Birch Grove

Absences	It is best to keep your child home when he or she is not feeling well.  A child that is not feeling well will not feel comfortable in school and will not benefit from the activities.  Please call the school  at 870-6750 when your child is absent.  Call the bus company also at 875-6378 to let the driver know.
Allergies	Modifications are made for all children with allergies. Please let us know BEFORE the first day of school about any allergies, including food allergies, medications, or environmental allergies.  THIS CLASSROOM IS A NUT-FREE CLASSROOM. PLEASE DO NOT SEND IN SNACK THAT CONTAIN NUTS OR THAT ARE PROCESSED IN A FACTORY THAT CONTAINS NUTS.
Arrival	Morning Class:  8:35-8:50 arrival. Afternoon Class: 12:30  arrival. Doors will be locked 8:50 - 3:15 p.m.
Behavior	We encourage responsible behaviors at all times.  Effective discipline is guidance that helps the children to learn self-control and cooperation.  We use distraction, encouragement, environmental control, choices, consistency, reflective listening, I-messages, problem solving, structure, and time-out from positive reinforcement for effective discipline methods in the classroom.  We teach independence and problem solving techniques as soon as possible.
Birthdays:	Birthdays are important to the children at Birch Grove School. The students will not be allowed to bring cupcakes and other food to school on their birthdays. However, we would like to recognize your child's special day and each classroom teacher is planning new ways to celebrate this day. We make birthdays very special days in our classrooms by making a birthday crown to wear, singing birthday songs, and playing special games.
Communication	Parents and teachers communicate daily via a folder and weekly newsletter.  We are also available by telephone, email, and scheduled parent conferences.
Delayed Openings Early Closings	If we have a delayed opening of school, the morning class will be canceled. The afternoon class will have regular hours. If there is an early closing, the afternoon class will be canceled.  Please check the school web site, a local TV station, or a local radio station for school delays and closings.
Pick-Up	Morning Class:  11:30 pick-up. Afternoon Class: 3:10 pick-up. If you are late, your child may have to wait for you in the Birch Grove School Office. Please monitor parking lot safety carefully.
Parent Conferences:	Parent-Teacher conferences for all children are held once a year in November.  Parent-Teacher conferences for special education students are also held in March.   Other parent-teacher conferences are held as needed.
Parent Education	Please visit the Family Resource Center for more information.
Parent Visits	Parents are welcome to visit our program on any day.   It is best to call to arrange a time because visitors are limited to one set of parents at a time.
School Bus  Information	Children with special needs are eligible for transportation by bus or van. Appropriate car seats are used.  "Typical" students are transported by their parents.
School Calendar	We will follow the school calendar.
Snack	Please provide a healthy snack and drink every day. Please label your child's lunch box.

     Our overall curriculum is theme-based approach. The curriculum is also driven by the individual objectives of the children placed in our class.  Our themes last appropriately two weeks each but can extend longer due to class interests and needs. The following is a guide to our theme planning.  New themes are often introduced as the individual classes express interest. 
 
 

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Preschool children with special needs should:

• Be identified early with appropriate measures
• Be seen as capable and competent of positive developmental outcomes
• Receive their programming in the least restrictive environment possible
• Be educated in an environment which includes a significant number of typical children
• Be taught from a rich, diverse and multi-sensory curriculum
• Be exposed to multiple early literacy events that build the foundations for later reading and writing success.  Early literacy events consist of parents and teachers talking to and with children about everyday experiences.  They also include singing and reading to and with children.
• Be taught at their appropriate stage of development.  At the preschool level, children learn best through active exploration of their environment through child-initiated and teacher-selected activities.  The curriculum should foster social, emotional, communicative, cognitive, adaptive, and physical growth for every child.

• To provide an environment where each child is motivated to master new skills commensurate with his / her abilities and potential.
• To provide ample opportunities for social interaction and communication among all children while fostering respect for individual differences.
• To prepare children for future school experiences in terms of learning classroom routine, good work habits, and attending and listening skills.
• To expand knowledge and language through active exploration and play with developmentally appropriate materials and activities.
• To include parents as partners in the educational process through nightly homework assignments, daily newsletters, classroom visits, home visits, parent conferences, field trips and classroom activities.
• To serve as a resource for other settings that our children spend their day in.  This includes daycare and nursery school settings.
• To comply with all state and federal special education regulations.