BriarWoods
HighSchool
Preschool
ParentHandbook
2013-2014
WELCOMETOPRESCHOOLATTHEWOODS
Theearlychildhoodyearsareaveryspecialtimeinyourchild’sdevelopment.
Greatchangesoccurinthisrelativelyshortperiodoftimeaschildrenlearnto
communicate,increasetheirintellectualawareness,andmakegreatphysical
strides.TheBWHSPreschoolpridesitselfinattractingstudentstothe
teachingprofessionsothatthenextgenerationofeducatorsistop-notch.
Yourchildrenareanintegralpartofthisprocess.
OurmissionattheBriarWoodsHighSchoolpreschoolistoprovideasafe,
friendly,andcaringenvironment,whileeducatingbothhighschoolstudents
andpreschool-agedchildreninamutuallybeneficial,cooperativesetting.
WearesopleasedthatyouhavechosentheBWHSpreschoolforyourchild.
Welookforwardtoseeinghim/herthriveinourenvironment.Ifthereis
anythingwecandotomakeyourchild’sexperiencesmoremeaningful,please
letusknow.Welookforwardtoworkingwithyouandyourchildand
sharinginhisorhergrowthanddevelopment.
Wehavecreatedthishandbooktoprovideyouwithcomprehensive
informationaboutourpreschool’spoliciesandprocedures.Wetrulyhope
youfindthisdocumenttobeuseful.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcerns,
pleasedonothesitatetocontactus.
BestRegards,
DianeBreinigandChristyHendrickson
OURSCHOOL-COMMUNITYPARTNERSHIP
PreschoolattheWoodsisapartnershipwiththeEarlyChildhoodEducationclasses.The
highschoolstudentswhoareenrolledinthisclasshaveselectedthisclassbecausethey
haveastrongcareerinterestintheareaofearlychildhoodeducation.Theyareexcited
abouttheopportunitytopartnerwithyouandyourchildthisyear.
TheEarlyChildhoodEducationclassisdescribedintheLoudounCountyPublicSchools
ProgramofStudiesasfollows:
Thisprogramfocusesontheintegrationofknowledge,skills,andpracticesrequiredfor
careersinearlychildhoodeducation.Contentcoverscareerpathswithinearlychildhood,
education,andservices;developmentally-appropriatepractices;integrationofthe
curriculumandinstructiontomeetchildren’sdevelopmentalneedsandinterests;healthy
andsafelearningenvironments;principlesofguidingchildren;teachingmethodsand
strategies;andarranginglearningcentersthatprovideforexploration,discovery,and
development.Studentsgainpracticalexperienceintheearlychildhoodfacilityattheir
highschool,anelementaryschool,oracommunitychildcarefacility.Tuberculosistesting
isrequiredforthisclass.
ATTENDANCE
Wheneveryourchildwillnotbeattendingschoolonascheduledday,parentsshould
notifytheBWHSpreschoolby8:30amformorningsessionand11amforafternoon
[email protected]@lcps.org.Weoften
waituntileveryonehasarrivedtostartouractivities,sotimelynotificationisappreciated.
WefollowtheLoudounCountyPublicSchoolsclosingschedule.
Itisextremelyimportantthatyourchildattendthepreschooleverydaythathe/she
isnotill.Ourprogramisdesignedtopositivelyintroducetheprocessesofclassroom
settingtothepreschoolersandteachhighschoolstudentshowtoworkproperlywith
preschool-agedchildrenina“hands-on”environment.Itssuccessreliesheavilyupon
yourpreschoolerbeinginattendance.Extendedabsencesorvacationshinderthe
progressofyourpreschoolerandpresentourhighschoolstudentswithdifficultiesin
planningtheirlessonsandactivities.Accordingly,childrenwhodonotattendpreschool
regularlymaybewithdrawnfromourprogram.Ofcourse,ifyourchildisill,pleasekeep
him/herathome.
Intheeventofahighlycontagiousillnessinthepreschool,parentswillbenotifiedofthe
illnessandencouragedtolookforsymptomsofasimilarnatureintheirchild.
