

responsible for replacing any lost or damaged items. Failure to comply with these terms may

result in loss of membership.

I understand and agree to comply with the above terms of membership.

_________________________________________ ___________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature Date

Lending Library materials can be checked out for a one-week loan period. If your child is absent the

day your materials are due, please return the materials the day your child returns to school. All

materials are to be returned and are expected to be intact. Please keep track of small items that come

with your materials. Families are responsible for any missing or broken pieces and will be responsible

for the cost of any items that must be replaced. Failure to comply with these terms may result in loss of

membership.

I understand and agree to comply with the above set terms of membership for the TOPS Lending

Library.

_________________________________________ ___________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature Date

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