Early Years Handbook 2015-2016 - A Truly International School · ! ! ! 5!!...
Transcript of Early Years Handbook 2015-2016 - A Truly International School · ! ! ! 5!!...
1
EARLY YEARS PARENT HANDBOOK
2
Message from the Head of the Early Years
Welcome to the Early Years (Primary Years Programme) at Uptown School. Your child is taking her/his first step of a formal educational process that will promote a desire for life-‐long learning. We are looking forward to working with you and your child this year. The students at Uptown School are fortunate to be in an environment that is international and one that provides a myriad of opportunities academically, culturally, socially and physically. By working with you, the parents, we can make this a stimulating and satisfying year for your child.
The things that you have been doing with your child – reading, writing, talking, singing, dancing – have helped develop basic concepts and skills that will be used during her/his learning journey. Starting school, making new friends and adjusting to a new environment are big changes for your child.
Parents play an important role in the education of their children and have a responsibility to support the efforts of school staff in maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment. Parents fulfill this responsibility when they:
• Show an active interest in their child’s school work • Communicate regularly with the school • Help their child be neat, appropriately dressed and ready for school • Ensure that their child attends school regularly and on time • Promptly report to school their child’s absence or late arrival • Assist school staff in dealing with behaviour management issues • Attend information mornings, coffee mornings • Be part of link parents, volunteer in classes
A triangular partnership of child, parent and school is of paramount importance in instilling a strong foundation and love for learning. We look forward to working with you to give your child a fulfilling learning experience.
3
Ms. Erin Muller Head of Early Years Uptown School Mission statement of the International Baccalaureate The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
Mission statement of Taaleem Our Mission is to inspire our students and staff to explore, identify and develop their passions and talents.
Mission statement of Uptown School Aligned purposefully to the IB philosophy, Uptown School provides an outstanding education in a nurturing environment, inspiring every student to achieve their full potential and excel.
Our Vision United to succeed
Aims of the School At Uptown School we will:
• identify, celebrate and nurture the diverse talents and intelligences of all our students • engage staff who are expert managers of learning and able to promote excellence in academic, creative, social, spiritual, physical and emotional development • teach students to learn by questioning, problem-‐solving and creative, critical thinking rather than by the mere retention of facts • enthuse, motivate and inspire students with our innovative approaches and high expectations • enable our students to achieve beyond their previous limits and expectations • encourage our students to be active participants in the learning process and to become
independent, co-‐operative learners welcome parents as equal partners in their children’s education
• enrich student’s learning by making effective use of the abundant resources and linguistic opportunities in Dubai and the surrounding region
4
• infuse in our students a sense of personal accomplishment, self-‐confidence and an enduring appreciation for learning.
5
Our International Curriculum: The International Baccalaureate
The IB aims that all learners should become:
Inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-‐takers who are knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-‐minded, balanced and reflective.
Uptown School is a dynamic international school that aims to be at the leading edge of educational innovation and excellence. We are an authorised IB World School in delivering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) of the International Baccalaureate Organisation.
The IB Learner Profile
Inquirers -‐ We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
Knowledgeable -‐ We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
Thinkers -‐ We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
Communicators -‐ We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
Principled -‐ We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
Open-‐Minded -‐ We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
Caring -‐ We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
Balanced -‐ We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives—intellectual, physical, and emotional—to achieve well-‐being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
Reflective -‐ We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.
Risk-‐Takers -‐ We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
6
Mission and Values for the Early Years
Authentic learning through active and playful inquiry
Exemplary leaders, teachers, teaching assistants and staff
Outstanding indoor and outdoor learning
environments
A world view -‐ be an
advocate for children
Promote and support health and well-‐being
of children
Strengthen our parent partnerships
Our mission is to develop intellectual curiosity,
independent and lateral thinking, communication and
problem solving skills, a respect for cultural diversity and a desire for life-‐long learning that will enable
our students to engage actively in our
global society.
UAE cultural
awareness
7
Daily School Timing & Student Safety 7:15am – 7:45am Warm welcome upon arrival. Children may be dropped off at the main gate or
Parents may park their car in the allocated parking bays and bring in children. Morning supervision begins in the playground for KG1 & KG2 and in the classroom for PreK.
7:45am Children line up National Anthem Please acknowledge respect by standing still Teachers escort children to classroom 7:50am Lessons begin promptly. Please ensure that your child/ren arrive to school on time as late comers miss out on valuable learning and distract their peers.
Please walk your child in to their class if you arrive after 7:45am and remember to sign the late register at security.