CONTACTINFORMATION
BriarWoodsHighSchool
22525BelmontRidgeRoad
MainOffice.................703-957-4400
SchoolFax...................703-542-5923
Mrs.DianeBreinig:[email protected]
Mrs.ChristyHendrickson:[email protected]
Pleasebemindfulthatduringschoolhours,teachersareintheclassroomand
cannottakephonecallssopleaseleaveamessage.
Emailisthebestmeansofcommunication.
Ifthereisanemergencypleasecallthemainofficenumberand
Mrs.BreinigorMrs.Hendricksonwillbepagedimmediately
ITEMSTOBRINGTOSCHOOL
PLEASEPROVIDETOKEEPATSCHOOL:
● AFULLCHANGEOFCLOTHINGINCLUDINGUNDERWEARANDSOCKS
● ASMOCKOROVERSIZEDSHIRTFORARTPROJECTS.
ONAREGULARBASIS:
● BACKPACKIFTHEYDESIRE
● ONEITEMFORSHOWANDSHARE(PLEASEDONOTALLOWSTUDENTTOBRING
INMULTIPLETOYSTODISTRACTTHEIRLEARNINGEXPERIENCE)
● WEATHERAPPROPRIATECLOTHING
*EACHSTUDENTWILLBEASSIGNEDACUBBYTOSTORETHEIRPERSONALBELONGINGS
Extraclothingshouldbeprovidedasseasonschangeandasthechildgrows.Rubber
soled,closed-toeshoessuchassneakersarethemostappropriateschoolshoesfor
climbing,runningandplayingoutside.Appropriateoutdoorapparelisneededdailyas
everyeffortismadetohavesomeoutdoorplaytime,eveninthewinter.Allitems
broughttoschoolmustbeconspicuouslylabeled.Pleaselabelallclothingthatisattached
tootherclothing.Forexample,hoodsoncoats,clipsonmittens,etc.Thiswilllessen
missingitems.
STUDENTINVOLVEMENT
TheBWHSpreschooloperatesincooperationwiththeEarlyChildhoodEducation(ECE)
program.Wecurrentlyhavemorethan120studentsparticipatingintheprogramwho
willbeinteractingwithyourchildonaregularbasis.Thesestudentsingrades10-12,are
obtaining“on-the-jobtraining”throughworkingwithyourchildreninthepreschool.
Duringtheschoolday,thehighschoolstudentsareresponsibleforinteractingwithyour
child,lookingoutfortheirwell-beingatalltimes,teachingthem,settingagoodexample,
encouragingthemtosocializewithothersandreinforceappropriateclassroombehavior.
Thehighschoolstudentswillalsoberesponsibleforcarryingoutthedailylessonsofthe
preschoolaswellasconductingotheractivitiessuchasart,storytime,letterandnumber
oftheday.
Ourstudentshavespentthefirstsixweeksofschooltrainingandgettingreadyforyour
childrentobeginpreschool.Theyhavebeenlearninghowto:
● Createandteachengaginglessons ● Integratetechnologyintheclassroom
● Providepositivefeedback ● Recognizecommonchildhooddisorders
● Readtochildren ● AdministeranEpi-Pen
● Practiceeffectivedisciplinetechniques ● Managefoodallergies
● Developage-appropriateplay ● Identifyillnesses&communicable
disease
ADDRESSINGCONCERNS
Alloftheactivityintheclassroomisoverseenbyoneofourlicensedteachersatalltimes.
However,ifconcernsshouldarise,itisveryimportantthatyouaddressthose
concernswithMrs.BreinigorMrs.Hendrickson,andnotthehighschoolstudent.
ENROLLMENT
Enrollmentisopentoanychildage3-5,whoispotty-independent.Enrollmentshallbe
grantedwithoutdiscriminationinregardtosex,color,race,religionorpoliticalbelief.
