Policies
PREFACE TO SCHOOL POLICIES
These guidelines were developed with the well-being of your children in mind. You will help other parents, us and your children a great deal is you adhere to them.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Children need to be brought into the school and signed in and out by adults only.
Do not forget to sign your child in and out of school. It is a state law that we have both your child’s first and last name, your full signature and your printed name when you sign your child out at the end of his/her day. Please print legibly.
At the time of pick-up, parents or authorized persons* need to sign out each child, recording the time of departure. (*Authorized person is one listed by parents on emergency form filed in the office.)
No person other than those listed on the identification and emergency information form will be allowed to pick up a child unless a permission note is written by the child’s parent or guardian in advance.
Parents of children enrolled for 8:45 am will need to remain with their children if they arrive before their agreed time.
For safety, children should use the stairs and entrance ramp only. Children may not climb on the railings or timber walls.
Children are encouraged to be on time for singing which begins promptly at 8:45 am in the Orff Room. Please be on time to make it easier for your child to join in. We find it a delightful way to begin the day singing together before we divide into our separate groups. Latecomers need to enter the Orff Room from the yard door to avoid disturbances.
After the singing session, it is usually best for the parent to leave as quickly as possible. It will be hard for your child to become independently involved in activities planned specifically for them if parents make the decision to linger. A consistent routine is best for your child in helping with separation, it will also help your child’s teacher in getting the group ready to participate in their learning experiences. Many young children will cry as the parent leaves, but will stop shortly after the parent is no longer visible. If a child continues to be upset after a reasonable period of time, the parent will be contacted. Please feel free to call us to see how your child is doing.
Many new children are reserved in developing relationships with the staff. Please do not insist on formal greetings and good-byes. The shared experiences will bring these courtesies naturally.
PARKING
* For the children’s safety, we ask parents to park on the street and not drive up the driveway. (Only expectant mothers, new mothers and parents with physical considerations may use the driveway.)
* Never park by the red curb in front of the school
* Never double park on the street.
* Never drive up and park in the neighbor’s driveways.
* Children should exit and enter vehicles on the curb side only.
* Be extremely careful in crossing the street with your child.
* Please comply with the above rules in consideration for our neighbors, and for your child's safety as well as yours.
ABSENCES
Please notify the school when your child is absent. Please let the school know as soon as possible when a child has been exposed to a communicable disease. Upon the receipt of written permission, the school’s staff can administer oral medication. There is a medicine register sheet near the sign-in sheet.
ILLNESS
Parents are asked to observe their child before sending them to school and to keep them home if any of the symptoms on the list are observed. The school will call to have your child picked up if they are not acting well, or are not able to function within the group setting. This may mean that they are not exhibiting any of the symptoms on the list but should be at home with one-on-one care.
Please make advance arrangements for a baby-sitter if needed when your child is too sick for school. We cannot, by state law, and in good conscience, allow ill children to attend.
Illness Screening Checklist
Listed below are some important symptoms of illness to look for in your child. If your child is exhibiting these symptoms, please do not send him/her to school until the symptoms have subsided for at least 24 hours.
* Diarrhea (more than one abnormally loose stool). If a child has only one loose stool, observe the child for additional loose stools or other symptoms. Be sure that the child and care providers wash their hands at all recommended times.
* Severe coughing. The child gets red or blue in the face or makes high pitched, “croupy” or “whooping” sounds after coughing.
* Labored or rapid breathing.
* Yellowish tint to the skin or eyes (could be a sign of jaundice).
* Tearing, irritation, and redness of eyelid lining, followed by swelling and discharge of pus (conjunctivitis, also called pink-eye).
* Unusual spots or a rash.
* Sore throat or difficulty in swallowing.
* Fever or feverish appearance.
* Infected areas of skin with crusty, bright yellow, dry, or gummy areas.
* Unusually dark, tea colored urine.
* Grey or white stools.
* Headache and stiff neck.
* Vomiting.
* Unusual behavior (crankiness, listlessness, crying more that usual, obvious general discomfort).
* Loss of appetite.
* Severe itching of body or scalp or constant scratching of the scalp.
Decisions about children with minor colds should be based on how uncomfortable the child is and how well the staff can care for the child and respond to the child’s symptoms.
Ear infections are not easily spread from child to child. The main concern is that the child gets medical treatment and follow-up care. Decisions should be based on how uncomfortable the child is and how well the staff can care for the child and respond to the child’s symptoms.
Adapted from: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control.
MEDICATIONS
No medications in lunch boxes!
Storage: The Kitchen Cabinet marked with a Red Cross is for medications not needing refrigeration. The top shelf in the door of the Refrigerator is for medications needing refrigeration.
Records: Parents need to fill out the medicine sheet which is located in the entrance way, next to the sign-in sheet. We need the date, time and amount to be given. After the dose has been administered, the teacher will initial next to the child’s name on the medicine sheet.
The State Department of Social Service and Community Care Licensing requires that all medications to be administered, are in the original containers with the original prescription label.
The label should contain the child’s full name, name of medication, prescribing physician, schedule of administration, amount given per dose, pharmacy’s name, date and expiration date.
Thank you very much for following these procedures. We know it will help to ensure that proper medication is dispersed at appropriate times for your child.
INJURIES
An injury report will be filled out when a child has an accident at school. The report will give the time and description of the injury and first aid steps taken. The original of the report will be placed in the child's art folder for the parent. A copy will be placed in the child’s permanent folder. The report is signed by the teacher present at the time of injury.
VIOLENT CHARACTERS
Del Mar Hills Nursery School is a “violent characters”-free program (for example Power Rangers). This policy has come about for a number of reasons; an increased level of aggression between children, the importance for us as adults to set appropriate models, a responsibility as an early childhood education program to develop responsible guidelines and set ethical standards for the positive development of the children, as well as staying current with the professionals in the field who are adopting such policies.
