Discipline
One of the goals of the preschool is to help children develop self-control and learn God-pleasing and acceptable forms of social behavior. Staff will share their expectations for acceptable behavior with the children as a group at the beginning of the school year and individually, as needed.
Children will be taught the concept of grace and learn to exercise forgiveness. When a child exhibits unacceptable or offensive behavior, a child may be asked to explain such behavior and apologize as appropriate. Staff will encourage children to resolve conflicts between themselves and will monitor that apologies are delivered as needed, or sharing has occurred, as appropriate. Verbal cueing and diversion will be the first interventions used by staff. When all other approaches fail,or when a child loses his/her self-control, time out in sight of the teacher may be used.
In accordance with the NYS Dept of Social Services Day Care guidelines, no teacher, staff member, or volunteer will at any time use corporal punishment, humiliation, frightening, social isolation, or threatening methods to control or discipline a child or children. Parents should feel free to contact staff if they have any questions and/or concerns about classroom discipline.
Illness/Medication Administration
We request that the teacher be informed of any illness and/or any other reason for the child's absence. The office has an answering machine, so feel free to call anytime. In case of illness, it is far better that the child remain at home rather than expose the other children, or do possible harm to the child.
If the child develops symptoms that indicate a need for over-the-counter medication while in care at the school, such medication may not be given by staff. The parent will be contacted to either come and give the medicine, or take the child home. When children are in the recovery stages of an illness and are permitted to return to school by their health practitioner, they may have prescription medications to take for several days. Parents will need to administer these medications.
Clothing
We plan to go outside every day that the weather permits. Please dress your child for the weather. Children should be dressed so that they can easily go to the bathroom by themselves. Elastic waists are much easier that lots of buttons, zippers, belts, hooks, or shoulder straps.
Accidents do happen. Please label a pair of shorts/pants, a top, one pair of underwear, and one pair of socks. Place this clothing in a bag labeled on the outside and bring it in on the first day to stay at the preschool.
Snacks
Parents are asked to provide a snack and drink for their own child each day that their child attends preschool. Please label the container in which your child brings their snack. We encourage nutritious snacks, such as fruit, raw vegetables, and crackers and cheese. The exception would be for your child's birthday. If you would like to send a special treat for the class, please check with the staff to choose a date.
Emergency Evacuation
School programs are required to hold monthly fire drills/evacuations. Trinity's procedure is for the children to proceed in an orderly line to the parking lot. In case of an actual fire/disaster, parents will be called to pick up their children. Emergency phone numbers must be kept on file at the school.