Returningstudentsandfamilymembersofcurrentlyenrolledstudentswillhavefirst
optiontoenrollinMarch.Afterthedeterminednumberofspacesleftavailableare
determined,enrollmentisopenedtothecommunityonafirstcome,firstservebasis.All
formsandinstructionsarelocatedontheBWHSwebsite.GototheCommunityLinkand
[email protected]://www.lcps.org/domain/587
STUDENTRECORDS
EachchildenrolledintheBriarWoodsHighSchoolPreschoolmusthaveanupdated
schoolrecordwithallrequiredforms:
● EmergencyContactForm
● SchoolHealthEntranceForm
● Anyrequiredformsfortheadministrationofmedication
● Currentphoto
Emergencycontactinformationmustbereviewedbytheparentatleasteverysixmonths
foraccuracy.Medicalrecordsarerequiredtobeupdatedannually,orwheneverthe
child’simmunizationstatuschanges.
PARENTACCESS
AparentorguardianofachildattendingtheBWHSpreschoolshallbepermittedthe
preschoolbyfollowingLCPS’sSecurityprocedures.Ifaparentwishestovisitthe
preschoolclassroom,theymustenterthroughthemainfrontentrance,showproper
identificationandthenbetakentothepreschool.Othervisitorsareaskedtoschedule
appointmentsandareallowedinthepreschoolclassroomonlyatthediscretionofMrs.
BreinigorMrs.Hendrickson.
PARKING,SPEEDLIMITANDDROPOFF
Parentsshouldobservepostedspeedlimitsandnotparkinthefirelanes.Theseare
strictlyreservedforemergencyvehicles.
Asacourtesy,weprovidecurbsidedropoffandpickup.Pleasedisplayyourchild’spick
upsignatpickuptime.
ARRIVALANDDEPARTURE
Uponarrivalat9:15ameachmorning,anEarlyChildhoodEducationstudentwillgreet
youcurbsidetobringyourchildintothepreschool.Pleasesignyourchildinonthe
designatedsign-insheet.Parentalinvolvementinhelpingachildgetsettledwiththeir
designatedteacherwillhelpyourchildadjustquicklytothemorningroutine.Ifthereis
anythingthatwecandotohelpwiththemorningtransition,pleasedonothesitatetoask.
Childrenattendingtheprogramshouldbesettledandreadyfortheprogramtobeginat
9:30am.
Whenpickingupchildrenattheendofthesession,ECEstudentswillgreettheparent
curbsideandcommunicatewithotherteacherstobringthepreschooleroutwhenthe
parentarrives.Parentswillneedtosignthepick-upsheet.
**Duetothenatureofourprogram,repeatedlatepickupswillresultindismissalofyour
childfromtheprogram.Pleasehaveaback-upplaninplacetoavoidalatepick-up.Inthe
eventofanemergency,pleasenotifytheschoolassoonpossibleifyouwillbelate.
RELEASEOFCHILDREN
Thesafetyofyourchildisourutmostconcern.BWHSpreschoolmaintainsastrictpolicy
regardingtheindividualstowhomwewillreleaseachild.Theenrollmentformsrequirea
parenttospecifyatleasttwoindividualstowhomthechildmaybereleasedeitherona
regularoremergencybasis.
Advancedwrittennoticeisrequiredforanindividualtobeauthorizedtopickupachild.
InthecaseofanemergencyMrs.BreinigorMrs.Hendricksonmustbenotifiedbythe
parent/guardianwhowillprovidethenameandbriefphysicaldescriptionoftheperson
pickingupthechild.Oncethisindividualarrivesattheschool,thisindividualwillbeasked
foridentification.Theauthorizedindividualmustthensigntheirfullnameandnotethe
timeofthechild’srelease.
Shouldanunauthorizedindividualarrivetopickupachild,aparentoremergencycontact
personwillbeimmediatelynotifiedviaphonecall.Ifweareunabletoreachaparentor
emergencycontactperson,thechildwillNOTbereleased.Shouldanunauthorized
personbecomeuncooperativewiththeschool’spoliciesregardingtherelease,school
securitywillbenotified.
REGISTRATIONFEEANDTUITION
Anannualdepositof$100ispayableuponenrollmentorre-enrollmenteachspringfor
thefollowingOctoberschoolyear.This$100feeisnon-refundable;however,itwillbe
appliedtothebalanceofpreschooltuition.Tuitionistobepaidinfullatthestartofthe
schoolyear.Youwillbegivenareceiptforpaymentatthetimeitisrendered.Tuitionfor
the2013-2014schoolyearisdueattheSeptemberpreschoolopenhouse.