Daily Pick Up Parents drive through and pick up their children who will be waiting in the Admin Room/Gym. Staff will assist children into the cars and put on their seatbelts. You will be provided with a car sign with your child’s name and class to display in the windshield during pickup. Under no circumstances will a child be allowed to depart from the premises unless he/she is with a previously identified person. A staff member must always acknowledge the dismissal of a child.
In the event that you will be sending a third party to collect your child, please let us know in advance in writing (Note/email to your class teacher and reception [email protected]) and a follow-‐up confirmation call. This person will have to collect the child from reception with identification.
Please ensure that your children are collected on time as there are NO aftercare facilities. Absences Please email your child’s absence to: [email protected] If you need to reach your teacher Classroom teachers can be reached via email and are eager to communicate with parents. A full list of teachers and email addresses is on the communicator and the school website. You may also call and leave a message with Karen Torres, the Early Years receptionist at 04 251 5001 extension 200.
8
Orientation Day (All new Early Years students): Thursday 27th August (uniform optional on this day) 8am to 10am On orientation day parents will accompany their child to their new classroom to meet their teacher and teaching assistant and the other students. Parents may stay as long as they wish. We encourage parents to take time to meet other parents of students who are in your class. 1st September, Tuesday at 3:00pm Pre-‐K Meet the Teacher 2nd September, Wednesday at 3:00pm K1 Meet the Teacher 6th September, Sunday at 3:00pm K2 Meet the Teacher First Day of School 30 August First Month adjustment timings To support the separation process, we will use adjusted departure times during the first month of school. Look for this information on the website, communicator and the first day of school. PRE K SCHOOL TIMINGS: Sunday 30 August 7:45am to 9:00am Weekly School timings are Sunday through Thursday Option 1 7:45am to 12:30pm Option 2 7:45am to 2:00pm School finishing times for Pre-‐K are 12:30 or 2:00. Parents will select Option 1 or 2 at the beginning of the year. Parents will need to email the Head of Early Years if they wish to change their option. K1 SCHOOL TIMINGS: Sunday 30 August 7:45am to 11:00am Weekly School timings are Sunday through Thursday 7:45am to 2:00pm K2 SCHOOL TIMINGS: Sunday 30 August 7:45am to 12:00am Weekly School timings are Sunday through Thursday 7:45am to 2:30pm
9
Bathroom Routines All children must be toilet trained before they start school. Children are supervised and encouraged to use the washroom at regular intervals. Staff will assist children to practice good hygiene when using the washroom. Behaviour Management We aim to provide a safe and supportive environment for all children and adults. When the need arises to modify a child’s behaviour, the staff will approach the children by following the following steps:
• Acknowledge the children’s feelings individually • Gather information through open-‐ended questions • Re-‐state the problem to clarify the children’s perspectives • Explore solutions with the children
When the children’s behaviour is harmful to him/her or others, staff will intervene immediately to ensure the children’s safety and will document all steps. There will be clear communication between parents and teachers in order to support the children’s behaviour management. Under no circumstances will a child be:
• Punished corporally (hit, spanked, pinched, shaken or beaten) • Treated in a harsh or humiliating manner either verbally, emotionally or physically • Be deprived of food, clothing or shelter • Locked in a room
Nor will this behaviour be acceptable when directed to our children by anyone on school property.
Birthdays We would like to celebrate your child’s birthday in a special way. Please speak with your child’s teacher to make plans. You are welcome to bring in only cupcakes/donuts on the day. Please refrain from bringing in elaborate cakes, balloons and goody bags for the children. Please remember, we are a nut free school. There may be other allergies to be made aware of at the beginning of the school year. It is important for this celebration to be consistent in all the early years, classrooms. Invitations, if given in school must be provided for all children in class or please invite off premises.
Students, parents and teachers are encouraged to donate a book to the library as a celebration of their birthday. The book then has an inscription placed in it, acknowledging the donation.
10
Bus Transportation The school buses are operated by Arab Falcon Bus Rental LLC. Children are expected to follow the bus rules and behave appropriately on the bus at all times. The school provides a bus nanny on each bus. All bus parents must notify the reception if the child does not require the bus on a particular day or if they cannot come to school to collect the child in person. Arab Falcon: 04 397 6490 / application forms and sample fees are listed on the Uptown School website – www.uptownschool.ae/school transportation. Communication to Parents from Teachers and School Administration You may download the ‘Communicator Application’ to your mobile, tablet, laptop or PC for Mac, windows or android device. School news, calendar events, timetables, contact list & links to useful resources are posted. Critical alerts such as school closings are posted here for parents. Please go to http://www.school-‐communicator.com to download this app. The Communicator, our Uptown App for school information
Check for across school info/alerts on special happenings/keep in touch with the school community Install on desktop, laptop, phones or tablets
1. go to the communicator website 2. www.six-‐delta.com 3. click on schools – select Uptown School 4. choose your device 5. click download 6. Personalize with your class
It’s that easy!
