Lead Teacher: Ms. Cindy

I want to extend to you and your child my warmest welcome into our classroom.  I have been a teacher with the YMCA since 2008 and have been fortunate to have many students and their siblings as well as cousins and neighbors.  This is a job you never tire of and the rewards are endless.  I sent both of my children to this preschool and my nieces and nephews attended here also.  Before starting my teaching career, I served in the armed forces as a hospital corpseman in the Navy and then spent many years working as a laboratory technician in the medical field.

My approach to teaching is to make sure everyday is a good day and only smiles walk out the door. Each child is different, and each one special in their own way.  My job is to help them find the special in each of them and to keep it fun, safe and rewarding.

Teacher Assistant: Ms. Kathy

I also want to welcome you to the YMCA Preschool.  I began working in the preschool April 2015 after retiring from my career as a Victim/Witness Advocate.  I am also a dance teacher; a job I have enjoyed for the past 12 years.  I was fortunate to be able to teach an Enrichment Program at the YMCA Preschool this past Spring, introducing our preschoolers to the art of dance.  I have also just finished up a dance workshop for the Y’s Kids Program.  I enjoy working with children and find my work here very rewarding.  My philosophy echoes Ms. Cindy’s. We both strive to create a fun, safe and rewarding learning environment for all of the children at the YMCA. I look forward to working with your child.

Beginning School

Beginning school is a very exciting and emotional experience for both you and your child.  Because children need to get used to the school environment and bond with their teacher, aide and classmates, I am asking parents to encourage your child to sign in (trace/write name) independently.  Ms. Kathy and I will be there welcoming them and helping them to get involved with our morning activities.  Although your child may get upset the first few days, we will be here to comfort them and they usually calm down within a few minutes of your departure. 

And remember, your child will mirror your behavior, so try your best to smile and show them how excited and confident you are that they are going to love coming to school!!  It’s going to be a great year!

Morning Sign In

School begins at 9:00. 

Every morning when you arrive at school, please do the following:

  • Have your child use the restroom and wash their hands prior to entering the classroom.
  • Take backpacks, jackets, etc. and hang them on your child’s hook in their cubbies. Take lunches and folders out of backpacks.
  • Sign your child in.

Parent Pick Up

At the end of each day, my number one priority is the safety of your children, and pick up time tends to be very busy. If for some reason, someone other than yourself is picking up your child.  Please notify the teacher.  If it is somebody that is not on your release form, please write a note giving us permission to release your child to that person.

Outside Pick Up

On Monday, Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays, weather permitting; your child will be outside at the playground. Please DO NOT enter the fenced in playground area.  Your child will remain inside the fenced area until you have signed them out. Once signed out, your child will be released to you. 

Classroom Pick Up

On Fridays, the children will be released from our classroom.  If the classroom door is closed, please wait outside in the hallway until we have opened the door. Once again pick up time tends to be very busy the children will remain in the classroom while you sign them out and will then be called up individually to leave.

Daily Schedule

Our schedule each day will vary slightly due to our specials.  I will post the schedule for you to see outside of our classroom.  Each day will consist of morning meetings, physical activity, snack, circle time, small group activities, math and or science, letter of the week, number of the week, reading, writing, free choice play centers and end of day routines.

Specials

We will be attending specials this year as part of our regular program.  On Tuesday’s at 10:15 we will have Gym class. On Thursdays we will have Music at 9:45 and, on Friday’s, we will have Swimming from 1:00 to 2:00. During swim time only 2 parents are allowed in the pool area at a time.  I have sign-up sheets available.

Letter Bag

Once we have settled into our new routine, we will give special attention to a letter of the week.  Each child can bring in something from home that begins with the letter of the week.  This is an opportunity for your child to share with the rest of the group.  If you forget on Monday, don’t worry…we will be sharing the letter bag each morning during circle time. 

Student Assessments

In addition to daily observations, I will be conducting formal student assessments three times this year.  During that time, I will gather information in academic, physical, social and emotional development.  These assessments will be shared with you during conferences. These assessments are done on what we see at school and does not necessarily show the child’s true potential.

Health

It is our goal to keep everyone in our class (and our school) as healthy as possible.  Please do not bring your child into school if they are not feeling well.  It is also school policy that you keep your child home until they have been fever free with no medications for 24 hours.  We will also be doing our part cleaning the classroom and toys to limit any spreading of germs.

Birthdays

We love celebrating each of the children’s birthdays and making a big deal of them! 

Our school has adopted a new policy that we may not give the children sugary snacks (each of our school-provided snacks will contain at least one fruit or vegetable as well as whole grains and water to drink).  This means no cakes, cookies or other sugary, Trans fat foods or fruit juices, even as “treats”.  If you would like to provide a special snack to celebrate your child’s birthday, please keep these policies in mind, as we will have to send home any foods that do not follow those guidelines.  Think of bringing in your child’s favorite fruit or vegetable or whole-grain snack instead! 

Please let me know in advance if you plan to bring a snack so that we can plan accordingly.

Shoes

We will have at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day.  Every day we try and get the children out to the playground (weather permitting) or do gross motor activities indoors. For this reason, have your child wear appropriate foot wear, please NO open toed or unsafe shoes!

Clothes

We WILL get messy!!  There will be messy art projects, outdoor play and the occasional “accident”.  Please send your child into school in clothes that they can get dirty as well as a second set of clothes in a labeled Ziploc baggie to be kept in their backpacks. We will also be walking to the main building for specials. Please provide boots and or umbrellas so your child does not get wet.

I look forward to getting to know you and your child this school year.