Family+Page

= = = Welcome to the Family Page =

** Sample Parent Letter **

Welcome parents!!

Your child has been enrolled in my classroom for the 2010-2011 school year. Our school is a unique program that values parents as the best possible teacher for their children. Your year here will provide you with many wonderful opportunities to participate in your child’s growth and development. You will be encouraged to participate in the classrooms and become involved in a wide variety of program activities. Parents are the key to a successful school program. A very important component of our school is the parent Policy Council. Policy Council is similar to a school board and is made up by elected representatives from each classroom. If you would be interested in running for the representative for your child’s class, ask your teacher or family advocate for more information. You will be contacted during the summer to begin the enrollment process. You will receive important information about the program and complete paperwork and partner with the staff to complete medical and dental exams required for your child. Each child enrolled receives screenings in speech, hearing, vision, and development. Your child’s screenings will be scheduled during the summer or the beginning of the school year and will be on-going throughout their enrollment. We have family Advocates available to each family to help with any needs that may arise during your enrollment with our program. We have many community resources available to our families. Please do not hesitate to contact your teachers or family advocate, they are available daily at your child’s classroom site and welcome you at any time. Sincerely,

Tamara Goertel, Site Supervisor

Start Your School Day Right



 * Make a positive start** | Send your child to school with a smile, a hug, and an encouraging word every single day.
 * Have your child be well rested** | Ten to twelve hours of sleep is recommended for children going to kindergarten and first grade.
 * Feed your child nutritious meals** | Meals should be well-balanced and unhurried. Insist on wholesome, nutritious foods; avoid junk foods.
 * Prepare for the weather** | Dress your child in simple, safe, sturdy not too tight, clean clothes. As strange as it seems, teachers notice clean kids and they tend to think highly of them. This gives your child an edge. Listening to the weather forecast will assure choosing the appropriate outdoor clothing. Label those hats, coats, and mittens. There are often several of the same color and style. Labeling saves time, effort and misunderstanding among parents.
 * If your child is sick, keep your child home** | Look for sore throats, colds, nausea, diarrhea, chills, fever, rashes, inflamed eye, discharge from the ear, enlarged glands, earache, flushed face, and paleness. Call the school if your child is going to be absent. It is a gesture of courtesy and a nice contact with your child's school. Let the school know where you can be reached if your child gets sick at school - especially if it is a different number than the school already has.
 * Sending anything to school with your child?** | Label it clearly. Lunchboxes, book bags, show and tell materials, etc., should all be labeled. Sending money for lunches or other activities? Put it in an envelope with your child's name on the outside. Put the envelope in a safe pocket.

Care Connection Calendar



=Learning at Home=

Children and parents can share the joy of learning and playing while they communicate and grow together. By working together with your child, you are helping to build his or her language and literacy, social and emotional, gross motor, fine motor, and cognitive skills. “Fun and Learning for Parents and Children” is a collection of activities and ideas for use in the course of family life. Many of the ideas might be routines that you are already doing. Your children’s ability to learn new skills will depend on their stage of development and their individual interests. Remember, you are your child’s first and most important teacher and your home is a primary learning place! Their learning will depend on the opportunities and support that you offer them at home and in their surroundings. Play the games now. Before you get started with an activity in “Fun and Learning for Parents and Children,” you might review the Helpful Hints below. They offer ways to help you plan and prepare for the activity anytime and anywhere:
 * Establish some rules with your children and be consistent about enforcing them.
 * Set limits and be prepared to have them tested.
 * Use eye contact and reasoning to relate positively to your children.
 * Give detailed explanations to questions and explain the meaning of new words when asked.
 * When not sure, say “we will have to check on that one together.”
 * Praise your children for their positive behaviors and let them know that they are loved.
 * Remember, you are your child’s first and most important teacher and your home is a primary learning place! Their learning will depend on the opportunities and support that you offer them at home and in their surroundings.

= Objectives for Development & Learning =



Community Resource Guide


 * Women’s Safety and Resource 541-888-1048
 * Domestic Violence 800-799-7233
 * Child Abuse Reporting 800-500-2730
 * Coos Health Department 541-756-2020
 * Pregnancy Resource 541-267-5204
 * Care Connections 541-888-7096
 * ORRCA 541-888-1574
 * WIC 541-756-2020

Newsletters





Family Recreational Resources 
 * Coos Bay Public Library 525 Anderson 541-269-1101
 * Coos Art Museum 1800 Sherman 541-267-3901
 * South Slough National Estuarine 385 Seven Devils Rd. 541-888-5558
 * Boys & Girls Club 541-267-3635
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Mingus Park 10th Street
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Swimming Pool Mingus Park 541-267-1306

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">﻿<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Family Partnership Plan <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Coming Soon:
 * 1) Easy to Access & Print Forms
 * 2) Copy of Policy Council Minutes