Communication to Parents from Teachers Your child’s teacher will also communicate with you regularly by email. Please feel free to connect with her via email. You will get your teacher’s email on the first day of school, 30 August or at the new student orientation Thursday 27 August. A full listing of Early Years teachers, teaching assistants and specialists is posted on our website and the communicator.
11
Each Thursday you will receive an email with a weekly update about upcoming learning and important dates etc. You will receive a semester report on your child in February and June. Complaints/Queries Protocol Our parents and staff are entitled to receive courtesy and careful attention at all times. All complaints and issues are taken seriously and dealt with fairly and confidentially. The following procedures are used:
• first the parent speaks with class teacher • if issue remains unresolved, parent may make an appointment to meet with the Head of
Early Years. We welcome any suggestions that will benefit our school at any time (suggestion box in reception or email Head of Early Years).
Fire Drills Fire drills will be practised once a term and the children meet on the sports field. Staff checks that all children have vacated the school building and are accounted for.
Fun Can Be Messy Please leave a complete change of clothing with your child’s name clearly labeled for ease of identification. The children have active learning experiences which can be messy. White joggers / trainers with non-‐slip soles and velcro straps are suitable for running and climbing and are the expected uniform.
Health Practices • If a child appears to be ill, he/she will be separated from other children and you or your
contact person will be notified immediately. Please ensure that our school nurse has an updated contact number of both parents as well as an emergency contact number.
• Any child who has developed a fever of 100.4ºF or 38ºC, is vomiting, or has diarrhea needs to stay at home until they have been symptom-‐free for 24 hours.
• If your child has chicken pox, measles, eye diseases or any other contagious disease please ensure they remain home until they have been cleared by a doctor (note required).
• In the best interest of all children and staff, we ask that children be kept at home when any of the following symptoms are observed:
o An acute cold with fever, runny nose and eyes, coughing and sore throat o Difficulty breathing – wheezing or persistent cough o Infected skin or eyes or undiagnosed rash o Severe itching of body or scalp, head lice o Headache and stiff neck o Swollen neck glands o Discharge from eyes or ears
• If a child needs an epipen, it will be in a pouch with the class teacher at all times. Please leave an additional one with the school nurse. Please organise an appointment at start of year with the Head of Early Years and school nurse if your child has a health condition we should be aware of.
12
Library Books Children may borrow up to 2 library books per week. If books are not returned, your child will be unable to borrow additional resources. At the end of the school year, students need to have returned all Library materials or made a payment for lost resources in order to receive their final report. Children will also take readers home to practise reading (more information will come).
Lost and Found The lost and found is in the reception area. Unmarked items are donated to charity at the end of each month. Unmarked uniform items are taken to the Used Uniform Shop in the Primary School building at the end of each month. Please ensure all items are clearly labelled with name and class so we can return those to you.
Lunch The children will have 2 x 40 minute breaks for snack/lunch/play. The school cafeteria is on the main campus above the indoor swimming pool. They will continue to offer healthy eating menus for our students. Parents who wish to utilise this facility will be able to select and order your child’s food direct from the cafeteria to be delivered to your child’s classroom.
Please visit the cafeteria and make the necessary payment if you wish to utilise this service.
Your child may bring in their own healthy snack/lunch from home. Please ensure that fizzy drinks, sweets or ‘junk food’ are not sent to school at all. We are a nut-‐free school (peanut butter, nutella, etc) and food items brought to school should be halal. Please also inform your child not to share any food with the other children as some children have allergies, etc.
Photos Uptown School has an ‘opt-‐out’ policy. Photos taken of students at school and school events will be used by Uptown. If you choose to opt out of photography this will include in the class and individual photos taken by Stu Williamson. If you do not want your child’s photo to be taken, please notify our Admissions department via email [email protected]
Parent Meetings Early in September we have a ‘Meet the Teacher’ meeting. We will also hold a coffee morning chats for each Pre-‐K and K1 class to give parents an opportunity to meet and ask questions in a small group environment. During the year we have a parent teacher evening, 3-‐way conferences, student-‐led conferences and a variety of curriculum information mornings. Check your communicator calendar for the schedule.
