Preschool Staff Newsletter
3/23-3/27
COVID 19 and CUSD Preschool Program
Happy belated St. Patrick's Day!!!
Last week was long for some of us that remained locked up and in-doors to prevent the Corona Virus from spreading. This is definitely new territory for us all but I know we will get through it! Our Governor is suggesting we may not resume school before or by June, but I hope he is wrong!!! I will keep you posted when I find out information that pertains to us.
At this time, Credentialed teachers are being asked to prepare 3 weeks worth of lesson plans in the event our schools do not open on Monday April 6, 2020. Tomorrow Monday March 23, I will find out what we as classified preschool staff may be required to do if we do not open on Monday 4/6. When I am notified, I will send out an email to all staff. Make sure to check your email regularly or feel free to text message Ms. Lisa for any questions or concerns.
I miss all your wonderful, smiling faces!! Please download the Zoom app. I will host an all staff meeting on Tuesday March 24, 2020 at 1 pm for those interested in participating and wanting to ask questions regarding what comes next for us. I hope to see you there!
Thank you and continue be stay safe and healthy!
Miss. Lisa
CLASS Videos!
Classroom Learning Assessment Scoring System, also known as CLASS, can measure preschool classrooms. Our state uses CLASS to measure classroom interactions between students and staff in the following areas
- Positive climate
- Negative climate
- Teacher sensitivity
- Regard for Student perspectives
- Behavior management
- Productivity
- Instructional learning formats
- Concept development
- Quality of feedback
- Language modeling
Right now is a GREAT TIME to visit the CLASS website to access the CLASS video library. This year's 2019-20 only subscription allows us to watch videos on how each of these elements should look in a preschool environment/setting.
Please visit https://dashboard.teachstone.com/users/login and click on ACTIVATE A PRODUCT KEY. The key for access is Pre-K: MREMVK432APH5VP5 to watch.
TAKE ADVANTAGE AND ENJOY!! Final year we will be able to access videos.
Community Care Licensing -- Inspection Authority
- Know how many students are always currently present when someone asks you without having to count students. When a classroom breaker relieves you, please let them know how many students are currently present.
- Are all your students signed in? If not, a missing signature will be a cited. Signatures give us liability over a student so without one, we have a child in our care without having the family's legal liability. CONTACT THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. And please ask the families to sign with their legal signature, do not initial.
- Is your lead teacher or a teacher present with 12 or more ECE units? If there is no adult present with 12 or more ECE units, we will be cited for lack of supervision. This may occur if a teacher steps out of the room to use the restroom. BE CAREFUL.
- Are dangerous medications, adult scissors, cleaning solutions, purses, push pins or any other dangerous items out that need to remain out of reach of our students at all times? If not, we will be cited.
- Make sure you are not carrying coffee or hot tea that could burn a student if spilled. We are supposed to keep our personal belongings and drinks out of reach of students and be hands free while supervising.
- Do you know where the emergency medication is located for children that have allergies or need medicine? Do you know which students have allergies or asthma? Do you know where the emergency contact information sheets can be found to call parents at all times including outdoors. If not, make sure you ask your lead teacher where to locate.
- Are you supervising at all times? When a child gets hurt, a response such as, "I don't know" or "I didn't see it happen" are not satisfactory to Licensing and we will be in violation of lack of child supervision. If a child is injured and we weren't watching, this leads to a SERIOUS VIOLATION. Note: violations received are given on behalf of the entire center and all staff will be held in violation and required to participate in a training to rectify this complacence concern. Please be mindful of all students, where they are and what they are doing all the times!!! Didn't I tell you, to work in preschool you better have the ability of an octopus.
- Love and respect our little ones. Do not put them in "time out" or make them feel punished when they are simply learning and developing. This could be considered a child right violation but I know NONE OF MY STAFF would do this :)
- Do you use a Head to Face sheet to keep count and track of your students? When a student is pulled for IEP services such as when an Speech and Language teacher removes them, are you documenting this student has left?? TEACHERS and all staff need to know where students are at all times!!
- If you see anything dangerous or could cause a problem such as an electrical outlet is uncovered or there is a tripping hazard, please let your lead teacher or Director know so accommodations and/or repairs can be made.
Please watch the following video for what a licensing inspection can include. Note, this video was released before the new monitoring Licensing tool was created in 2019. A new tool was established for reliability and consistency. Any questions, please inquire with Miss. Lisa.
Teaching Pyramid: Teaching Social and and Emotional Skills
Center on the Developing Child: Please continue to follow Harvard's podcast on the scientific study of the developing mind and early childhood!
I hope you all have been listening to Harvard's podcasts on early childhood development. They have released their 3rd podcast on the Serve and Return process. This video explains what Serve and Return mean and how its built in each child's early development. Enjoy the free learning resource!
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Serve and Return: Supporting the Foundation (podcast)