Thereisnocreditgivenforscheduledorunscheduledschoolholidaysandevents,child’s
illnessorschoolclosingduetoinclementweather.
WITHDRAWAL
Twoweekwrittennoticeisrequiredforwithdrawingforanyreason.Intheeventofa
withdrawal,pleasecontactMrs.Breinigand/orMrs.Hendricksontodiscussdetails.Please
rememberthattuitionisnotrefundable.
HEALTHPOLICIES
EachpreschoolerisrequiredtohaveacompletedSchoolHealthEntranceFormonfileat
theBriarWoodsPreschool.Theseformsmustbeapprovedbytheschoolnursebefore
anypreschoolerisallowedtoattendourpreschool.
Itisimperativethatchildrenbekepthomefromschoolwhenhe/sheisshowing
symptomsofillness.Ifachildarrivesinthemorningshowingsymptomsofillness,the
preschoolwillbeunabletoaccepthim/her.Theexceptiontothisrequirementwouldbea
licensedphysicianhasindicatedinwritingthatthechildposesnohealthriskandthatthe
childwouldbeexpectedtoparticipateinallactivities.Childrenshouldbekeptoutof
schoolwithanyofthefollowingsymptoms.
● Anyfeverduringthelast24hours.
● Vomitingordiarrhea(2ormoreepisodesin24hourperiod).
● Severecoughingorsorethroat
● Redeyeswithdischarge.
● Skinrasheslastingmorethan24hours.
● Difficultorrapidbreathing.
● Unusualbehaviorcharacterizedbylistlessness,lossofnormalappetite,fatigueor
confusion.
● Symptomsofchickenpox,lice,scabies,orstrepthroat.
Ifachildbecomesillduringtheschoolday,aparentwillbeadvisedimmediately.The
childwillbegiventheopportunitytorestorparticipateinactivitiesinaseparatearea
untilthedesignatedreleasepersoncanpickthechildup.Childrenwhoaresenthome
duetoillnesswillnotbereadmittedtoschooluntilallsignsofillnesshavebeengonefor
24hours.
Inthecaseofcertaincommunicablediseases,parentsareremindedtonotifystaffwithin
24hoursofthediagnosis.Allparentswillbeinformedinwritingifacommunicable
diseaseisreported.
MEDICATIONPROCEDURES
MedicationswillbedispensedtochildrenbytheBriarWoodsHighSchoolnurse.Check
expirationdatesonallmedicationsregularly.Completedauthorizationformsmustbe
submittedandonfilewiththeschoolnurse.Additionally,eachmedicationmustbe
markedwiththechild’sfirstandlastnameprintedonthecontainer.Parentsmust
indicatedosageofmedicationandthetimetobeadministered.MedicationwillNOTbe
dispensedonanas-neededbasis.Ifmedicationistobedispensedonlyoneortwiceina
24hourperiod,weexpectthatthemedicationbedispensedathome.Onlyonebottlemay
beusedperchild.Siblingsmaynotsharecontainersofmedication.Ifamedicationis
expired,wewillnotbeabletoadministerit.
Allergiesthatmayrequiremedication:
Ifachildhasanallergywhichmayrequireemergencymedication,anauthorizationform
mustbeonfile.BriarWoodsHighSchoolwillalsocall911ifanEpi-penisdispensedand
theparentwillbenotifiedimmediately.
Creams,Powder,Sunscreen,etc:
Ifachildrequiresoverthecounterlotions,powdersorsunscreen,thesemustbeapplied
beforeyourchildcomestoschool.
ACCIDENTSANDINJURY
Ifachildshouldbecomeinjuredatschool,theparentwillbenotified.Iftheinjuryisofa
seriousnature,aparentwillreceiveaphonecallfromtheschoolatthetimethatthe
accidentoccurs.Intheeventofanemergency,thechildwillbetransportedviaambulance
tothenearesthospitaloremergencyroomfacilityandaparentwillbecontactedtomeet
theaccompanyingstaffmemberatthefacility.Itisextremelyimportantthatemergency
contactinformationbeaccurateandup-to-date.