Parent Helpers/Link Parents At Uptown we strongly encourage parents as partners. Once the children are settled, we welcome parent helpers to our classrooms and on excursions. Please arrange times with your class teacher if you are able to assist in any way. Please also see your class teacher if you are interested in becoming the link parent for your class or would like more information about what this involves.
13
Separation Anxiety It is very common for young children to be anxious when separated from parents. Children need to be assured that separation will result in a reunion. Please, say good-‐bye to your child when you leave and if necessary reassure them of your return. Each child is unique – the staff will work to ease separation anxiety issues based on individual child and family needs.
Settling-‐in to School Some children take longer to adjust to school life. Children will get to know each other and their teachers during interactive games and hands on learning opportunities. Stay positive and talk to your child about the fun things they can do at school. All of our Early Years staff are experienced and have encountered this before. Please work with your child’s teacher to ease the separation process. Once your child is settled, parents are encouraged to leave them to it!
Sun Protection All children must wear Uptown hats when they are outside. Please ensure that you apply sunscreen on your child before he/she comes to school. Teachers will educate children about the importance of drinking water throughout the day.
Learning Through Movement To develop a child’s readiness for learning by replicating early movement experiences that are required to establish the building blocks or `wiring` of the brain. This programme helps promote the integration of both sides of the brain and promotes awareness, spatial orientation and gross motor coordination.
All children participate in LTM sessions. Please send a pair of crocs/flip-‐flops with the child’s name clearly marked to leave in school for these sessions.
Swimming Swimming is an obligatory part of our curriculum. Children are encouraged to develop swimming proficiency skills according to their level of ability. Swimming lessons will be held once every week. During the winter months, swimming will be replaced by a PE lessons. If your child is unable to swim one week, he/she must bring a note from home. A note from a doctor is required for prolonged absences from pool classes (more than one lesson).
Teaching Students’ Internship • We are committed to providing and sharing best practices in the field of early childhood
education • Teaching students from universities and colleges spend time in our classrooms to gain
knowledge about how young children learn. • We ensure that students understand that:
o Our children’s needs are paramount o Students are always with a staff member and are never alone with any child o Students’ activities are checked by the teacher mentor and observed in action.
14
Things from Home We ask parents to refrain from allowing toys or items other than books and music CDs to be brought to school. If your child would like to share something with their peers, please discuss this with your child’s teacher.
Uniform Expectation School uniform is available from “Zaks”. All children are required to wear their uniforms from Sunday to Thursday. We request every article of clothing worn to school be plainly labeled with your child’ name and class (hats, shoes, socks and underwear included) to facilitate the prompt return of lost items. The used uniform shop, run by the parent organisation, is open on Mondays at 1:45-‐2:30pm
White/blue polo shirt with logo * Navy blue shorts * Uptown jumper (for cooler months)* Velcro trainers with white socks (Non-‐marking) Crocs/flip flops for PMP School Bag * Children’s apron/Art shirt (Old t-‐shirt of dads)
Uptown Swim bag * Uptown navy swimsuit/navy shorts * Uptown swim cap * Swim goggles Towel Lunch Box * Available from Zaks Uptown Mirdif Mall 04 284 7384
www.zaks.com to order online
Jewellery -‐ Small stud earrings only are allowed. No necklaces allowed. Hair Accessories -‐ Long hair should be tied for safety when playing. If hair bands or other hair accessories are worn, they must be either plain black, white or plain blue in colour. Shoes and Socks -‐ Children should wear white running shoes with Velcro straps and non-‐marking soles with plain white socks only. Swimming -‐ Costumes are available from “Zaks”. It is compulsory that all children wear an Uptown swimming cap, bring their own towel and flip-‐flops to be worn on the pool deck.
15
The Primary Years Programme
Uptown Schools Primary Years Programme is the programme that best meets our aims and aspirations. The PYP is a curriculum framework; it brings with it a clear educational philosophy and a methodology for young learners. The IB PYP was developed by member schools around the world and is administered by the International Baccalaureate according to whom: The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is designed for students between the ages of 3 and 12. It is an international, transdisciplinary programme designed to foster the development of the whole child, not just in the classroom but also through other means of learning. The PYP focuses on the total growth of the developing child, touching hearts as well as minds and encompassing social, physical, emotional and cultural needs in addition to academic welfare. The PYP combines the best research and practice from a range of national systems with a wealth of knowledge and experience from international schools to create a relevant and engaging educational framework for all children. You can find the Schools Guide to the Primary Years Programme, IB, at the following website address www.ibo.org The PYP places structured inquiry at the heart of the learning process. Children are encouraged to develop, through the learning process, those attributes and traits that will enable them to become expert learners. The PYP curriculum model is built from a framework of transdisciplinary themes that help teachers and students to explore and acquire essential knowledge and skills and to take socially responsible action. The PYP sets out six such transdisciplinary themes to offer continuity and progression of learning: • Who we are • Where we are in place and time • How we express ourselves • How the world works • How we organise ourselves • How we share the planet Our teachers devote a great deal of time and thought to thorough and meticulous curriculum planning, which is the essential prerequisite for the PYP programme. The teacher will integrate the many subjects that connect naturally into units of inquiry, ensuring that students can see both the connections between subjects and the relevance of each subject to their lives. Students learn how to take risks, ask questions, plan investigations, solve problems and find the answers to their questions. Within each transdisciplinary theme, the PYP’s written curriculum emerges out of a series of essential elements, which are in part planning guidelines and in part desired learning outcomes.
