5. The Family and School Relationship
• We value your involvement and invite you to join
in the learning process with your child in
whatever way fits your schedule.
• Our doors are open: You are welcome to visit and
volunteer throughout the school day. Room
parents and teachers will be letting you know of
these opportunities.
6. COMMUNICATION
• Blogs, Teaching Strategies, Monthly
Newsletter, Email, Phone, Conferences,
Facebook, Twitter…
• Be clear with your teachers when you are not
receiving the communication you need
• Too much, too little, just right? One size does
not fit all!
7. Scheduling
Etiquette
• Schedule a time which is convenient for you and your
teacher.
• Email and phone communication is acceptable, BUT avoid
back and forth emails regarding important issues.
• Teachers are busy with children during the day as well as at
carpool – avoid these times.
• Ringers are not on in the classrooms. Urgent message: call
the front desk, Mrs. Van Thullenar, at 816-268-6532.
• Texting teachers at any time is discouraged.
• Be mindful and respectful of your teachers’ schedules,
personal time, and after school responsibilities.
8. The School
Calendar
www.speds.org
• Updated throughout the year, check
back regularly.
• Make special note of school closings,
holidays, parent/teacher conferences,
and professional development days.
9. Chapel
You Are Always Welcome!
• Begins at 8:40 in the ECC Commons.
• Tuesdays – Toddler through second grade.
• Fridays – All School Chapel in the church – We will
head over at 8:20 so please get here early. We begin
greeting at 8:00 am.
• No coffee or drinks are allowed during chapel.
• When joining us, your children can sit with you. If they
are being disruptive, please take him/her out.
• Encourage chapel rules; quiet bodies, quiet feet,
listening ears, and participation.
10. Essential Learning Outcomes
Curriculum Review Process
• A cross divisional Professional Learning Community
(PLC) was formed to review our standards in English/
Language Arts, Mathematics, and the Special
Enrichment programs.
• The PLC compared our standards to the Common Core
Standards, the 21st Century Skills, the standards of the
National Council of Teachers of English, the standards
of National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and
the areas tested by the ERB.
• Considerable weight was also given to the curricular
expertise of our faculty.
11. 2014-2015
The Next Step
This year, the PLC will review and
benchmark our school wide science
and social studies programs and the Early
Childhood Center social and emotional
development program. Then, we will design
updated standards (Essential Learning Goals)
for the reviewed programs.
12. How To Access
St. Paul’s Website
On our website you can review the Essential
Learning Goals by grade level:
http://www.speds.org/Page/Academics/Essential-Learning-Goals
13.
14.
15.
16. Progress, Portfolios and Development
Reporting Schedule
www.teachingstrategies.com
• An innovative assessment and student portfolio system for children birth through
kindergarten. This ongoing, authentic, observational assessment system is directly
linked to early learning objectives that are most predictive of future school
success.
• Objectives address all areas of development (social-emotional, physical, language,
mathematics and cognitive development)
• A color-coded progression for each objective helps teachers see the full range of
development and learning at once, enabling them to individualize instruction for
the varying needs of all students.
• A variety of purposeful tools help teachers gather assessment data in quick,
meaningful ways.
• Parents and families have increased access to information that pertains to their
child’s development and learning.
Parent/Teacher conferences are encouraged anytime throughout the year as needed
and can be initiated by the classroom teachers or parents. Scheduled
conferences are planned for October 23rd and 24th and March 5th and 6th.
17. Student
Portfolios
Each ECC student has an electronic, online portfolio
that moves with them as they progress throughout
the ECC Division. Portfolios collect and document
the unique development of each child. Through
pictures, art work and developmental assessments
parents are able to learn specific information about
their child’s growth and essential skill development.
18. Teaching Strategies
Access
Returning Families
Have immediate and ongoing access to your child’s existing portfolio
using your same access info from last year. New documentation will be shared in the
near future.
New Family Invitations
Instructions for setting up your own secure Teaching Strategies
account will be sent by email in the next few weeks.
If Teaching Strategies is new for you, or you did not take full advantage of the
program last year
We encourage you to access the website and begin learning
about the program. Helpful parent tutorials and webinars are available for
you to learn all the features offered by the program. This includes strategies,
suggestions and activities for supporting your child’s learning at home.
19. Fall
Checkpoint
A comprehensive Family Conference Form will be
shared electronically with you on or before
October 17th. This will give you time to review
your child’s strengths and established learning
goals prior to the October parent/teacher
conferences and the Family Conference Form will
be reviewed together during parent/teacher
conferences.
20. Winter
Checkpoint
A second comprehensive Family Conference Form will be
shared electronically with you on or before Friday,
February 27th. This will give you time to review your
Childs strengths, accomplishments and established
learning goals prior to the March parent/teacher
conferences. The Family Conference Form, as well as
an Individual Student Report will be reviewed together
during parent/teacher conferences. The Individual
Student Report is designed to specifically show parents
the progress students have made in each area of
learning from the first to the second checkpoint period.
