New Year Letter To Parents
by Maria Low
Principal, Halifax Montessori
Dear Parents
It is a brand new year in the Chinese almanac and we wish all parents a happy and prosperous year ahead. 2011 was an eventful year but the teachers and I have planned another year full of activities to make 2012 an equally eventful one. The management is still working on the lease extension and new school premise and there should be some update soon. With the New Year, there are a few issues that we will have to dwell upon:
Parent Involvement – For many years now we have had a few parents who volunteer their services and spend some time working with our children. They bring in their hobbies e.g. scrapbooking, baking or read a story to our children. Our children had so much fun with these parents. Besides enhancing children's learning, children of these parents build confidence and become aware of the close ties build between parents and school. We will be putting up a list of events at the front porch where parents can indicate when they would like to participate in the in-house activities. It would definitely be nice to see some names up on it. Just for your information, Valentine's day is just around the corner and we will be doing a theme on 'the garden" in April. It would be nice if parents can come forward to cook or bake something for the 14th February and do some gardening with our children this year. Please do call Catherine or inform the teachers at the front door if you wish to be involved in the school's activities so that we can call to finalise the details.
Parents sign-in and out Register – MCYS requires us to keep proper records of all children entering and leaving the centre. As such, we request that parents come into the school grounds with their children in the mornings and sign in on the register that is placed on top of the shoe cubby. Please also remember to sign out when you fetch your child home. Please indicate the time in and out in both cases. Your compliance on this issue is most appreciated as we have been informed by our supervising officer from MCYS that this has not been complied with on many occasions.
Keeping the playground tidy – we do realize that the children love the free play that our playground provides. We do have children riding the play vehicles and having fun digging up opportunities in the garden. However, we have noted that children do not return the play things to their original places. We seek parents' co-operation to ensure that children return their play things. This will also build a more responsible and well organized child besides keep our playground tidy.
Monthly excrusion – Just a gentle reminder that children are to be dressed in the blue Halifax T-shirt when we go out for excursion as this will help us in accounting for the children when we are away from school. Please do sent in your excursion forms on time as this facilitate our accounts and the hiring of a school bus.
Sick children in the centre – Yearly this has always been an issue and last year many parents have been very co-operative. They do make it a point to take their children home whenever their children fall ill in the centre. Most parents will come in almost immediately whenever informed. We hope that this will continue through the current year as we wish to keep the centre healthy for all with your co-operation.
As all parents are aware, we have a teacher at the front door checking all children before they enter the centre. Please give her your full co-operation. Allow the teacher to fully check your child before you leave so as to ensure that you child is well when he/she enters our centre. It will also relieve you the inconvenience to coming back to fetch your child/children should the teacher find something amiss. Anything amiss can also be clarified on the spot. Please do check your child's/children's temperature and make a short physical check before coming to school. Ensure that you are aware of your child's/children's physical health daily before starting off to school. As mentioned, it will not inconvenience you when we have to send your children back.
Medicating children in the centre – Over the years we have helped parents in medicating children. It has been noted that some parents do abuse this privilege and we would like to clarify as to when we can help parents' in this instance.
Allergies : Antihistamins that help to relieve the child's reaction to the enviornment's allergens.
Creams that help with skin allergies because of environmental factors. Please note that we will require a confirmation e.g. letter from the doctor that the child has some form of allergy.
Mixtures : When the child has fully recovered and is required to complete a course of medication as prescribed. (The teacher will determine if the child is well enough to be back with the other children in class.)
Inhalers : To help prevent Asthma attacks. Our teachers will help monitor the administration of this apparatus upon clear instructions. However, the child has to be well and fit for school for our teachers to do this. Please note that we will not nabulize any children as our teachers are not familiar with the technical procedures involved. Further if a child needs to be nabulize it would mean that there are underlying problems and the child is not well to be in school. As we aim to keep the centre healthy this procedure is not allowed in the centre.
Starting Early - Our teachers work very hard to provide your children with meaningful activities that fill the hours they are in the centre. We hope to see more children in the centre early as this will help teachers carry out their program smoothly and more effectively. This will also ensure that your children settle into the routine and help with cleaning of the environment before the start of the day's program.
Late Pick-up - The hours that the teachers spend with the children can be very challenging and physically tiring. Thus, all our teachers are given one hour to rest before starting the second half of the day. This is to enable them to rejuvenate. It also allows them time to fulfill any other commitments that they may have which, in turn give them peace of mind to continue work. You must, by now, be aware that this one hour is very precious.
At the end of a full day, our teachers are very tired and will have to retire home to have some time with their families. Besides family commitments, our teachers will also need to prepare for the next day's schedule. Going home at their scheduled time will allow for a restful night. We seek your co-operation to come in on time to fetch your children home.
We hope to have your co-operation in the above matters and have a wonderful year ahead.
Regards,
Maria Low
Principal, Halifax Montessori Childcare
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