This policy may seem harsh to some families and come as a relief to others, we realize that it may become a controversial topic within the nursery school. The staff found that our efforts in the beginning of the school year to discourage violent play has not been enough, the children are still hurting each other when they would “transform” into these characters. Young children need simple clear direction that is consistent and non-conflicting. This means that we cannot enforce non-violent play and encourage the sharing of violent figures in dress and items: this confuses the children. They are too young to discern between the gray areas and therefore it is our job to help them. We would like them to learn how to socialize as human beings first and then as responsible “transformers” next.
Put your helmets on please and help us to join forces in our mission to teach our children non-violent ways to solve social conflicts.
You can have a seat at Mission Control by letting your children know they may not wear any violent action figure clothing, such as socks, underwear, shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, shoes, rings or watches. Children may not bring in violent action figure lunch boxes, back packs, wallets, stickers, toys, books or tapes. Sharing days may have nothing to do with these characters either. We feel that theme related sharing or special items for sharing are much more educationally appropriate.
Please remember the reason for this change is to do with the increase of aggressive behavior between the children and injuries incurred inside and outside of school. We have noticed a decrease in aggressive behavior since we have instituted this policy in February 1995.
It would be an added bonus if you, as parents, would continue this policy inside your homes as well. This consistency between home and school would make it easier for the children to understand. We thank you for respecting this policy, and welcome any input you may have concerning this issue.
DISCIPLINE
The root of the word discipline is disciple, which means teacher or to teach. Our goal at Del Mar Hills Nursery School is to encourage the child to learn and act appropriately and safely with themselves, others and materials. We do this by re-direction and explaining what behavior is appropriate. We help to make sure the transition from what they were doing to what they need to be doing is successful and appropriate. Our expectations of the child’s behavior is developmentally appropriate, two year olds, for instance, do not have negotiation capabilities.
“The goal of discipline is not to make the teacher’s life easier. The goal of discipline is to guide the behavior of children in such a way that they will internalize our outward expectations and develop the inner controls they need to function as whole and happy individuals.” Marianne Modica
CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
Children in Preschool engage in active play. They explore both indoors and out, experimenting with many different materials. Clothing that is comfortable, sturdy, and washable permits children to engage in all activities without undue concern for spills or rips. Aprons are provided for painting and working with glue. Detergent is added to paints.
For safety, long dresses and shoes with slippery soles need to be avoided.
For young children who are unable to tie shoelaces, shoes with Velcro fasteners allow a child the independence and confidence which comes with dressing oneself.
Pants with elastic waists allow children the freedom of taking care of their own toilet needs.
Children who need to be changed are more comfortable if they have their own clothes. Please bring some extra clothes to school in a bag and put them in your child’s cubby.
LABELING PERSONAL ITEMS & CLOTHING
All clothing and personal items needs to be clearly marked with the child’s name. The school cannot be responsible for unlabeled personal items and clothing. We discourage bringing toys from home as they tend to get lost or broken.
LOST & FOUND
Lost and found is located in a basket at the entrance.
CHILDREN'S CUBBIES AND ART FOLDERS
Each child is assigned a cubby for storing personal items such as extra clothing. All items placed in the cubby should be labeled with your child’s name.
Additionally, each child has an art folder in the entryway where crafts, artwork and parent notices are placed. Please remove items from your child’s art folder on a daily basis.
LUNCH BOXES
Each child is assigned a group for lunch. Your child’s lunch box will be marked with colored tape. Please make sure your child’s lunch box is labeled with his/her name and placed on the shelf for his/her lunch group. At the end of the day, you will find your child’s lunchbox on the same shelf.
Parents provide a packed lunch for their child.
Please give your child a nutritious lunch with child-size portions. Children are allowed to eat their lunch in any order they choose, therefore if you pack a dessert we will not discourage them from eating it first. Food that is not eaten will remain in your child’s lunch box. Please provide in the lunch box daily: a napkin and a spoon (for pudding, jello, soft cake, yogurt, etc.)
NAPPING & REST TIME
The school provides a cot and sheet for each napper. Parents provide a small blanket and a small pillow for a child who naps (please label these items with your child’s name).
Parents provide a towel (BATH size) for a child who rests (please label with your child’s name).
BIRTHDAYS
If desired, when your child has a birthday, we will sing “Happy Birthday” to him/her during morning singing time. Afterwards, your child will have the opportunity to have the other children join him/her in singing another favorite song. Your child will receive a special birthday sticker.
You may send a simple treat (such as cookies) to celebrate with his/her snack group. Cakes and frosted cupcakes are difficult to eat in the time allowed, as well as awkward to clean up by our busy staff.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
While your child is a student of Del Mar Hills Nursery School, you have the option of enrollment either in July or August summer programs (or both), and must notify the school of your decision prior to May 1st.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS
Del Mar Hills Nursery School is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. The school is open year round except for the observance of holidays and teacher inservice days. Each year in the Fall, parents are given the exact dates the school will be closed. We do our best to match the same days the Del Mar Unified School District follows when holidays occur.
Del Mar Hills Nursery School is closed for inservice days for Summer and Fall for training and to set up our program each year. From time to time, there are closings for emergencies or major repairs. In the event one of these occurs, parents will be given as much notice as possible. Tuition is not refunded in this case.
TELEPHONE NUMBER RELEASE
Throughout the year, parents often ask for telephone numbers of their child’s school mates to arrange for playdates, birthday invitations, etc. If you do not want your telephone number to be given out, please fill out and return the appropriate form, available in the office.