16
The Early Years (part of the Primary Years Programme)
The early years caters for children three to six years old. The PYP recognises that experiences and interactions during the early years lay the foundation for future learning. Research shows that the rapid rate of development in the domains of physical, social, emotional, intellectual and aesthetics is significant.
We believe that play is the key vehicle of learning. Parents often wonder if children are actually learning anything, as it seems they are only playing. This underestimates the importance of play in the early years. Children have the innate desire and drive to explore, to find out about things and to experiment with different materials and objects. They create relationships by interacting with adults, peers, materials and spaces in an authentic learning environment.
For many children and parents, this is the first transition from home to school. Separation anxiety is normal and support is provided to children and parents on an individual basis. It is important for all children to feel safe and happy so that they can play and learn successfully.
Parents are the first educators of their children. Parents have a wealth of knowledge regarding their child and play a crucial part in the development and education of their child. As partners in education, we will ensure that:
• Information of the programme is provided on a regular basis. • You have the opportunity to contribute your own knowledge, skills and interests to the
school. • All information about meetings, workshops and information sessions are available on
the communicator. You are encouraged to read the information regularly. • You have the opportunity to assist in your child’s classroom. • Your child’s progress will be provided to you on an ongoing basis.
At Uptown School we work towards developing:
• A feeling of self-‐worth and self-‐esteem. • Positive attitude towards learning. • A caring attitude towards people and the environment. • Language and communication skills.
The Image of the Child
A child is influenced by the culture, society, family values and life experiences of the individuals involved in his/her upbringing. As we live in a multicultural society and the people we work with come from many different backgrounds, the images we hold of children reflect this diversity.
We believe children are playful, energetic, imaginative and curious. Each child is a unique person with an individual pattern, timing of growth, learning style and family background. Children learn about their world through active play. They can be together or alone, neat or messy, quiet or noisy. The space created for our early learners encourages such active learning experiences.
17
Role of the Teacher
One of the greatest joys for an early years’ teacher is to be part of the learning experiences of young children as they discover and make meaning of their world.
One of the roles of the teacher is to be a learner alongside the children. Teachers and children act as partners in their play. They listen, observe and document children’s work and ideas. This helps them understand the children’s learning and possibilities for further teaching.
Teachers use an active listening approach to help children reason and solve problems through social conflicts. Teacher-‐child interactions are respectful and supportive.
Curriculum
The IB PYP curriculum comprises of three interrelated components:
The written curriculum: What do we want to learn? o Teachers plan collaboratively on a weekly basis. o Four units of structured Inquiry are covered during the year. Two of these units:
‘Who we are’ and ‘How we express ourselves’ are considered fundamentally relevant to all young children and are covered each year.
The taught curriculum: How best will we learn?
o This is an action of the written curriculum. o Students construct knowledge by:
§ drawing on prior knowledge, § exploring provocations and § taking time for reflection.
o Inquiry is the vehicle of learning.
The assessed curriculum: How will we know what we have learned? o Teachers observe children in order to: o Find out the children’s interests o Identify what thinking and learning is taking place o Assess the effectiveness of the environment on the children’s learning o Assess the development and learning of each child o Extend the children’s learning o Use this information for further planning
18
Focus on the PYP attitudes and the IB Learner Profile
PYP Attitudes
IB Learner Profile
Appreciation Inquirers Commitment Knowledgeable Confidence Thinkers Creativity Communicators Curiosity Principled Empathy Open-‐minded
Enthusiasm Caring Independence Risk-‐takers
Integrity Balanced Respect Reflective Tolerance
We encourage you to attend information mornings to learn first hand teaching practices and about the curriculum in our Early Years at Uptown School. The full schedule will be posted in the communicator calendar.