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Northern Burlington County Regional High School
Child Development Classes
160 Mansfield Road, East
Columbus, NJ 08022
Mrs. Renee Heiss, teacher
609-298-3900 voicemail 2869
Mission Statement Schedule Curriculum First Day
Emergency Information Philanthropy
Calendar
The
Child Care classes at Northern Burlington County Regional High School with the
accompanying preschool has three purposes:
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To provide a curriculum for students interested in child care and child care careers.
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To serve as an educational and recreational center for preschool age children.
- To serve the community in its need for an affordable preschool program.
The mission of the Greyhound Puppies Preschool is to provide socialization of preschool children in preparation for their kindergarten experience.
Thursday and Friday from 9:15 to 11:15 or from 12:15 to 2:15. Cost is $80 for each 9-week session, which begins in mid-November or $220 prepaid for the year. Our calendar is aligned with the school year. Occasionally, special programs will necessitate cancellation of the preschool. Please understand that the schedule is subject to change without much notice.
Note:
The
preschool children are observed for their interaction with other children and
participation in the planned activities. This
is not a laboratory and the children are not being tested for their abilities.
Rather, their behavior is observed and analyzed in accordance with
standards for their age.
We do many of the same activities as you would find at commercial preschools. The only exception is that the high school students move in and out of the room as their classes shift.
Curriculum
ARTS & CRAFTS: The students plan crafts that are appropriate for the children's age. We encourage the children to do their own work. Consequently, you may have pet rocks coming home with five eyes or a valentine that only slightly resembles a heart!
STORY
TIME - One of the earliest skills that the Child Care students learn is how
to tell a children's story. They will tell stories with a lesson that will
teach a skill. Sometimes there will be an activity, song, or craft that
will accompany the story.
OUTDOOR
PLAY - When weather permits, we take the children outside in our fenced
playground. We have a giant parachute that helps build strong arm muscles
and climbing equipment that builds leg muscles. The games that we play
emphasize fair play and sportsmanship.
FREE
PLAY - Occasionally, we schedule classes that have no specific plan.
This allows the children to play uninterrupted. It also allows the
students to observe the children as they interact with the other children.
On these days, the children will build with blocks, play games, and enjoy our
housekeeping center.
SNACK TIME - Every day, we set aside time during the second class for
snacks. Children must bring their own nutritious snacks and a
beverage. We have a refrigerator available if you need to keep something
like yogurt chilled until snack time. Sometimes the students will plan a
food-related activity, so don't be surprised if your child brings the snack back
home occasionally.
SCIENCE
- Exploration activities that involve science or early math are also a part of
our preschool curriculum. We discuss weather, insects, magnetism, and
counting in addition to many other science and math topics.
HOLIDAYS
- We accept that all children do not celebrate the same
holidays. Therefore, we make every effort to accommodate different
celebrations throughout the year. However, please understand that we only observe
the secular aspects of these holidays.
On the first day of preschool ...
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Children
are discouraged from bringing their own toys from home.
However, if they decide to do this, make sure the toy is marked with
the child’s name. Also, help
your child to understand that the toy must be shared. |
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If this is your child’s first school experience, it is important that you, as parents, prepare your child for the first few weeks in preschool. A simple explanation will be helpful. Try to give your child extra attention during this period of adjustment. A drive by the school to see where the school is and what it looks like is also helpful. |
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If your child is reluctant to leave you on the first day, you are welcome to stay and help your child feel more comfortable. However, when you return home, let your child know firmly, yet compassionately, that you will not be staying on other days and that you will return when the school is over. |
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Most importantly, please label your child's outerwear and backpack with either the first or last name for easy identification. |
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The children will be participating in all kinds of art and play activities so it is important that they wear washable clothing. Since many activities require sitting on the floor or going outside, long pants are practical for girls as well as boys. |
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Parents and children are permitted only in the Greyhound Puppies Preschool area, which is in room 301 near the gym. |
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Occasionally, we find that a child is unsuited for our preschool. This is unfortunate but in the event that a child is disruptive, we reserve the right to ask him or her to leave. Usually, it merely means that the child is still too immature for school and may be admitted the following year. There will be a prorated refund. |
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At any time, in the event of the unexpected absence of the classroom teacher, parents will be notified by 8:00 am that preschool has been cancelled. |
Emergency
Information
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We would appreciate it if you would keep your children home when they are sick. Not only does the illness spread to the other preschoolers, it is also contagious to the high school students as well. Please call the school and leave a message in the teacher’s voicemail box or email so she will know not to expect your child. If your child has been diagnosed with a communicable disease, we must be notified immediately. |
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If your child requires medication, it must be administered by our school nurse. Please send the medication in its original bottle with a note from you explaining the dosage and frequency of the medication. When it is time for the medication, a student will escort your child to the nurse, who will administer the medication. |
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If your child has an ongoing condition, such as asthma or severe bee sting allergy, that requires immediate medication, please send the inhaler, epi-pen, or other medication to us with your note of explanation. The school nurse will keep the medication on hand if it becomes necessary. However, we will always call you first before this happens. If we cannot reach you in a reasonable amount of time, the school nurse will use her discretion regarding administration of the medication. |
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In the even of an accident, your child will be seen by the school nurse and an accident report will be filed with the school. If the accident is minor, the school nurse will treat your child and send him back to the preschool classroom. If the accident requires hospital attention, the nurse will call 911 first, then the parents will be notified. |
Philanthropy
An important part of any class is the good that it can return to the community. In our child care classes, we contribute regularly to Care Bags 4 Kids, a philanthropy that was started by Annie Wignall, a young girl who saw a need and filled it. Look at her website to see all the wonderful things she does for children in need. To help her, we collect items that a displaced child from birth to age eighteen might need: soap, toys, toothbrushes, etc. See Annie's complete list at her website if you would like to contribute needed items or sew bags for her children. Annie's "Care Bags" go all over the world, helping children who have been displaced or abused. Woulnd't you love to bring a smile to a child's face, too?
<-- Volunteers filling Care Bags
If you are looking for different ways to help others in need, check out Mrs. Heiss' new book, Helping Kids Help: Organizing Successful Charitable Projects.
Application
Email Mrs.
Heiss
Visit Mrs. Heiss' Feng Shui home page