21. Spring
Checkpoint
The third and final comprehensive Family
Conference Form will be shared electronically
with you by Wednesday, May 27th. Individual
Student Reports showing the progression of
skills between all three checkpoints can be
made available to families upon request.
22. Health Concerns & Reporting Absences
School Nurse Information: Ms. Catherine Kuhls
816-268-6548
Monday – Friday 8:30 – 2:30 PM
ckhuls@speds.org
• All health questions and concerns should be directed
to the school nurse. Mrs. Khuls works closely with
the teachers regarding student health needs.
• Report contagious illnesses to the nurse immediately.
• If your child will not be at school contact Mrs. Kuhls
directly by phone or email no later than 8:30 AM.
• Arriving After 8:25? Stop at the front desk to
complete a tardy slip.
23. Carpool Reminders
• 11:45 and 1:00 carpool - If you have another child in the car, stay by your
car and hold up your number so that we can bring you your child.
• Drop off in the morning does not begin until 8:05 AM. Students
dropped off before 8:00 need to be brought to Early Room where they
can be safely supervised. Loading zone is for unloading, not for
parking.
• Be Patient
• Make sure carpool numbers are visible in your car windows.
• 3:30 carpool - all children are to be loaded on the passenger side. We
will not load children on the drivers side.
• Carpool is a No Cell Phone/Text Zone! Savor th
24. Checkout Classroom Blogs!
School Website: www.speds.org
Need Tech Support? Contact Ryann Schubert 816.268.6502
rschubert@speds.org
• Toddler website:
www.spedstoddler.blogspot.com
• Preschool website :
www.spedspreschool.blogspot.com
• Pre-Kindergarten website :
www.spedsprekindergarten.blogspot.com
• Kindergarten website :
www.spedskindergarten.blogspot.com
Note - Blogs are only to be used for sharing classroom
information and school related events.
25. No Nuts Please
• We do have students with life-threatening food allergies. Allergic
reactions can be much more severe in young children.
• While we cannot declare any part of the school “Nut Free”,
please make every effort to keep peanut butter and nuts out of
the ECC classrooms and teaching spaces.
• Kindergarten students can have peanut butter in their lunches
because they eat in the cafeteria.
• Students with life threatening food allergies will only eat food
from home.
Tip: Sun Butter (made with sunflower seeds) is a good peanut
butter substitute.
26. Class Parties
• Your help is genuinely needed
and appreciated.
• Work with your classroom
teachers and room parents
in order to be as helpful as
possible.
• Please keep siblings home; this a special time for you
and your child.
• The focus during the parties should be on the
students.
• Allow the teachers to handle any student conflict or
problems.
• Confidentiality is very important!
27. The Children’s Spot
Screenings
September 8th – 12th
• Speech and Hearing, OT/Fine Motor, Gross Motor
• Utilize this wonderful resource!
• Screenings take place at St. Paul’s
• Only $12.00 per screening
• We encourage yearly screenings for all children
• More info will be coming via email
28. Important Policy Reminders
Policy and procedure handbook is now available
on-line at www.speds.org
Babysitting
Teachers aren’t allowed to babysit for students in
grades they teach or grades below the ones they teach.
Tutoring (Older Students)
Needs to be arranged through the school and should
occur on school campus.
Facebook
Teachers are not allowed to ‘Friend’ current parents or
their students.
29. ECC Lifeskills
Monthly Focus
August /September – Caring and Sharing
October /November - Perseverance and Common Sense
December /January – Patience and Curiosity
February /March – Friendship and Cooperation
April/May – Problem Solving and Flexibility
Extend lifeskill learning at home!
30. ECC Parent Learning
Center
• Parenting books can be found in the ECC Commons
for your use.
• We need your help….we are always accepting used
parenting books and resources to our library.
• Let your teachers know what types of parenting
support you need and be expecting a schedule of
parent learning opportunities!
• Subscribe and receive a weekly Love and Logic
parenting tip: www.loveandlogic.com
31. Work Hard
& Play Hard
How important is unstructured play time for our
children?
Very Important!
Carve out down time for your family and monitor
the number of extra curricular activities in your
child’s schedule.
VIDEO: Prescription for Play
32. The Overprotected Kid
“A preoccupation with safety has stripped
childhood of independence, risk taking,
and discovery—without making it safer.
A new kind of playground points to a
better solution. ”
ARTICLE: The Overprotected Kid
33. Why Our Kids Need To Take Risks?
• Allow children to take reasonable risks
• Allow children to experience disappointment
• Allow children to struggle and succeed on their own
• Allow children to experience and cope with strong
emotions
• Provide less structured activities and more time to
explore and discover
• LET THEM NAVIGATE!
VIDEO: Let kids take risks: Griffin Longley at TEDxPerth