TOYSFROMHOME
Weaskthatyourchildnotbringtoystothepreschoolunlessitisrequestedfor“Show&
Tell”.
Showandtellitemsmayoccasionallyberequestedbyachild’steacher.Suggestedshow
andtellitemsmayinclude:books,photographs,specialtreasuressuchasseashells,or
themerelateditems.Theseshouldbediscussedwiththeteacherandtheitemswillbe
shownattheteacher’sdiscretion.Anythingpertainingtoviolence(guns,wartoys,etc.)
cannotbeutilizedattheBWHSPreschool.Materialdeemedinappropriateforapreschool
audiencewillnotbeused.
MEALSANDSNACKS
TheBriarWoodsHighSchoolPreschoolwillprovideahealthyafternoonsnackonadaily
basis.Snackswillbelistedeachdayonthedailysheets.
Lunchistobeprovidedbytheparents.Forlunch,sandwiches,yogurt,soupinathermos,
fruit,cheese,crackers,aresuggested.Pleasetrytoincludemilkor100%fruitjuiceasa
beverage.Ifabeverageisnotprovided,thechildwillbeofferedwater.Pleasetryto
avoidfoodswithexcessiveamountsofsugar,preservatives,artificialflavoringsand
colors,andcaffeine.Lunchesshouldbereadytoserve(fruitsliced,soupheated,etc.).
Unfortunately,wewillbeunabletoreheatfood,sopleasetakethisinto
considerationwhenpackinglunch.
***PLEASENOTETHATSOMEOFOURCHILDRENHAVESEVEREALLERGIES.PLEASE
DONOTSENDINLUNCHESCONTAININGANYPEANUTORNUTPRODUCTS.
BIRTHDAYCELEBRATIONS
Parentsaremorethanwelcometocelebratetheirchild’sspecialdayatschool.Herearea
fewsuggestionstomakethesecelebrationsasuccessatourschool:
● Anon-foodrelateditemcanalsobeaneffectivewaytocelebrate.Pencils,
temporarytattoos,crayonsandotherdollarstoreitemsarealwayspopularamong
thepreschoolcrowd.
● Youmaywishtodonateabirthdaybookorstorytapeinhonorofyourchild’s
specialday.
● Pickyourchildupatlunchandplanasurpriselunchorpicnictogether.
● Bringinsuppliesandparticipate,ifpossible,inmakingacraft,orplayingagame
withyourchildandhis/herclass.
● Forbirthdaypartiestakingplaceoutsidetheschool,invitationsaretobe
distributedoutsideofclassroomtime.
EMERGENCYCLOSINGS
Inthecaseofinclementweather,wewillfollowtheLoudounCountyPublicSchools
scheduleofclosings.Ifthereisadelay,morningpreschoolsessionswillbe
canceled.ifanearlydismissalisannounced,afternoonpreschoolwillbecanceled.
Ifparentsarepreventedbyweatherconditionsfromreachingthefacilitytopickup
theirchildren,staffmemberswillcareforthechildrenuntilsuchtimeasthe
parentscansafelypickthemup.
BEHAVIORPOLICY
webelieveinteachingourstudentstousewordsinsteadofhandsbyallowing
studentstosolvetheirproblems.Thereforeweshallmaintainthefollowing
philosophyofdiscipline.Ourmethodsofguidanceanddisciplineusedshallbe
positive,consistentwiththedevelopmentalneedsofthechildrenandappliedwith
thefullknowledgeandunderstandingoftheparents.
TheBWHSPreschoolaimstokeepbehaviorissuesminimized.Thestaff
encourages,self-control,self-direction,responsibilityandcooperation.Whenitis
practicalandsafe,logicalornaturalconsequenceswillbepresentedtothechild.
“Timeout”maybeusedselectivelyforchildrenwhoareatriskofharming
themselvesorothers.Theperiodof“timeout”willbejustlongenoughtoenable
thechildtoregaincontrolofhim/herselfandwillaverage1minuteperyearof
age.Duringa“timeout”thechildwillbeseparatedfromtheotherchildrenand
monitoredbytheirteacher.
