Conduct at Preschool

The following basic expectations will be introduced the first few weeks of school, and reinforced the remainder of the year.

Toys From HOme

Grace Brethren Preschool requests that your child not bring any toys from home.

Classroom

1. Walk in the classroom.
2. Use inside voices (talking not yelling).
3. Keep toys and games in the appropriate areas.
4. Use toys, games, and art supplies appropriately.

Circle Time (Five Checks On The Rug)

1. Folded legs (pretzel).
2. Folded hands.
3. Quiet mouth.
4. Raise your hand to talk.
5. Listen when the teacher talks.

Nap Time (Before Laying Down)

1. Go to the restroom.
2. Wash hands.
3. Lay still and quiet on mat.

Restroom

1. Knock when door is shut.
2. One person at a time.
3. Wash hands when finished.

Outside

1. Use equipment properly.
2. No standing on swings; sitting on bottoms only.
3. No twisting on swings.
4. Sitting, face forward on the slide.
5. No throwing sand or woodchips.
6. Use toys appropriately.

Lunch Time

1. Stay seated while eating.
2. Raise hand for help.
3. Empty lunch box of trash when finished.
4. Put your lunch box away when finished.
5. Keep food and drinks away from carpet area.

Lining Up

1. Stand one behind the other facing forward. Keep hands to yourself.
2. Corporal punishment or humiliating or frightening techniques are never used.
3. Punishment is never associated with food, rest, isolation for illness, or toilet training.

At the preschool positive discipline is to be the approach, always expressed in the staff’s attitudes and actions. Tools, such as a color coded chart, will be used to supplement positive discipline approaches and interactive discipline techniques. Teachers strive to implement discipline techniques that will result in long-term changes to behavior by changing the child’s character. Keys to Positive Discipline include:

Build A Relationship With The Child

1. Encourage the child’s sense of initiative.
2. Take advantage of teachable moments.
3. Clearly state expectations, using a tone of voice that is kind, yet firm.
4. Set reasonable goals.
5. Offer appropriate choices.
6. Look for win-win solutions.
7. Always follow through.
8. Celebrate successes.

Incentives

Incentives will be used by the teachers to motivate the children toward positive behavior. Incentives will be genuine and available to all students. Some incentives include:

1. Marble Jars (class incentive).
2. Special Activity or Party (class incentive).
3. Sticker Charts (individual incentive).
4. Treasure Box (individual incentive).
5. Awards (individual incentive).
6. Treats (individual incentive).

Visual Tools

In each class, there is a color coded chart to be used as a visual tool to help the children know how their day is going. Each of the classes may modify the system for their class in order to meet the developmental needs of the specific age group. Within the chart, each color signifies a specified level of reward or discipline, with age appropriate incentives and concequences associated to promote appropriate behavior.

Individualized Approach

No discipline system, approach, or tool is perfect for every child in every situation. While the teachers will follow these general guidelines for discipline, they will also tailor their classroom management to meet the needs of their students.

If the staff and parents cannot work out a successful behavior modification plan, the child may have to withdraw from the school.

The following suggestions are ways in which parents can assist their children in becoming more comfortable with developing a positive attitude toward school:

1. Make going to school a pleasurable experience.
2. Send your child regularly and promptly.
3. Tell the teacher anything about your child that will help him/her understand him/her better.
4. Be interested in what your child brings home from school, never belittle it.
5. Ask your child about his/her day and listen to what he/she has to say.
6. Put your child’s first and last name on everything that is brought to school.
7. Try to be involved in the classroom. Parents are always welcomed guests to all of our special events, or just to visit the class on occasion.
8. Please keep in mind that the time your child is at school is a learning experience and needs to have the opportunity to give it his/her full attention.
9. Let your children see your confidence in the teacher.
10. Never discuss the teacher, school, or church negatively in the presence of your child.
11. If your child is ill or has symptoms of an illness, keep your child home from school.
12. Please read all correspondence/newsletters sent home from school so as to be informed of upcoming activities involving your child.

1. Grace Brethren Preschool is not responsible for any personal items that are damaged, lost, or stolen at the preschool. Please label everything in permanent marker.
2. Children need to come to school dressed in comfortable clothing that is okay to get soiled. Children should wear closed-toe and closed-heel shoes or tennis shoes at all times. Girls need to wear shorts under their dresses for climbing and playing. Elastic waist bands and snaps are preferred for shorts and pants. Items that depict scary or violent scenes will not be allowed.
3. Each student staying for nap needs a fitted crib size sheet and lightweight blanket for naptime. (Parents are responsible for taking the bedding home weekly and laundering it.) Please no pillows.
4. All children need at least two (2) complete changes of clothing in a large plastic zip-loc bag for when accidents and spills occur. Be sure that spare clothes are labeled and are appropriate for the current weather and size of the child.
5. For children who are still in the process of potty training, the parents are responsible for providing the preschool with:

• Diapers (plan on at least 5 diaper changes a day).
• Wipes.
• Several changes of clothes (easy for the child to manage).

It is the parents’ responsibility to monitor the supply of these items and replace them as needed.

Potty Training is defined as being in the process of learning to care for one’s bathroom and toilet needs. A child who is to be considered “potty trained” has met a reasonable level of self-sufficiency to be determined by the staff. Criteria include: consistently urinating in the toilet, consistently having bowel movements in the toilet, being able to properly wipe one’s own bottom, being able to dress and undress oneself for bathroom usage, no use of diapers or pull-ups, and having only an occasional accident.