Aggressivephysicalbehavior(fighting,hitting,biting,etc.)byachildtoward
anotherchildorstaffmemberisunacceptable.Staffmemberswillintervene
immediatelyshouldthistypeofsituationoccur.Parentswillbeinformedifsuchan
incidentshouldoccurandaconferencewillberequestedatanytimetodiscussan
acceptablebehavioralplan.Ifachild’sbehaviorisuncontrollable,extremely
disruptive,and/orharmfultohimself/herselforothers,aparentmaybeaskedto:
● Removethechildfromtheschoolforthedayorspecifieddays.
● Removethechildfromthepreschoolentirely.
Atnotimewillachildbesubjectedtophysicalcorporalpunishment(shaking,hitting,
biting,pinching,etc.).Nochildwillbehumiliated,frightened,orverballyabusedbythe
teachersorstudentsofBriarWoodsHighSchool.Childrenwillneverbedisciplinedfor
sleephabits,toiletingaccidents,foodconsumption,orlackofparticipationinscheduled
activities.Atalltimes,achild’sage,emotionalstateandpastexperienceswillbe
consideredindisciplinematters.Anyviolationoftheschool’sdisciplinepolicyshouldbe
broughttotheattentionofMrs.BreinigorMrs.Hendricksonimmediately.
PARENTCOMMUNICATION
TheBWHSpreschoolpresentsmanyopportunitiesforparentstoreceiveinformationon
theprogressofchildrenaswellasdetailsonothergeneralactivitiesoccurringthroughout
theschoolyear.Examplesinclude:
PreschoolOpenHouse:Thistypicallytakesplacepriortothestartofthepreschoolyear.
Thisyear,ouropenhousewillbeheldonMonday,September23,2013..Parentswill
attenda20-minutepresentationdiscussingpoliciesandproceduresforthepreschool
whileyourchildrenbegintogetacquaintedwiththeirteacherandtheirclassroom.
MonthlyCalendar:AmonthlycalendarisavailableontheBWHSPreschoolwebsite
whichwillincludeanyschooldelayedopenings,activitiesandscheduledclosings.An
additionalcopywillbeprovidedtoeachparentattheendofthepreviousmonth.
ParentConferences:ParentsareencouragedtoscheduleconferenceswithMrs.Breinig
orMrs.Hendricksontodiscussachild’sprogressorotherconcerns.
FLEXIBILITY
Wewanttoemphasizethatthisisnotyourtypicalpreschoolprogram.Ourpreschool
scheduleisprimarilydrivenbythehighschoolstudentsandtheirschedules.Highschool
studentsmustoftenparticipateinassemblies,testing,clubmeetings,pepralliesandother
school-relatedeventsthatmayaffecttheopening/closingofthepreschool.Wewillmake
everyefforttoprovidetimelynoticeofsuchevents.However,therearetimesthroughout
theschoolyearthatstudenteventsmaycomeup,requiringustodelaythepreschool
openingorclosethepreschoolforthedayaltogetheratthelastminute.Pleasecheck
youremailfrequentlyonpreschooldaysaswewillnotifyyouofchangestotheschedule
viaemail.Ifwemustnotifyyouofalastminutechange(onthesameday)wewillcallthe
homenumberofeachpreschooler.Yourpatienceandunderstandinginthesemattersis
greatlyappreciated.
TheBWHSPreschoolreservestherighttoeditanyoftheinformationcontainedwithin
thisdocumentatanytime.Thematerialcontainedhereinshouldnotbeconsideredasthe
soledeterminationofpolicy.
Parent/Guardian,PleaseReadandSignBelow:
WehavereadanddiscussedthePreschoolattheWoods
Handbookwithourpreschoolerandweagreetocomply
withthepoliciesandproceduresandoutlinestherein.
NameofPreschooler_________________________________________
NameofParent/Guardian____________________________________
Parent/GuardianSignature___________________________________
Date_____________
Thispageistobesignedbytheparent/guardianandreturnedtoPreschoolat
theWoods.
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